Devil not a person. Google 'How the Serpent became Satan' by Shawna Dolansky, and you will see scriptural evidence. The Hebrew word has the word 'the' in front of it. In the whole Hebrew Bible satan appears only once without 'the' in front of it. And 'the satan' does not mean an independent force of evil but means a state of mind. Google as I wrote at beginning of post and read for yourself.
-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
Wolves in sheep's clothings when the light inside is darkness.
- Thread starter RESOLUTION
- Start date
But God did. And who are we, mere mortals, to question why God does what He does. It is my belief the System of Religious beliefs was not prevented from forming, for a reason known only to God.
In His Written Word the Bible He does encourage us to ask for wisdom. Forgiveness through Jesus. And both will be granted. James 1:5 for wisdom. 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.''
Last edited:
God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds.
And God saw that it was good.<.............
Lions eat their own young, chimps hunt and kill other primates, killer whales play water polo with penguins, Male dolphins are known to keep females hemmed in for several days against their will and have their way with them. Stoats or ferrets will invade a burrough where a mother ferret has a litter and, while she is out hunting, rape the young females, the sperm or fertilised eggs lie dormant until the females reach a certain age then have baby ferrets. Seals are also known to rape unconsenting females, as are chimpanzees.
So who created the murdering, raping, infant eating animals again?
Who saw that it was good?
And God saw that it was good.<.............
Lions eat their own young, chimps hunt and kill other primates, killer whales play water polo with penguins, Male dolphins are known to keep females hemmed in for several days against their will and have their way with them. Stoats or ferrets will invade a burrough where a mother ferret has a litter and, while she is out hunting, rape the young females, the sperm or fertilised eggs lie dormant until the females reach a certain age then have baby ferrets. Seals are also known to rape unconsenting females, as are chimpanzees.
So who created the murdering, raping, infant eating animals again?
Who saw that it was good?
What about punishment? Punishment is one of GOD's major characteristics. Punishment is the application of evil to get revenge on someone for doing evil.
State sanctioned revenge, is what we call justice. Originally it is what probably stoped a cycle of revenge killing. If the King killed your Kin or cut off his hands that's where the dispute stopped.
Creating evil for the common good, while providing revenge for the aggrieved, that's our justice system.
State sanctioned revenge, is what we call justice. Originally it is what probably stoped a cycle of revenge killing. If the King killed your Kin or cut off his hands that's where the dispute stopped.
Creating evil for the common good, while providing revenge for the aggrieved, that's our justice system.
The serpent is cunning and represents temptation. In Gen, compiled in it's final literary form, during the Babylon exile during which time Israel was tempted to abandon its covenant and take part in the Eastern fertility cults, of which the serpent was the symbol of fertility.
Why cling to a covenant that imposes so many restrictions when one could plunge into the current of life, its delirium and its ecstasy?
Why cling to a covenant that imposes so many restrictions when one could plunge into the current of life, its delirium and its ecstasy?
These are questions many ask. But we do not have an answer to. I realise how it appears.
The devil never showed himself. He is 'the voice of temptation'. Seducing minds with words to suit individual longings, desires needs and aspirations. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, it was via suggestion. There was no devil handing Jesus bread; no, the voice suggested to the hungry Jesus to turn the stones to bread. The voice suggested that Jesus throw Himself off a high mountain.
Bird123
Well-Known Member
I agree. Satan does not exist except in stories and in the minds of people. Satan is not true Reality.
The 'devil'. Exists in every mind of every human. He represents. TEMPTATION. SEDUCTIVE. SUGGESTIONS. Designed so individuals will be drawn in, according to individual longings, needs, desires and aspirations.
Bird123
Well-Known Member
How can secrets stare you in the face? Nothing which is secret can be seen?
God tells us what we need to know. But you need to know God in order to know the things he has for us.
Evil could only stop being a choice if a man could not choose. Until then man has to choose to do evil. Whilst the choice remains and free will then man of his natural sinful state can choose wrong. When a man believes in God and receives the Baptism he then can choose right more.
