Why are people so afraid of Satan?

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Does anyone believe Satan to be simply a symbolic figure? Representing something rather than being a something?

I can’t make up my mind on this point ​

I can’t see anything to make belief that the devil exists necessary - man is more than capable of evil without blaming it on the devil. To blame evil on the devil looks TM lke trying to avoid facing responsibility:

• The devil didn’t cause the “Final Solution” - men did.
• The devil doesn’t plant bombs - men do.
• The devil doesn’t protect child abusers - men do.
• The devil doesn’t stop aid reaching victims of natural disasters - men do.
• The devil doesn’t divert aid so that it is sold for cash instead of being given to the people in need of it - men do.
• The devil does not murder dozens of women instead of giving them medical care - men do.
• The devil doesn’t practice torture - men do

And so on. Human beings are capable of truly incredible wickedness, of reaching heroic heights of cruelty - we don’t need a devil to account for the evil we do; we are more than sufficiently depraved to do his job for him; he’s not needed. We human beings are the only devils around, AFAICS. Satan is not responsible for the evil I do - I am.

 

[StrawberryJam]

That is another interesting perspective. Something that makes me really think more about this.

Thank you for giving me more to think about this Gottle of Geer.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What do believers really fear about Satan? Does a believer think about Satan often? When bad things happen to believers do they give Satan credit for it?
Is it healthy to think Satan can possess you? How would you know if he did?
What kind of power do you think he has over anything you do?
Do any of you think he can talk to you? Have you ever felt his presence?
Tell me all you can about Satan and your beliefs about him.

One response only. Insufficient time for the rest.

“Have you ever felt his presence.”

I can’t be sure, but I had an experience of which I will never be totally persuaded was not. I had occasion to meet with a person in connection with my occupation at the time. The instant the man walked into the room, it was as if something came in with him. He was a pretty nondescript person; late middle-aged, nobody remarkable. I literally couldn’t talk to him. I simply couldn’t. I couldn’t figure it out, and was embarrassed. But there was something horribly oppresive that simply filled the room, and all I could do was leave.

Later, I found that he had shaken a small child to death and forced his paramour, the mother, to bury the child in the woods. He beat her savagely and threatened to kill her if she told. Ultimately, though, it came out. He was arrested and convicted of second degree murder and imprisoned for a very long time.

I never had that kind of experience before or since. I am not saying Satan was with the man, or that he was possessed or anything. I don’t know. I will also say that I don’t believe in “psychic reading” of people, or “auras” or any of that. But I will always believe there was something profoundly and overwhelmingly evil, not at all evident on the surface, and maybe not him, himself, that came into that room with that man.

If, indeed, it was Satan, I absolutely never want to be in its presence again.

 

[StrawberryJam]

People that hurt babies!

That makes me feel a chill I can’t even describe, and an anger that boils up I can’t describe either!

What a horrible sick person!:tissues:

 

[SkinnyJay]

I can’t make up my mind on this point ​

I can’t see anything to make belief that the devil exists necessary - man is more than capable of evil without blaming it on the devil. To blame evil on the devil looks TM lke trying to avoid facing responsibility:

• The devil didn’t cause the “Final Solution” - men did.
• The devil doesn’t plant bombs - men do.
• The devil doesn’t protect child abusers - men do.
• The devil doesn’t stop aid reaching victims of natural disasters - men do.
• The devil doesn’t divert aid so that it is sold for cash instead of being given to the people in need of it - men do.
• The devil does not murder dozens of women instead of giving them medical care - men do.
• The devil doesn’t practice torture - men do

And so on. Human beings are capable of truly incredible wickedness, of reaching heroic heights of cruelty - we don’t need a devil to account for the evil we do; we are more than sufficiently depraved to do his job for him; he’s not needed. We human beings are the only devils around, AFAICS. Satan is not responsible for the evil I do - I am.

“Satan is not responsible for the evil I do - I am.” I like this.

I suppose in my mind whether Satan is real or a symbol for mans proclivity to sin, the end result is the same. If one believes Heaven is real and a loving God is real, what should it matter whether you are sinning because of whispers or sinning because you have your own urge to. In the end we are responsible for any sin we commit. Sin is turning from God and saying we don’t need Him. It doesn’t really matter where the idea for sin came from or how it came to us what matters is our decision in the face of it.

There is evidence that points to something supernatural and evil. I believe that evidence. Being Satan and trying to take souls has got to be an easy job. With our free will and human nature it is almost like a cigarette advertisers job. Cigarettes were cool, available and addictive the job was almost done for them.

I disagree with Satan being the sole pusher for sin, we do a fine job of that ourselves. I suppose I draw the line in the middle somewhere between Satan being sole pusher and Satan being a symbol for what we as humans do. Satan pokes and prods when he wants to for certain things but as a presence is not in every sin.

We are capable of sinning without Satan.

 

[StrawberryJam]

“Satan is not responsible for the evil I do - I am.” I like this.

I suppose in my mind whether Satan is real or a symbol for mans proclivity to sin, the end result is the same. If one believes Heaven is real and a loving God is real, what should it matter whether you are sinning because of whispers or sinning because you have your own urge to. In the end we are responsible for any sin we commit. Sin is turning from God and saying we don’t need Him. It doesn’t really matter where the idea for sin came from or how it came to us what matters is our decision in the face of it.

There is evidence that points to something supernatural and evil. I believe that evidence. Being Satan and trying to take souls has got to be an easy job. With our free will and human nature it is almost like a cigarette advertisers job. Cigarettes were cool, available and addictive the job was almost done for them.

I disagree with Satan being the sole pusher for sin, we do a fine job of that ourselves. I suppose I draw the line in the middle somewhere between Satan being sole pusher and Satan being a symbol for what we as humans do. Satan pokes and prods when he wants to for certain things but as a presence is not in every sin.

We are capable of sinning without Satan.

I confess, I went back to smoking after my accident. Only 5 a day, but I think its a shame because I stopped smoking for 8 years and now am back at it again. The devil did not make me do it either.

I did it.