Posts: 13901
Threads: 263
Joined: January 11, 2009
Reputation:
82
The Devil
November 19, 2016 at 4:36 am
My question is about the motivation of the devil character in the bible.
The character is written as evil but torments people who are or have been evil.
If the devil is supposed to be evil why did the author give it this trait, which seems to conflict with its main drive?
Surely if the devil wanted to encourage evil acts then hell would be advertised as a super fun place with willing sexual partners of your choice and all the big macs you can eat
Is this inconsistency down to:
bad writing?
an oversight?
or what?
You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.
Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.
Posts: 29107
Threads: 218
Joined: August 9, 2014
Reputation:
155
RE: The Devil
November 19, 2016 at 5:10 am
(This post was last modified: November 19, 2016 at 5:13 am by robvalue.)
Both I think.
God not only allows the devil to do stuff, he actually sends him on missions.
Of course, the character of the devil evolves during the bible.
He is of course a scapegoat to handle the problem of evil.
Posts: 698
Threads: 16
Joined: October 17, 2014
Reputation:
16
RE: The Devil
November 19, 2016 at 6:03 am
Who has Lucifer killed?
We know god killed many. Lucifer simply tempted man and refused to bow to a power hungry narcissist.
Seems like a pretty cool guy to me.
Hail Satan!
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
Posts: 29107
Threads: 218
Joined: August 9, 2014
Reputation:
155
RE: The Devil
November 19, 2016 at 6:45 am
I believe the count is ten. God, the good guy, is into the millions between direct murders and ordered slaughters.
Posts: 32922
Threads: 1412
Joined: March 15, 2013
Reputation:
152
RE: The Devil
November 19, 2016 at 10:30 am
(November 19, 2016 at 5:10 am)robvalue Wrote: He is of course a scapegoat to handle the problem of evil.
Precisely, the devil is nothing more than a scapegoat for humanity's unwillingness to accept personal responsibility of wrongdoing.
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
Posts: 30129
Threads: 304
Joined: April 18, 2014
Reputation:
92
RE: The Devil
November 19, 2016 at 10:38 am
I don't recall where, but I saw some renaissance depiction of the damned in hell. Demons, fire, the whole nine yards.
But all the tormented are smiling.
Might be a suggestion then the condemned revel in their wickedness and reap willingly their torments.
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
Posts: 29107
Threads: 218
Joined: August 9, 2014
Reputation:
155
RE: The Devil
November 20, 2016 at 3:45 am
Jake on TBR said something like, "I don't understand how Satan gets to do anything, ever. Is god like, 'Ah, you can have this one. Go ahead.' "
Posts: 13901
Threads: 263
Joined: January 11, 2009
Reputation:
82
RE: The Devil
November 20, 2016 at 6:29 am
(November 20, 2016 at 3:45 am)robvalue Wrote: Jake on TBR said something like, "I don't understand how Satan gets to do anything, ever. Is god like, 'Ah, you can have this one. Go ahead.' "
Indeed doesn't st Peter do the sorting and send the Devil the "evil" people or something, like the sorting hat in Harry Potter "Your an evil shit I see, Slytherin for you!"
You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.
Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.
Posts: 29107
Threads: 218
Joined: August 9, 2014
Reputation:
155
RE: The Devil
November 20, 2016 at 6:34 am
Haha yeah, something like that.
"You've been a bad boy. You don't get to listen to endless harp music, have your free will removed so you can't sin, and endlessly kiss the ringhole of a sadistic tyrant."
"Score!"
