The Devil Made Me Do It!

[Sunstone]

Does the Devil actually make people do things? If so, how?

 

[CaptainXeroid]

I think NO. People allow themselves to be influenced by negative forces, but ultimately the individual has free will to do evil or to do good.

 

[cardero]

The Devil Made Me Do It....
does not hold up in a court of law.

 

[Peace]

Does the Devil actually make people do things? If so, how?

Yes, Satan's sole task on this earth is to deviate us from the right path. He hates us since the creation of our father and mother Adam & Eve. And he is doing his best by using different ways of temptations in order to gurantee so many dwellers of Hell fire. Satan is the enemy of all humans. If we don't have a strong faith we are easily led by his whispers to disobey God.

Peace

 

[Peace]

I think NO. People allow themselves to be influenced by negative forces

Yes and Satan plays a role in that also.

but ultimately the individual has free will to do evil or to do good

I agree that the individual has a complete free will to do evil or to do good, but Satan is the one behind committing evil acts. As he was the one behind getting our parents Adam & Eve out of Paradise, he is also now behind the evil that exists in this world.

Peace

 

[retrorich]

Yes, Satan's sole task on this earth is to deviate us from the right path. He hates us since the creation of our father and mother Adam & Eve. And he is doing his best by using different ways of temptations in order to gurantee so many dwellers of Hell fire. Satan is the enemy of all humans. If we don't have a strong faith we are easily led by his whispers to disobey God.

Peace

<cough>The Church Lady<cough>

 

[WrongWay]

I look at it like this. You find a wallet with money, credit cards, etc. in it. There is also the contact information for the person who's wallet you have found. The devil is that little voice inside that says keep the money, trash the wallet. You think, No I will return the wallet. Then that little voice says, "Ok return the wallet, keep the money". "He would not have anything if I didn't return his wallet in the first place".
To me the devil is that little voice inside that tries to justify that keeping the money is alright.

 

[michel]

No. But I wish you would drop the 'funny option' in the polls you start, Phil, because the temptation to go for the silly response is overwhelming.............

No, the Devil made me do nothing; I did it. I had the option to do it or not to do it; I chose.

 

[Willamena]

Does the Devil actually make people do things? If so, how?

It depends on how you define "the Devil." If "the Devil" is seen as representative of people's desires or temptations, malicious schemes, or heartless acts, then "the Devil" does indeed "make" us to things.

 

[michel]

It depends on how you define "the Devil." If "the Devil" is seen as representative of people's desires or temptations, malicious schemes, or heartless acts, then "the Devil" does indeed "make" us to things.

Good point, in which case I agree with you.

 

[doppelganger]

The Devil Made Me Do It....
does not hold up in a court of law.

Though we learned during the O.J. trial that "the Devil framed me" does hold up.

 

[MaddLlama]

Not in the least. People just use it as an excuse to shirk responsibility. "It wasn't my fault, Satan tempted me!". For my money, it's a pretty poor excuse.

 

[dawny0826]

Satan can distract...he can place fear in our hearts and obstacles in our path...

Ultimately though, we have the choice to allow ourselves to be defeated or claim victory over the devil.

In other words...the devil made me do it...doesn't fly.

 

[WrongWay]

Satan can distract...he can place fear in our hearts and obstacles in our path...

Ultimately though, we have the choice to allow ourselves to be defeated or claim victory over the devil.

In other words...the devil made me do it...doesn't fly.

I would agree. A better statement would be"The Devil convinced me to do it", but ultimately it is your choice. :angel2:

 

[Real Sorceror]

Unless Satan was physically standing next to me, and was packin' serious heat, then the answer is "No".

 

[ayani]

remember the belief-o-matic?

there was a question there asking why people did wrong. one of the options was "evil is the influence of satan", but another option read "not listening to the voice of God within us can lead to wrongdoing".

i chose the latter.

 

[Buttercup]

It depends on how you define "the Devil." If "the Devil" is seen as representative of people's desires or temptations, malicious schemes, or heartless acts, then "the Devil" does indeed "make" us to things.

My guess is that he means a literal supernatural being called "The Devil" or Satan.

 

[Hacker]

NO, I thnk it's freakin ridiculous.

 

[Halcyon]

I would agree. A better statement would be"The Devil convinced me to do it", but ultimately it is your choice. :angel2:

Assuming for the moment the existance of such a being, i'd agree with the above quote.

If the Devil made anyone do something, then it would be the Devil doing it through the person, like he was using a hand puppet.
If the common concept of the Devil is accepted, then he is like a whispering voice that offeres rewards for acts he suggests. Therefore the person must already be prone to commiting evil (as in anti-social or very selfish) acts, the Devil is just giving them a push.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Does the Devil actually make people do things?
Mike182 made me drink Bud. Does that count?