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TotD: Was the serpent in Genesis Satan?

D

Desert Snake

Veteran Member
Sleeppy said:
There is no such thing as pure evil. "Evil," itself is a description of things undesireable/contrary to a perceived goodwill. It's all perspective. As outlined in Genesis, among other scripture, God's perspective/will is God (specifically called Father). So, when God created in His likeness, His response was, "good" and even "very good." Again, though these creations were given these descriptions, they were created as limited beings, within limited space and time, and given limited goodwill according to their limited appointed purposes.

Well, I disagree. Satan is made out to be pure evil, right? Are there any redeeming qualities that you can cite? Is there a "positive" representation of Satan in the Bible?


God's will for each being and instant progresses constantly. In other words, God is always doing something. Really, an infinite number of somethings at any instant, and we are the results of some things done, being done, and to be done. There is no actual evil - only perceptions, which are according to appointed limitations and purpose. And this was summarized with "there is one God."
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Once again, I disagree. Free will, I believe, is directly in logical opposition to your viewpoint.
 
Sleeppy

Sleeppy

Fatalist. Christian. Pacifist.
disciple said:
Once again, I disagree. Free will, I believe, is directly in logical opposition to your viewpoint.
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Correct.. And probably has to be left to another thread.

If you want to debate the subject, I'd be interested, as well.
 
Sleeppy

Sleeppy

Fatalist. Christian. Pacifist.
disciple said:
Once again, I disagree. Free will, I believe, is directly in logical opposition to your viewpoint.
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Everything existing, including Satan, has some likeness to God the Creator. It's inescapable. Everything was created in His likeness.

Paul had been murdering many Christians before his conversion. His conversion would not have occured had it not been for the direct intervention of our Lord. He was very satanic toward very godly men.. But, he still held likeness to God. For instance, though misguided, he was very zealous. That zealousness was given its newfound godly direction. He was given additional likeness - that godly direction.
 
Heathen Hammer

Heathen Hammer

Nope, you're still wrong
Jayhawker Soule said:
Yes, in fact there was. And, in fact, it was argued by one of the leading leading and world renown Biblical translators (Alter) and one of the leading and world renown commentators (Plaut). Yet you, grossly unqualified to compare yourself favorably to either of these gentleman, simply dismiss them them out of hand. It's truly pathetic.
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Now if only you had been competent enough to post links to said statements so others could evaluate and possibly learn from them. Ah, opportunities lost to vanity and incompetence...
 
Heathen Hammer

Heathen Hammer

Nope, you're still wrong
Sleeppy said:
You can't fool me. I don't know how you fooled yourself but, they're are 7 creation days mentioned directly before this event. I don't know how many people actually believe, especially in our time, that these days were the same in length to our current day or some other civilization's understanding of a day. It takes a little arrogance to assume and leave it at that. That's much like believing that everything revolves around the Earth. Your perspective doesn't matter until it's actually aligned with the right one.
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Yes, those were seven literal days.

I am not assuming, when that is what is said.

I did ask a question as to why this number would be given in some form of metaphor when it was issued as a dire warning. Care to try answering that?
 
SerpentiaAustralis

SerpentiaAustralis

New Member
Correct me if I am wrong but Satan is a fallen angel in a monotheistic doctrine. And the serpent is the symbol of absolute spirutual enlightenment.
 
Jayhawker Soule

Jayhawker Soule

-- untitled --
Premium Member
Heathen Hammer said:
Jayhawker Soule said:
Yes, in fact there was. And, in fact, it was argued by one of the leading leading and world renown Biblical translators (Alter) and one of the leading and world renown commentators (Plaut). Yet you, grossly unqualified to compare yourself favorably to either of these gentleman, simply dismiss them them out of hand. It's truly pathetic.
Click to expand...
Now if only you had been competent enough to post links to said statements so others could evaluate and possibly learn from them. Ah, opportunities lost to vanity and incompetence...
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Post #140.
 
Sleeppy

Sleeppy

Fatalist. Christian. Pacifist.
Heathen Hammer said:
Yes, those were seven literal days.

I am not assuming, when that is what is said.

I did ask a question as to why this number would be given in some form of metaphor when it was issued as a dire warning. Care to try answering that?
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Metaphor?
 
Heathen Hammer

Heathen Hammer

Nope, you're still wrong
Thief

Thief

Rogue Theologian
Heathen Hammer said:
StatementS, statements.

Plural.

Besides that, The intensifying infinitive absolute in Hebrew.

In what manner does the infinitive absolute intensify the phrase to indicate future time?

In the obvious interpretation the intensity is restricted to the present. You will 'seriously die, dude'.

Nothing about leaving the consequence off for a nebulous future, which is what would be required for the other interpretation.
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I don't mind tossing foreign language about to enhance a discussion.....
but redirection of this sort doesn't help.

The copy I keep is clear enough.

If you partake of something today...that insures your death....
Then your death has been dealt...today.
You might die tomorrow.....but the line is drawn.
That is what the dialogue of Genesis is about.
 
darkendless

darkendless

Guardian of Asgaard
disciple said:
Aww come on he's like the jester :jester5: of the forums
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At least you can see a lighter side.

I have no time for people who can't go more than 3 posts without asserting their superiority over another opinion with the use of personal attacks. Its pathetic.
 
Heathen Hammer

Heathen Hammer

Nope, you're still wrong
Thief said:
If you partake of something today...that insures your death....
Then your death has been dealt...today.
You might die tomorrow.....but the line is drawn.
That is what the dialogue of Genesis is about.
Click to expand...
Not the dialogue in Genesis, but how those today are forced to reinterpret it :D
 
Heathen Hammer

Heathen Hammer

Nope, you're still wrong
You read it that way based on how you were exposed to it, in a world which has moved onto its own interpretation. Believe all you like that you are independent of any organized religion, that is fine, but to deny you've been influenced by it is unrealistic. Just the fact that it needs to be translated into your language, changed everything. Never mind the fact that your interpretation of this issue coincides exactly with this modern view I mentioned ;)
 
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