Does Satan tempt us through our thoughts?

[Robert_Sock]

Does Satan tempt us through our thoughts, especially the unconscious?

 

[ThinkingSapien]

Some would argue that it is one’s own desire that causes temptation (James 1:14). To me that looks true by definition. I don’t have a religion so I won’t make assertions about whether or not Satan uses temptation. But marketers, advertisers, and regular people that are trying to get some one to do something certainly do use temptation(luring) to motivate actions.

BTW: There’s another thread that is also new that is about whether or not people know why they do things. Sounds related.

 

[Quis_ut_Deus_3]

Does Satan tempt us through our thoughts, especially the unconscious?

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Yes, Satan always tempts us through our thoughts…it is his A.O. if you will, his area of operations. I would say that these temptations arise in our conscious thoughts…I’m not sure about his influence on the sub-conscious.

*“When the devil knocks on the door of your mind…send Jesus to answer the door” *(sayings of the desert Fathers).

God bless you,
Quis ut Deus 3

 

[YoungMommy]

I personally feel that the whole manifestation of “satan” is shown through human weakness and happens to everyone at some point. This may happen through something as simple as pushing somone on the playground, checking out a guy or girl when you’re in a committed relationship, or sadly something far worse. The whole idea of “demons” is hard for me to understand I tend to lean more toward the belief that we are tempted in bad ways only when we allow ourselves to be, and that as humans that have the ABILITY to be good, and in turn give ourselves the ability to be “bad,” and some fallen angel cannot MAKE us “bad.” So, basically what I’m saying is the whole idea of satan is rather more symbolic for me. I feel if you focus on bad thoughts (which will often make them come up more in your subconscious), human faults shine through much more brightly. I think the idea of a fallen angel tempting us is kind of a metaphor for the darker sides of human nature, and as we know we ALL have the ability to be good, yet our thoughts can still be tempted, but only if you allow them to be I would try focusing more profoundly on all the good you can do rather than worrying about possible dangers thoughts that come about may pose.

 

[auderyja]

He would blind us to the truth. Make us complacent. He will use every opportunity he can get and “attack” us when we are complacent to our spiritual warfare. Remember Jesus’ presence every second of the day.
*
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
St Paul the Apostle, pray for us.
From all evil, deliver us, O Lord.*

 

[Bwtby]

I personally feel that the whole manifestation of “satan” is shown through human weakness and happens to everyone at some point. This may happen through something as simple as pushing somone on the playground, checking out a guy or girl when you’re in a committed relationship, or sadly something far worse. The whole idea of “demons” is hard for me to understand I tend to lean more toward the belief that we are tempted in bad ways only when we allow ourselves to be, and that as humans that have the ABILITY to be good, and in turn give ourselves the ability to be “bad,” and some fallen angel cannot MAKE us “bad.” So, basically what I’m saying is the whole idea of satan is rather more symbolic for me. I feel if you focus on bad thoughts (which will often make them come up more in your subconscious), human faults shine through much more brightly. I think the idea of a fallen angel tempting us is kind of a metaphor for the darker sides of human nature, and as we know we ALL have the ability to be good, yet our thoughts can still be tempted, but only if you allow them to be I would try focusing more profoundly on all the good you can do rather than worrying about possible dangers thoughts that come about may pose.

 

[Quis_ut_Deus_3]

So, basically what I’m saying is the whole idea of satan is rather more symbolic for me. I feel if you focus on bad thoughts (which will often make them come up more in your subconscious), human faults shine through much more brightly. I think the idea of a fallen angel tempting us is kind of a metaphor for the darker sides of human nature, and as we know we ALL have the ability to be good, yet our thoughts can still be tempted, but only if you allow them to be I would try focusing more profoundly on all the good you can do rather than worrying about possible dangers thoughts that come about may pose.

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Satan and the other fallen angels are for real…they are as real as you or I. Satan does exist. One of the devil’s greatest achievements is deceiving someone into believing he does not exist.

The following is taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

I. THE ANGELS The existence of angels - a truth of faith

328 The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.

330 As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness.190

332 Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan: they closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples.194 Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.195

II. THE FALL OF THE ANGELS

391 Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death out of envy.266 Scripture and the Church’s Tradition see in this being a fallen angel, called “Satan” or the “devil”.267 The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: "The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing."268

392 Scripture speaks of a sin of these angels.269 This “fall” consists in the free choice of these created spirits, who radically and irrevocably rejected God and his reign. We find a reflection of that rebellion in the tempter’s words to our first parents: "You will be like God."270 The devil “has sinned from the beginning”; he is “a liar and the father of lies”.271

393 It is the irrevocable character of their choice, and not a defect in the infinite divine mercy, that makes the angels’ sin unforgivable. "There is no repentance for the angels after their fall, just as there is no repentance for men after death."272

394 Scripture witnesses to the disastrous influence of the one Jesus calls “a murderer from the beginning”, who would even try to divert Jesus from the mission received from his Father.273 "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."274 In its consequences the gravest of these works was the mendacious seduction that led man to disobey God.

