Is Satan Ruling the World?

[NobodyYouKnow]

To be honest, Shiva is seen as being both God and Satan in one package.

 

[Yadon]

I think you may have missed my point. I'm not saying the world is ruled by any particular abstractions or set thereof. I was proposing that the human world is ruled (and created) by abstraction: the process itself.

Honestly I think it all comes back to the acquisition of resources, either physical, intellectual or emotional. What causes us to want these resources is desire. I say resources in a broader sense.

People often quote money but the reason money is so important is because its the placeholder for goods and resources.

Anything that money can't buy we either get from mental efforts or social relationships, but at the end of the day desire in itself runs the world.

Though unlike most people I wouldn't say that is bad. Without desire no one would do anything good either. They just wouldn't really do much of anything. Actually they wouldn't exist, because natural selection doesn't favour a species that does not have desires.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Honestly I think it all comes back to the acquisition of resources, either physical, intellectual or emotional. What causes us to want these resources is desire. I say resources in a broader sense.

People often quote money but the reason money is so important is because its the placeholder for goods and resources.

Anything that money can't buy we either get from mental efforts or social relationships, but at the end of the day desire in itself runs the world.

Though unlike most people I wouldn't say that is bad. Without desire no one would do anything good either. They just wouldn't really do much of anything. Actually they wouldn't exist, because natural selection doesn't favour a species that does not have desires.

Yes, money is required for those things...just to exist, however, how many people aren't satisfied with that and seek to obtain money in order to hoard it or to buy items of luxury that place them in a higher 'social class' than their peers?

It has often been said to me 'the reason you aren't materialistic is because you have no money...easy to use that as an excuse...'

 

[Quagmire]

Honestly I think it all comes back to the acquisition of resources, either physical, intellectual or emotional. What causes us to want these resources is desire. I say resources in a broader sense.

People often quote money but the reason money is so important is because its the placeholder for goods and resources.

Anything that money can't buy we either get from mental efforts or social relationships, but at the end of the day desire in itself runs the world.

Though unlike most people I wouldn't say that is bad. Without desire no one would do anything good either. They just wouldn't really do much of anything. Actually they wouldn't exist, because natural selection doesn't favour a species that does not have desires.

Without the ability to think abstractly, we wouldn't have any desires over and above the instinctual.

 

[EtuMalku]

Yes, money is required for those things...just to exist, however, how many people aren't satisfied with that and seek to obtain money in order to hoard it or to buy items of luxury that place them in a higher 'social class' than their peers?

It has often been said to me 'the reason you aren't materialistic is because you have no money...easy to use that as an excuse...'

Isn't that one of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?

 

[outhouse]

Except what you say doesn't exist, does in fact exist. Satan is a description of real experiences/perceptions.

.

You cannot state "fact" when the only fact is that this is a concept that evolved in mythology and changed with time.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Isn't that one of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?

I don't remember, but it seems to be a 'noble truth' in whatever religion there is out there imo.

 

[Yadon]

Yes, money is required for those things...just to exist, however, how many people aren't satisfied with that and seek to obtain money in order to hoard it or to buy items of luxury that place them in a higher 'social class' than their peers?

It has often been said to me 'the reason you aren't materialistic is because you have no money...easy to use that as an excuse...'

There are a lot of rich people who have given away the vast majority of their wealth or sacrifice greater parts of their income to improve the pay and benefits of their employees. Though they are few and far inbetween.

Without the ability to think abstractly, we wouldn't have any desires over and above the instinctual.

Perhaps true, but are desires to feel a certain way physical or abstract in nature? On one hand the chemicals that cause it are physical but the experience itself which one seeks is not physical.

Even if abstractions rule the world, it's the desire to create those abstractions and pursue them that allows them to exist in the first place. So again, I argue it's desire that makes the world go round.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

And if Satan were ruling the world, why would it matter? What could we do about it? All we can do is either - sit in the corner and cry about it, or just continue to live the way you were living before you found that out.

 

[AllanV]

As I had said before, "Satan" might rule the earth if it's symbolic of abstractions. And I've seen several people talk about abstractions.

But the original poster asked it in a kind of literal way. I see a lot of people talking but not much back and forth.

