Evil before the Fall

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rossum

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Scene: The Garden of Eden

Eve approaches a tree, she sees a serpent with legs. She thinks to herself, ‘Hmm. I haven’t seen one of them before. I’ll have to ask Adam what name he gave it.’

The serpent opens its mouth…

CUT!

The Fall has not yet happened because Eve has not even thought of eating the fruit yet. Does evil already exist before the fall? Is the serpent already evil? Was it evil even before Eve when Adam was naming the animals?

I am sure that I am not the first person to think of this question so there is probably a reasonably standard answer to it somewhere. How can the evil serpent exist in a not-yet-fallen world?

rossum
 
When you reference the Fall, do you refer to the Fall of Man or the Fall of Lucifer? I’m still learning about Catholicism, but I’m pretty sure most Christians believe that Satan had already fallen before creation.

Bonus rant: The serpent is formally identified as Satan in Revelation 12:9.
“The great dragon was hurled down–that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
 
It’s only logical that there was evil before the fall of man. The fall of Satan was caused by his jealousy of man in that man was created in God’s image and likeness and the angels weren’t. Therefore, Satan goes out of his way to destroy us.
 
Saintlucy said:
It’s only logical that there was evil before the fall of man. The fall of Satan was caused by his jealousy of man in that man was created in God’s image and likeness and the angels weren’t. Therefore, Satan goes out of his way to destroy us.
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So that must mean that Satan fell after God created Adam and Eve. Then he fell out of hatred for humans and then caused the fall of Adam and Eve.
I’m only thinking aloud because some people say that Satan fell before God created man which wouldn’t make sense if the reason Satan fell was due to his hatred of man.
 
thistle said:
So that must mean that Satan fell after God created Adam and Eve. Then he fell out of hatred for humans and then caused the fall of Adam and Eve.
I’m only thinking aloud because some people say that Satan fell before God created man which wouldn’t make sense if the reason Satan fell was due to his hatred of man.
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thistle, this was addressed here (two parts):

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=6544842&postcount=34

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=6544849&postcount=35
 
I think since satan and God exist outside of time it is possible for him to have rebelled against God over man–before man was created.
 
rossum said:
I am sure that I am not the first person to think of this question so there is probably a reasonably standard answer to it somewhere. How can the evil serpent exist in a not-yet-fallen world?

rossum
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Thank you to all who have replied. My question is answered.

rossum
 
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