If there is the devil, why did God create him?

If there is the devil, why did God create him? I am not sure which religions believe in a personal devil but know that Islam and Christianity do. Also the bible says that God creates evil, why would he allow for such wickedness to present in this world if he loves mankind? Why not destroy this devil? Is he not powerful enough to rid the world of this devil on his own?

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7, KJV)

That's the problem of suffering you are talking about. I've never heard a good answer, and I suspect there isn't one.

Tiberius said:

That's the problem of suffering you are talking about. I've never heard a good answer, and I suspect there isn't one.

Click to expand...

Yes, that's what I think, there is NOT a good answer for her question.

God* values choice and free-will. He does not like to control anyone's thoughts or actions. Evil is a side affect of free-will. God does not directly create evil, but He also does not limit our choices. If there is a Satan, I don't believe that God intended for him to be evil. Thats just how things turned out.

*not the Biblical God

If taken from a non-human standpoint (again, assuming the existence of a supreme being and said being then creating a being that was its antithesis), I suppose that it might be seen as facing the prospect of having to be bored throughout eternity, versus
having someone to play chess (or chutes and ladders) with.

Genna said:

If there is the devil, why did God create him? I am not sure which religions believe in a personal devil but know that Islam and Christianity do. Also the bible says that God creates evil, why would he allow for such wickedness to present in this world if he loves mankind? Why not destroy this devil? Is he not powerful enough to rid the world of this devil on his own?

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7, KJV)

Click to expand...

You have to remember that the Jewish view of God is not the same as the Christian view of God. And Isaiah was a Jewish prophet. In the Jewish view, God gives both happiness and suffering. Ha-Satan is a servant of God. He does nothing without God's permission. Why does God do this? I don't know. But I know that the Jewish view of God is less about love and more about justice/relationship.

In Christianity, God is viewed as love. In order to make sense out of God=love and the fact that there's suffering, some Christians attribute a lot of power to the Devil. Basically, Satan got a promotion. Instead of being God's servant he is now God's antagonist. Why does God allow the Devil to continue? People have tried to tell me it's a test of our faith. I don't find that very compelling.

In Islam, Satan is a jinn, a creature who is neither angel nor human. And the jinn are not very fond of humans. In the Christian tradition, Satan was tossed from heaven because he rebelled and tried to usurp God's throne. In the Islamic tradition, Satan's "rebellion" was that he refused to bow to Adam on the basis that Adam was a created being and no better than him. I am not familiar enough with Islam to be able to guess why God allows Satan to exist. (But again, Islam is more about justice and less about love.) As far as I can tell, the jinn just exist. I mean, why does God create mosquitos and flesh-eating bacteria?

I think you must ask yourself this very question before you advance your search for your current answer to your current question:

Can 'good' exist without the general concept of 'evil'?



With respect...

Real Sorceror said:

God* values choice and free-will. He does not like to control anyone's thoughts or actions. Evil is a side affect of free-will. God does not directly create evil, but He also does not limit our choices. If there is a Satan, I don't believe that God intended for him to be evil. Thats just how things turned out.

Click to expand...

Actually, for me, this is how I see the 'Bible' God.

Satan choose to be evil.

Who tempted him to be evil? Or was he created evil?

beckysoup61 said:

Actually, for me, this is how I see the 'Bible' God.

Satan choose to be evil.

Click to expand...

Yes, but isn't God powerful enough to cast him out so he no longer exists? Do you think God has this ability to do so? Do you think he's the primary cause of destruction on this earth? IF not, then what's his purpose? Many people attribute his workings to the disasters of the world.
I'm not only asking Beckysoup this, I also want to gain some insight from others if possible.

tlcmel said:

Yes, but isn't God powerful enough to cast him out so he no longer exists?

Click to expand...

Yes, but God has given even Satan free will.

tlcmel said:

Do you think God has this ability to do so?

Click to expand...

