Does Satan tempt us through our thoughts?

[Bwtby]

How can Satan, a created being, tempt us thru our thoughts when he is NOT omniscient?

YoungMommy brings up good points.

You are your own worst enemy.

 

[Little_One0307]

How can Satan, a created being, tempt us thru our thoughts when he is NOT omniscient?

YoungMommy brings up good points.

You are your own worst enemy.

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

So before I say anything else further I wanted to ask a few questions.

Bwtby, Is one of the “good points” that YoungMommy brings up is the following?
Gary, Is the following two things that are quoted, examples of good thinking?

So, basically what I’m saying is the whole idea of satan is rather more symbolic for me.

,

and

I think the idea of a fallen angel tempting us is kind of a metaphor for the darker sides of human nature

becuase if so, these points are in contradiction with the Magisterial Teaching of the Catholic Church, which makes them not really good thinking.

God bless.

 

[Little_One0307]

I personally feel that the whole manifestation of “satan” is shown through human weakness and happens to everyone at some point. So, basically what I’m saying is the whole idea of satan is rather more symbolic for me. I think the idea of a fallen angel tempting us is kind of a metaphor for the darker sides of human nature,

YoungMommy,

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church which Blessed Pope John Paul II said “is a sure norm for teaching the Catholic faith.”

#538 The Gospels speak of a time of solitude for Jesus in the desert immediately after his baptism by John. Driven by the Spirit into the desert, Jesus remains there for forty days without eating; he lives among wild beasts, and angels minister to him. At the end of this time Satan tempts him three times, seeking to compromise his filial attitude toward God. Jesus rebuffs these attacks, which recapitulate the temptations of Adam in Paradise and of Israel in the desert, and the devil leaves him “until an opportune time”.

#539 The evangelists indicate the salvific meaning of this mysterious event: Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful just where the first Adam had given in to temptation. Jesus fulfils Israel’s vocation perfectly: in contrast to those who had once provoked God during forty years in the desert, Christ reveals himself as God’s Servant, totally obedient to the divine will. In this, Jesus is the devil’s conqueror: he “binds the strong man” to take back his plunder. Jesus’ victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of his filial love for the Father.

and

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.”

Sounds like Satan is much more than a symbol to me and that his deeds are more than metaphors.

The Magisterium of the Catholic Church has constantly taught that Satan and the demons are real beings, just as you are real and exist. Just because you do not understand them, does not mean that they are not real. Mother Church also teaches that they do tempt us, Satan most especially.

How absurd it would be for me to sit at my end of the computer and say, I don’t think YoungMommy exists, I think that she is merely a symbol of dissent, and this because she is hard to understand. You would probably think I had lost it, and you would be right in this case, because I would not be conforming to ontological reality which states that YoungMommy does exist.

Just because we can’t believe or in something or understand it does not mean that it does not exist.

Quis ut Deus 3 gave a wonderful explanation on the reality of Satan and the demons.

God bless.