Not worked for atheists so far, has it. Brains not won out in the end? Are you saying those who dropped nerve gas and had the 'power', 'money' and 'ability' to do it was not using their Brain?
The evil within a person decides how they use their brain and what actions they pursue.[/QUOTE]
Are only the fittest surviving today? I think not. On the other hand, survival of the fittest does play a role in shaping species, however it is not total and the only factor involved.
Can you not see or discover any secrets for yourself? How long did mankind watch birds fly before they figured out how? Truth and knowledge is all around us. If only our vision was wider, one could discover so very much.
Were those who used the nerve gas really intelligent? If you say so, then I must wonder whether you know what true intelligence really is.
In a multilevel classroom, there will always be students who make bad choices and choose some hard lessons for themselves. Your vision is corrupted when you choose to see and value the bad choices people make over the good choices. Should one be blind to all the goodness going on everyday in the world today?
I do not understand your comment about atheists. Do you think there is a prize to be won between atheists and religious people? Is this just not an Ego game many are playing? Perhaps, people should concentrated on discovering what actually is, rather than concentrating on who is right or better than the other.
Are only the fittest surviving today? I think not. On the other hand, survival of the fittest does play a role in shaping species, however it is not total and the only factor involved.
Can you not see or discover any secrets for yourself? How long did mankind watch birds fly before they figured out how? Truth and knowledge is all around us. If only our vision was wider, one could discover so very much.
Were those who used the nerve gas really intelligent? If you say so, then I must wonder whether you know what true intelligence really is.
In a multilevel classroom, there will always be students who make bad choices and choose some hard lessons for themselves. Your vision is corrupted when you choose to see and value the bad choices people make over the good choices. Should one be blind to all the goodness going on everyday in the world today?
I do not understand your comment about atheists. Do you think there is a prize to be won between atheists and religious people? Is this just not an Ego game many are playing? Perhaps, people should concentrated on discovering what actually is, rather than concentrating on who is right or better than the other.[/QUOTE]
Have you considered that the whole system of beliefs, and the non-believers included, exists in human existence for a reason? a reason known only to God?> And only inGod's time, will He open our eyes to the reason.
Bird123
Well-Known Member
Why is it Blame is so Important? Can't you see things for what they really are?
OK, let me give you a story. Every once and a while someone would bring donuts to work in the mornings. They smelled so good, I had to eat some. Now a donut is nothing but sugar and lard. Having eaten the donut which tasted really good, it set in my stomach trying to digest all morning long and sometimes into the afternoon.
Having learned through the experience of eating donuts, I learned just what they really are. Having learned what they really are, they are no longer a viable choice for me. Someone brings donuts in the morning and I will not eat them.
Must we have someone to Blame? Was the devil involved with the donuts? Can you not see when one values a lower level such as Blame, that it corrupts the view? If you say no, you have much to discover for yourself.
Have you considered that the whole system of religious beliefs, and the non-believers included, exists in human existence for a reason? a reason known only to God?> And only inGod's time, will He open our eyes to the reason.[/QUOTE]
Last edited:
Most people weigh things up in their mind. Will I? Should I? Etc. why is it that in a great many cases people choose what turns out to be a wrong choice? And wrong choices can, and do lead to a time when the mind is full of regrets. So, from where did the suggestion come which led to the mind being tortured with regret if that wrong choice cannot be undone. And such is usually the case? Many argue that God should not have allowed such a state whereby we could make wrong choices resulting in regrets guilt etc. But consider the alternative. A robotic existence where human lives are programmed. Like puppets being manipulated by attached strings. Manipulated by a master puppeteer. Would anyone prefer that? Even if it meant never making choices which would result in regret, self- recrimination, guilt etc. mental self- whippings? God gave us freedom of choice.
But in many cases, other people influence choices.
Last edited:
It could be supposed, that freedom of choice gave birth to a 'devilish state in the mind'; in the form of 'bad choices'.
in
In order to exercise 'choice', there has to be something to choose or reject. Otherwise the giving of freedom of choice would be totally pointless.