Very much

tlcmel said:

Do you think he's the primary cause of destruction on this earth? IF not, then what's his purpose? Many people attribute his workings to the disasters of the world.

Click to expand...

In a way yes, but like I stated. We all have free will, every single one of us, including Satan, but we do not have the liberty at most times to choose what the consequence of that free will action will be, just as Satan doesn't.

It's a cause and effect sort of thing.

If you do this, this happens.
If you do this, that happens.

You can choose whether you want to do this or that.

Daniyal said:

I think you must ask yourself this very question before you advance your search for your current answer to your current question:

Can 'good' exist without the general concept of 'evil'?



With respect...

Click to expand...

Don't know if you were aiming this question at me or the OP. I aksed a lot of "why" questions but they were mainly rhetorical. I don't believe in an omnipotent God, at least not in the way that it's generally conceived, so I don't need to explain why a "good" God "creates" evil. Things are as they are because that's how they've unfolded through a combination of restraints and freedom.

But to answer your (rhetorical) question anyway, the concept of good cannot exist without the concept of evil. That much is true. But many of those things that we consider to be "good" can exist without those things we consider to be "bad." We just wouldn't know to call it "good." You're answer posed as a question does not explain why suffering exists, which is really what the OP was asking.

beckysoup61 said:

In a way yes, but like I stated. We all have free will, every single one of us, including Satan,

Click to expand...

Supposively,Satan is very powerful, powerful enough to cause enough destruction to human kind and very often he's looked upon as having enough power to tempt one to sin, which is something God has the ability to eradicate. How do you think he gets into our minds? What is the point of his being? So we can prove to God that we love him? That sounds kinda folish to me but then again, I guess we will never understand God's plan.

tlcmel said:

Supposively,Satan is very powerful, powerful enough to cause enough destruction to human kind and very often he's looked upon as having enough power to tempt one to sin, which is something God has the ability to eradicate. How do you think he gets into our minds? What is the point of his being? So we can prove to God that we love him? That sounds kinda folish to me but then again, I guess we will never understand God's plan.

Click to expand...

You don't speak for me.

nutshell said:

You don't speak for me.

Click to expand...

What?

PetShopBoy88 said:

Who tempted him to be evil? Or was he created evil?

Click to expand...

He was created good. He chose to be evil. In Biblical mythology, Satan is also the first evil being. That means nobody tempted him.

I think it has to do with freedom.
God allows those He creates to be free because He loves them. Satan (a former angel) is no exception. I think that selfishness and pride lead to rebellion from God.

tlcmel said:

Supposively,Satan is very powerful, powerful enough to cause enough destruction to human kind and very often he's looked upon as having enough power to tempt one to sin, which is something God has the ability to eradicate. How do you think he gets into our minds? What is the point of his being? So we can prove to God that we love him? That sounds kinda folish to me but then again, I guess we will never understand God's plan.

Click to expand...

People like to over-exagerate and inflate Satan to be the ultimate evil. This is not the case. Satan is a fallen angel, and while that makes him superior to you and me, it means he is nothing compared to almost any minor diety I can think of. Satan does not have the vast, omnipresent power often attributed to him.
Lets make some comparisons real quick.
Who do you think is stronger?:
Vishnu or Satan?
Ra or Satan?
Zues or Satan?
(hint: not Satan)

Genna said:

but know that Islam and Christianity do.

Click to expand...

Yes and their interpretation of Satan contradict, I wonder why?:fork:

Genna said:

If there is the devil, why did God create him? I am not sure which religions believe in a personal devil but know that Islam and Christianity do. Also the bible says that God creates evil, why would he allow for such wickedness to present in this world if he loves mankind? Why not destroy this devil? Is he not powerful enough to rid the world of this devil on his own?

Click to expand...

I believe in a devil (Satan). I don't believe God created him evil, but that he chose to be evil. I believe in the need for both good and evil in the world. If there were no evil, it would be impossible for us to appreciate -- or even fully recognize -- the good. It is only because we can see it in contrast to evil that we are able to value it.