Yup, St. John Bosco said that “idleness is the workshop of the devil.” Like when you are doing nothing like just sitting on a chair or resting on a bed or daydreaming something, the devil can inject ideas/visual images on your psyche like maybe a sexy girl you met the day before.Simple Lazyness on Our part has a large part to play…
It sounds like your saying that Satan can put thoughts in our heads. How does he do it otherwise?By making evil things seem harmless to us.
He uses reason for an evil purpose. He tempts us by telling us “oh, that’s nothing, it’s such a small thing, how can it hurt?”
Same thing as he did to our first parents. Turn something good on its ear and laugh when we fall.
Pretty sick stuff.
Sounds like Satan does manipulate our thoughts, which he must.I think the devil sees what we are attracted to and tempts us by giving us more reasons to want it.
example : When he tempted Jesus in the desert, satan knew Jesus was hungry and suggested that He use His power to turn the stones into bread.
He does manipulate our thoughts and desires. It’s very common for instance, for me to get very tempted to do things I know on an intellectual level that I really do not want to do. It’s important to pray when one gets tempted, especially if the sin is mortal.If Satan does not manipulate our thoughts, inner voices or desires, how does he tempt us? I’m probably a minority here, but I believe that Satan uses all three means.
The folks here on CAF seem to downplay the role of Satan in our lives, unlike the Pope who really emphasizes the role of Satan in our lives.
I have witnessed and experienced how Satan uses people without their knowledge, especially those that do not believe in Jesus Christ. I have witnessed people with mental illness being used to persecute Christians, this is not to say that all people with mental illness are used in this way. I have witnessed some of these people operating under false illusions rash judging others, actually trying to ruin the reputation of some because of their own obsessions. Some because of their insecurities would lie to gain it. Satan can really tempt one to hate such individuals, but as a Christian we are advised not to hate,because those that do these things can not give what they do not have, they are spiritually handicapped. This is a real spiritual test for the virtue of love, love your enemies ( who aren’t really your enemies, but spiritually sick, needing Christ in their lives, like us before our conversion.) Satan is our real enemy, and he hates God and especially those who love Him. The war is not against “flesh and blood” but against Powers and Principalities…the spirits of darkness, the fallen angels. Without Jesus Christ, we have no chance of winning the battle, we won’t even know there is a battle going on for our souls. Noticed all the mass killings going on with youths that have mental illness, and how they are led. Satan is as Jesus says, a murderer and liar. I have also witnessed good people with authority being misled by ignorance and spiritual pride, causing spiritual suffering to others. They too can’t help it until the grace of God reveals their faults to them. As St.Paul says " I walk with fear and trepidation, less by preaching to others I myself become a cast-away."If Satan does not manipulate our thoughts, inner voices or desires, how does he tempt us? I’m probably a minority here, but I believe that Satan uses all three means.
The folks here on CAF seem to downplay the role of Satan in our lives, unlike the Pope who really emphasizes the role of Satan in our lives.