We could talk about what qualities that are attributed to Satan as to what ones rule the world but at the end of the day we are just inventing another box that only exists in the linguistic and artistic context we put it in.

A narcissist is an example. A young professor recently stabbed his girlfriend over 200 times killing her because she wanted to break away from him. In court there was no remorse just a lot of excuses and justification and how he was affected and that he was not guilty of any crime.
Most people have similar traits by degree. There is something quite powerful that that can take over a person when the opportunity comes along. It is seen all the time and now man has nuclear bombs.

 

[Yadon]

A narcissist is an example. A young professor recently stabbed his girlfriend over 200 times killing her because she wanted to break away from him. In court there was no remorse just a lot of excuses and justification and how he was affected and that he was not guilty of any crime.
Most people have similar traits by degree. There is something quite powerful that that can take over a person when the opportunity comes along. It is seen all the time and now man has nuclear bombs.

It sounds like the professor reacted with such rage that he didn't think it through, if he wasn't enraged he wouldn't of stabbed that many times. As far as making excuses it's called cognitive dissonance. That is much different than narcissism which is an actual medical disorder.

How this translates into your point you do not make clear.

 

[AllanV]

It sounds like the professor reacted with such rage that he didn't think it through, if he wasn't enraged he wouldn't of stabbed that many times. As far as making excuses it's called cognitive dissonance. That is much different than narcissism which is an actual medical disorder.

How this translates into your point you do not make clear.

There was a lot of debate on this subject at the time and He was regarded as narcissistic. But it is complex as his level of belief in himself was very strong. He was shown on TV giving evidence.

There is some discussion amongst friends who have been involved in intensive study. This can open the mind up to being taken over in an involuntary way where the personality can be distorted. The mind is full of promptings and temptations. If they are acted on then they cease to be seen and they become the person. The subject can become superior in their manner at one level but this can go way beyond and they are unable to see it themselves.

Usually individuals can mask their worst traits and we all learn the skills if we want to get along. But some have no restraint and can end up on medication which can be another trap. Sometimes these people are powerful enough to inflict damage in the minds of those around them.

This is the realm of Satan. Most people are never tested or test themselves. Every one endeavors to create their world of safety for the mind and they learn their limits and how to damage others before they are damaged themselves. Apparently sane people will justify war and what sort of person have they become to win. Everyone lives amongst people like this and the young are easily lead into conflict. If the times change who really knows how they will react and behave.

There is a mass indoctrination taking place where familiar traits are not seen for what they are and where they will lead and it all centers on the human mind and what influences it and how. Some do know how it all works and evidently there is a world leader who will be the personification of Satan and many will be deceived by him because they are familiar in the mind with his type.

 

[Yadon]

There was a lot of debate on this subject at the time and He was regarded as narcissistic. But it is complex as his level of belief in himself was very strong. He was shown on TV giving evidence.

There is some discussion amongst friends who have been involved in intensive study. This can open the mind up to being taken over in an involuntary way where the personality can be distorted. The mind is full of promptings and temptations. If they are acted on then they cease to be seen and they become the person. The subject can become superior in their manner at one level but this can go way beyond and they are unable to see it themselves.

Usually individuals can mask their worst traits and we all learn the skills if we want to get along. But some have no restraint and can end up on medication which can be another trap. Sometimes these people are powerful enough to inflict damage in the minds of those around them.

This is the realm of Satan. Most people are never tested or test themselves. Every one endeavors to create their world of safety for the mind and they learn their limits and how to damage others before they are damaged themselves. Apparently sane people will justify war and what sort of person have they become to win. Everyone lives amongst people like this and the young are easily lead into conflict. If the times change who really knows how they will react and behave.

There is a mass indoctrination taking place where familiar traits are not seen for what they are and where they will lead and it all centers on the human mind and what influences it and how. Some do know how it all works and evidently there is a world leader who will be the personification of Satan and many will be deceived by him because they are familiar in the mind with his type.

So Satan is our ability to harm one another?

 

[Slapstick]

Luke 4:5,6 says:"he [the Devil] brought him [Jesus] up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time. Then the Devil said to him: “I will give you all this authority and their glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish." This seems to show the Devil controls the governments. Do you think the Devil controls the world? Why or why not?