395 The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God’s reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him."275

Choosing not to believe in the devil, will not protect one from his nefarious influence.

God bless you,
Quis ut Deus 3

 

[Bwtby]

Well one thing is for certain there is PURE EVIL out there. Not insanity, evil.

 

[DevotedChild]

Well one thing is for certain there is PURE EVIL out there. Not insanity, evil.

yes but there are some how are insane but not evil out there.

 

[Little_One0307]

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Satan and the other fallen angels are for real…they are as real as you or I. Satan does exist. One of the devil’s greatest achievements is deceiving someone into believing he does not exist.

The following is taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Choosing not to believe in the devil, will not protect one from his nefarious influence.

God bless you,
Quis ut Deus 3

+1, great post. I could not have said it any better.

God bless.

 

[Robert_Sock]

That Satan exist, there is no doubt in my mind. What I’m after is how Satan tempts us; it must be through our thoughts!

 

[bethanysamuel]

Yes.
Example:
Thought: He’s rich, thats not fair
Feeling: Envy
Commandment broken: no. 10
Action: Try to aquire more than needed
Sin: Greed
Alternative thought: He’s rich, I’l pray for him.
Result: Satan loses, God wins.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Yes.
Example:
Thought: He’s rich, thats not fair
Feeling: Envy
Commandment broken: no. 10
Action: Try to aquire more than needed
Sin: Greed
Alternative thought: He’s rich, I’l pray for him.
Result: Satan loses, God wins.

Yes, that’s what I expect happens!

 

[valentino]

Does Satan tempt us through our thoughts, especially the unconscious?

Well yes.But he tempts us most through our flesh.Man’s flesh loves to be satisfied.Whether its food,comforts such as soft furnishings,sensual pleasure,and then of course just over all wealth.

 

[tonyrey]

One English philosopher - Professor C.E.M. Joad was converted to Christianity because he came to the conclusion that it is impossible for all the diabolical malice and cruelty in the world to be explained scientifically…

 

[vz71]

One English philosopher - Professor C.E.M. Joad was converted to Christianity because he came to the conclusion that it is impossible for all the diabolical malice and cruelty in the world to be explained scientifically…

God truly bringing good out of evil.

 

[Bwtby]

^ Haha, I love your sig.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Does Satan tempt us through our thoughts, especially the unconscious?

Well Robert, I think that you already know the answer to this question. I suppose that you posted to generate some more in depth discussions…

I will conjecture that Satan tempts us exclusively through our thoughts and mainly through our subconscious. Biblically, there is evidence, in the case of Eve and Christ, that Satan can tempt us directly through our conscious mind. I suspect that in the cases of Christ and of man prior to the fall, that Satan did not have access to the subconscious. In the case of Eve, he *had *to appear in physical form in order to tempt her. Then, Adam was tempted through his conscious mind by Eve. Did Eve fall immediately upon giving into the temptation? Did that allow Satan access to her subconscious mind? Did Satan subconsciously tempt Eve to tempt Adam?

Although the mind can be considered on many different levels, I will refer to conscious mind as the function that receives sensory (name removed by moderator)ut and (name removed by moderator)ut from the subconscious and applies rational thought to reach conclusions. Subconscious receives (name removed by moderator)ut inside and outside of the senses and transfers that information up to conscious for analysis and conclusions. The subconscious adds or subtracts value from the (name removed by moderator)ut. The will is a function of the conscious mind.

The conscious mind performs cost/benefit analyses. It is looking for the greatest benefit for the least cost. One way that Satan tempts us is by skewing the benefit value of the (name removed by moderator)ut. He does this in our subconscious.

 

[PJM]

=Robert Sock;8201794]Does Satan tempt us through our thoughts, especially the unconscious?

YES!

Satan can only influence through our thoughts. He CAN NOT over ride or direct our Freewill.

EMOTIONS and thoughts are the door and window he uses.

God Bless,
Pat

 

[GaryTaylor]

I personally feel that the whole manifestation of “satan” is shown through human weakness and happens to everyone at some point. This may happen through something as simple as pushing somone on the playground, checking out a guy or girl when you’re in a committed relationship, or sadly something far worse. The whole idea of “demons” is hard for me to understand I tend to lean more toward the belief that we are tempted in bad ways only when we allow ourselves to be, and that as humans that have the ABILITY to be good, and in turn give ourselves the ability to be “bad,” and some fallen angel cannot MAKE us “bad.” So, basically what I’m saying is the whole idea of satan is rather more symbolic for me. I feel if you focus on bad thoughts (which will often make them come up more in your subconscious), human faults shine through much more brightly. I think the idea of a fallen angel tempting us is kind of a metaphor for the darker sides of human nature, and as we know we ALL have the ability to be good, yet our thoughts can still be tempted, but only if you allow them to be I would try focusing more profoundly on all the good you can do rather than worrying about possible dangers thoughts that come about may pose.

Good Thinking! That Fly Buzzing around the head will come back after swatting it. Next time with another temptation, a new game and way to deceive. If everyone swats the fly away. Than that fly which is satan would be all alone sitting in the corner with no-one to play with.

Peace