Do we give the devil too much credit?

[rocklobster]

Why is it that every time we see something that is not of Christian origin, (like Harry Potter, Pokemon, Magic: the Gathering) it is automatically considered demonic. I’ve known people who are into things like that, and they seem ok to me. I think it really just depends on the person. So do we give the devil too much credit?

 

[LilyM]

The devil is the father of all lies and all wrongdoing and way more subtle and powerful than we foolish mortals for sure.

Perhaps we sometimes see sin where it doesn’t exist, but I wouldn’t underestimate the occult. I don’t know enough about Pokemon or most of the other things - but Harry Potter may lead kids into worse.

 

[Durendin]

If you spend time looking for evil, the chances are you’ll find it whether it exists or not.

 

[CRW]

Why is it that every time we see something that is not of Christian origin, (like Harry Potter, Pokemon, Magic: the Gathering) it is automatically considered demonic. I’ve known people who are into things like that, and they seem ok to me. I think it really just depends on the person. So do we give the devil too much credit?

I voted sometimes because I think it is a choice of our free will that we sin and the devil had no part. We like to blame the devil, in such cases, to take the heat off the stupid things we do. The devil made me do it or did he?

 

[awalt]

The Church teaches there are three sources of temptation - our own flesh, the world, and Satan. So sometimes it is the devil, sometimes not.

 

[CatholicNick]

One thing we must not fall into, is underestimating the evil one… and the lengths he will go to decieve and fool people into the eternal Hell Fire…

 

[wcknight]

The worst thing we can do is not give him enough credit. To ignore or discount him as non existent is exactly what he wants. Then he can operate much more easier and folks will be caught off guard.

From his encounters with various saints and with Jesus, we know he is out there. And I’m sure he has caused the downfall of many souls. We ignore him at our own peril. The stakes are far too high to not be very careful. Far better to be overly cautious than to pay the horrible penalty for being too lax.

 

[LRThunder]

The devil is the father of all lies and all wrongdoing and way more subtle and powerful than we foolish mortals for sure.

Perhaps we sometimes see sin where it doesn’t exist, but I wouldn’t underestimate the occult. I don’t know enough about Pokemon or most of the other things - but Harry Potter may lead kids into worse.

But couldn’t the same be said about anything? Too much internet usage could lead them to porn, for example.

Too much drinking, etc.

 

[ReflectiveDove]

In my humble opinion… I think we let our flesh get in the way more times than we should and who do we blame it on? The Devil!

Jesus opens up another door to escape that temptation, we just choose not to most of the time… and I’m guilty of the latter myself.

 

[KathleenElsie]

In my opinion it seems that many people forget that the devil exists and is real. The devil provides the temptations and the human takes advantage of them.

 

[Cristiano]

Do blame the devil for your temptations!
Do blame yourself for your actions!

 

[rocklobster]

I’m not saying I don’t believe in him. I just think giving him too much credit is just as bad.

 

[GandalfTheWhite]

Do we give the devil too much credit?

We? Who is we? Catholics?

I don’t know and I don’t think we can generalize that much. There are certainly a lot of people that do though.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Why is it that every time we see something that is not of Christian origin, (like Harry Potter, Pokemon, Magic: the Gathering) it is automatically considered demonic. I’ve known people who are into things like that, and they seem ok to me. I think it really just depends on the person. So do we give the devil too much credit?

Possibly that is an exaggeration - but not much of one ​

 

[carol_marie]

I said sometimes. Take horiscopes for example… many people think they are of the devil. I think they are just stupid. The same with psycics. If you are foolish enough to fall for it… I think you’ll lose your $ … but I’m not convinced that you’ll come under demonic influence. I don’t have a problem with fantasy or make believe like Harry Potter or the Wizard of Oz or Pokemon… I think it’s harmless fun… (except for Pokemon which I think falls under the stupid catagory) When I heard of the woman in Georgia trying to get Harry Potter banned from the public library because she was afraid school kids would start casting spells on each other I thought how stupid. Does she think the spells would actually work?

 

[Pug]

So do we give the devil too much credit?

Overall, I think the average person doesn’t believe he exists or does anything. This is unwise. He does exist, so best to stay with reality there.

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.