Great OP! I would like to comment!

Yes if you read the bible then you would know that the devil is god’s right hand man. Jesus thought he was better than the people (angels) in heaven so was kicked out and sent to earth for redemption. Satan offered him the deal of a lifetime and Jesus chose to turn his back on god. Jesus was later sent to the stake for doing so. It was the only way he could pay his debts to both god and Satan. So Jesus went on to rule in the underworld.


When Jesus took Satan’s place in the underworld Satan was resurrected and went to heaven and threw out all of the angels including god. Satan took god’s place in heaven and left god to dwell on earth as the Lord of deception.

 

[AllanV]

So Satan is our ability to harm one another?

Yes and it is also reflected in the actual energy of the planet but it will be changed.
It takes some personal power to keep others out of the mind and from doing deep harm.
Each person sees themselves becoming something they would prefer not to be but at some point this is lost and they become the person they are. Barriers are created and methods developed.

From a young age a barrier is created to knowing God and this ultimately brings death.

The idea is though that everyone is more or less equally empowered and each learns to be strong in the mind with own belief and hard in the heart.

 

[s2a]

Luke 4:5,6 says:"he [the Devil] brought him [Jesus] up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time. Then the Devil said to him: “I will give you all this authority and their glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish." This seems to show the Devil controls the governments. Do you think the Devil controls the world? Why or why not?

Um, No.

You ask, "Why?"

OK. If "the Devil" is "in control"...he's either incompetent; or worse. He's just utterly impotent. IE, He has no "male junk". Understand?

Perhaps if you review that particular verse as inspired insight and informed revelation, it would then prove no added burdened task to actually name the"kingdoms of the inhabited earth" that are, and this day, that OBVIOUSLY serve "the Devil" and His nefarious control of the world.

The list need not be in alphabetical order... though it would be helpful...

Does Beelzebub at least have a Facebook page at this point, seeking simple "likes" or "friends" requests?

Maybe a Twitter feed and an untold accounting/following of like many like-minded drone sycophants?

Hashtag...Satan rules?

Why or why not?

 

[McBell]

I don't necessarily think that all those killings in the OT literally happened, anyway. The Hebrew Bible is the national epic of the Jewish people and is written from their point of view. It is really about humanity trying to understand God and draw closer to Him, but failing much of the time. What really matters are the underlying meanings of the stories.

But, yes. There are worse things than death. But we never really die, anyway. It is only the corporeal flesh that passes away.

a most comforting belief for sure.

 

[Yadon]

Yes and it is also reflected in the actual energy of the planet but it will be changed.
It takes some personal power to keep others out of the mind and from doing deep harm.
Each person sees themselves becoming something they would prefer not to be but at some point this is lost and they become the person they are. Barriers are created and methods developed.

From a young age a barrier is created to knowing God and this ultimately brings death.

The idea is though that everyone is more or less equally empowered and each learns to be strong in the mind with own belief and hard in the heart.

So if one attacks me but I defend myself, is my defence also a manifestation of Satan? Can I ever truly avoid harming other people even when my intentions are the best and I try not to? What might help some people might hurt others.

 

[AllanV]

OK. If "the Devil" is "in control"...he's either incompetent; or worse. He's just utterly impotent. IE, He has no "male junk". Understand?

It depends what the devil's plan is. God's plan is to create individual immortal God Beings all of one mind in what they set out to do.
The devils plan is to disrupt God's plan as each person sets out in their own minds to do what each wants in a selfish way causing harm to others, themselves and everything around them as they go. It is all destructive to a perfect nature.
Things can seem good but when looking closely it become obvious there is harm being done. But on any individual subject there is much discussion even amongst the experts as to whether this is true or not.
Overall the planet suffers, communities suffer, families and individuals are compromised. Of course some position themselves for least effect.

Everything is devolving into chaos.

 

[s2a]

So if one attacks me but I defend myself, is my defence also a manifestation of Satan? Can I ever truly avoid harming other people even when my intentions are the best and I try not to? What might help some people might hurt others.

Maybe it's that Santa/Satan hat that is so confusing?