Frank Goad
Well-Known Member
Has the devil been around for 2019 years?
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Question about the devil
- Thread starter Frank Goad
- Start date
That old snake-in-the-grass Satan the Devil has been around since the days of Eden.
Satan used that 'serpent' as a ventriloquist uses his dummy - Revelation 12:9; Revelation 12:12
Earthling
David Henson
I wouldn't say that his existence depends upon belief. If he exists, he exists whether or not.
Not around my parts. I heard from a guy named Charlie that he went down to Georgia to play some fiddle.
wandering peacefully
Which way to the woods?
When did people start writing stories about him? I'd say about that long.
Yup. He made me do it.
EtuMalku
Abn Iblis ابن إبليس
If you would define what you mean by 'devil' I would gladly comment.
Frank Goad
Well-Known Member
The devil i am talking about is the same person that is named satan in the book of job.
EtuMalku
Abn Iblis ابن إبليس
Satan has always existed, only under other names and guises, Satan is a powerful and primordial archetype of man's psyche. This archetype is the reflection of how we perceive ourselves in relation to what we call the "others". There has always and will always, be essentially two worldviews consisting of oppositions and they are "Us & Them" or "Me" and "the rest of you" . . . etc.
Sumerian and Akkadian tablets concur this worldview from the earliest known writings. The ancient Egyptian word for an Egyptian meant "human", which excluded all who were not Egyptian to be relegated to 'non-human', the Greek word for non-Greeks was "barbaroi" (barbarians). The Jewish Essenes called anyone, not an Essene "ha-satan" (the adversary), Zoroastrianism set forth the dualistic "good" (what we believe in) and "evil" (what they believe in).
The 'Adversary' is a trans‑cultural archetype which existed long before Christianity began in the form of Set, Samael, Ahriman, Loki, and the feminine aspect being Lilith, to name but a few. Psychologically speaking, the Adversary is our Shadow Self, that which opposes and challenges you, when confronted by it, one either becomes consumed by it or one becomes stronger because of it.
"A society does not simply discover its others, it fabricates them, by selecting, isolating, and emphasizing as aspect of another people's life, and making it symbolize their difference" - William Scott Green (Professor of the history of religion - ancient Judaism, biblical studies, and the theory of religion)
So, who/what is this Satan? He simply is who you are not!
I have a question for you. If the serpent was being used as a ventriloquist dummy, why was the snake punished?
sooda
Veteran Member
Snake cult were widespread,, Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia, the Arabian peninsula and the Indus Valley. The snake symbolized wisdom, fertility and rebirth. This was long before Genesis so maybe it was just dueling religions.
Interesting how one cultures symbol of evil is another's symbol of rebirth.
sooda
Veteran Member
I think they could see the snake shed his old skin.. I mean I'm guessing.
The Devil never existed it is a product of ancient mythology.
I have often wondered if the devil, as a powerful spirit creature, could well have materialized as a snake in the Garden? Just my personal musing. He was posted in the garden as a guardian and protector. (apparently the main role of cherubs) Regardless, he posed as a serpent to seduce the woman into disobedience....and it worked. I wonder if he had used a bird or some other creature, if the same curse would have applied?
The fact that satan used the snake and God cursed him because he had used this creature to try and derail God's original purpose for mankind....it could even have had a deeper meaning that only satan understood? Not much more is said about it....so who knows?
I have often wondered if the devil, as a powerful spirit creature, could well have materialized as a snake in the Garden? Just my personal musing. He was posted in the garden as a guardian and protector. (apparently the main role of cherubs) Regardless, he posed as a serpent to seduce the woman into disobedience....and it worked. I wonder if he had used a bird or some other creature, if the same curse would have applied?
The fact that satan used the snake and God cursed him because he had used this creature to try and derail God's original purpose for mankind....it could even have had a deeper meaning that only satan understood? Not much more is said about it....so who knows?
In Miltons Paradise Lost, the devil took the form of a serpent as a disguise hiding his true identify from the other angels in order to accomplish his mischief. I know that book is fiction but I wonder how close to truth it is. Still doesn't make sense that the snake as a mere animal was cursed because the devil chose to take that form.
I think you are right about that actually.
The whole story does not make sense based on ancient mythology.