Is Satan Symbolic?

[The Sum of Awe]

What if, Satan of the Bible, is meant to be a symbol for the human greed and hate? Just as the Angel of Death is a symbol for death?


Then, wouldn't make sense when the Bible is saying that Satan will rise to end the world, that it is just our own hate destroying ourselves, but Jesus (could be symbolic for good?) will save us and take us to heaven.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Everything is symbolic if you try hard enough. That's the whole basis that art critics and literary critics thrive on.

 

[horizon_mj1]

What if, Satan of the Bible, is meant to be a symbol for the human greed and hate? Just as the Angel of Death is a symbol for death?


Then, wouldn't make sense when the Bible is saying that Satan will rise to end the world, that it is just our own hate destroying ourselves, but Jesus (could be symbolic for good?) will save us and take us to heaven.

That IMO is an extremely good way of understanding what some find difficult to understand.

 

[Kuros]

In a way....

 

[Ekanta]

I can agree with this overall and one can even expand it.

The light (knowledge/consiousness) is God which is seated in our heart (the kingdom is within). It can be said to act as a conscience or a revealer of things in its "true light".
The one who steals the light is Satan or Lucifer (light-bearer) & he wants the throne, i.e. he marked by desire. Thus satan/desire over shadows the light and think he is the light (ego).
Angels can roughly be translated with "messengers" they are the functions of our mind, senses, body etc. Originally these functions are pure. But by following Satan they become "polluted" with desire tendencies and are called demons.

The "war in heaven" will then be the war inside a person between these forces.
At the "end times" there will be many "anti-Christs" will then mean "many egoists" etc.

Well thats one way of explaining it... cya around.

 

[elmarna]

yes it would make sense.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

I can agree with this overall and one can even expand it.

The light (knowledge/consiousness) is God which is seated in our heart (the kingdom is within). It can be said to act as a conscience or a revealer of things in its "true light".
The one who steals the light is Satan or Lucifer (light-bearer) & he wants the throne, i.e. he marked by desire. Thus satan/desire over shadows the light and think he is the light (ego).
Angels can roughly be translated with "messengers" they are the functions of our mind, senses, body etc. Originally these functions are pure. But by following Satan they become "polluted" with desire tendencies and are called demons.

The "war in heaven" will then be the war inside a person between these forces.
At the "end times" there will be many "anti-Christs" will then mean "many egoists" etc.

Well thats one way of explaining it... cya around.

This only makes sense if you're still clinging to the misinterpretation that Isaiah 14 is talking about the Devil.

 

[Ekanta]

This only makes sense if you're still clinging to the misinterpretation that Isaiah 14 is talking about the Devil.

I get your point, but it might still be an interpretation even it doesnt depend on Isaiah 14. One could can refer to other sections of the bible & even other religions.

I will admit that I dont have time to go through all that. Take it or leave it and investigate it yourself.

 

[Kuros]

So we are assuming that the most advanced ego in the universe is the human ego....?

And not that there could possibly actually be more advanced beings and we are just ants in the grand scheme of things....?

 

[horizon_mj1]

I see it like this, every religion has a "good guy" and a "bad guy", Humanity is between them and as a whole make the "Decisions" of what their own Fate will be.

 

[fallingblood]

I think in order to get to that type of interpretation, one would have to ignore the historical context in which these pieces were written. It may make sense today; however, in context, it simply does not work. Satan was seen as a real being (and just looking at the history of Satan, there is really no support for your position).

 

[horizon_mj1]

I apologize fallingblood, but was your post in reference to mine?; If so you part of my position is in need of "support", I am not aware of opinions needing "support"; it is not that difficult to see how I came to my personal conclusion is it?

 

[fallingblood]

I apologize fallingblood, but was your post in reference to mine?; If so you part of my position is in need of "support", I am not aware of opinions needing "support"; it is not that difficult to see how I came to my personal conclusion is it?

No. I was addressing the OP.

I think your opinion is probably quite close to what happened.

 

[horizon_mj1]

No. I was addressing the OP.

I think your opinion is probably quite close to what happened.

Sorry Thank you

 

[Adramelek]

What if, Satan of the Bible, is meant to be a symbol for the human greed and hate? Just as the Angel of Death is a symbol for death?


Then, wouldn't make sense when the Bible is saying that Satan will rise to end the world, that it is just our own hate destroying ourselves, but Jesus (could be symbolic for good?) will save us and take us to heaven.

To me the Hebrew Satan is only a symbol, just as are all other names, forms, and semblances of what I call the Lord of Darkness. In my mind Satan, Lucifer, Set, Prometheus, etc., and so forth, are all symbolic reflections of certain aspects of one and the same Being and the mechanism of the Powers of Darkness. However, as a life long disciple of the Dark One the Hebrew/Christian fiend Satan or Devil would be at the bottom of the preverbial totem, though I do recognize him as a part of my gods' mythological and historic legacy assigned to him/it by humankind.

(As a Setian, of course, to me the ancient Egyptian god Set in his pre-cult of Osiris Form as the god of the Sky-by-Night is the Dark Lords most ancient and noble semblance, what I would call the supreme manifestation of the Prince of Darkness on Earth.)

Xeper.
/Adramelek\

 

[horizon_mj1]

Adramelek, being that different "Charges" were given to the different Deities; Lucifer bringer of Light, Satan Deceiver of Humanity, Devil Father of Lies, etc.; wouldn't "categorizing them and viewing them as the same Entity be similar to seeing a body of religion as the same "being"?

 

[Adramelek]

Adramelek, being that different "Charges" were given to the different Deities; Lucifer bringer of Light, Satan Deceiver of Humanity, Devil Father of Lies, etc.; wouldn't "categorizing them and viewing them as the same Entity be similar to seeing a body of religion as the same "being"?

Satanism, Luciferianism, and Setian philosophy are three distinct forms of religious, Magical, and esoteric philosophy. They all do have some common ground and are primarily LHP in nature, so one could say that they are all different reflections of the same creature that is the Path of the Left - that is if I am understanding your question correctly.

 

[horizon_mj1]

Satanism, Luciferianism, and Setian philosophy are three distinct forms of religious, Magical, and esoteric philosophy. They all do have some common ground and are primarily LHP in nature, so one could say that they are all different reflections of the same creature that is the Path of the Left - that is if I am understanding your question correctly.

So in other words, Satan, Lucifer, Old Scratch, etc. are just different names for different parts of a single Deity's personality?

 

[Pegg]

if Satan was only a symbol for human greed and hate, then we would have to say that Jesus was as much affected by greed and hate as everyone else.

Jesus was tempted by the devil in the gospels. Satan offered him power and rulership over all the kingdoms of the earth. So if the OP's question had any basis, then the account about the temptation came from within Jesus himself and this would make Jesus 'blemished' with the same sinful desires of mankind.

However, If Satan was a real person, as the scriptures portray him to be, then he is the cause and promoter of sinful desire and mankind is not inherently flawed.... as Jesus sinlessness shows that mankind has the potential to be sin free.

 

[javajo]

While there is a lot of symbolism in the Bible, I personally believe Satan is a real created being-fallen angel who is trying to get people to worship him as God and who is trying to bring all the destruction, pain, death and misery he can. I believe he is trying to blind man's eyes to God's love and wonderful plan of salvation and trying to take as many people to Hell as he can. That's just my own belief is all.