What do you know about the history of Satan?

[Glanecia]

1. What do you know about the history of the word Satan, as it appears within Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Satanism? Other religions?

2. What is "Satan" to you?

Just a few questions to get a conversation started....

[morganxpage]

Satan, I believe, means Adversary.

Satan is the Christian God of Hell/Anti-God/Adversary of the Sky God Jehovah. I'm not a Christian so He doesn't mean a whole lot to me.

[ShadowcatX]

My understanding of Lucifer is this: That he was the light bringer, the angel who was assigned to the sun. When he and his were cast down by Jehovah Lucifer adopted the name Satan. He has since been allowed back into heaven (he converses with Jehovah in the book of Job).

As to what he means to me, not a thing. He's not part of my religion. He is interesting to hear debates about.

[Windsmith]

My understanding of Lucifer is this: That he was the light bringer, the angel who was assigned to the sun. When he and his were cast down by Jehovah Lucifer adopted the name Satan. He has since been allowed back into heaven (he converses with Jehovah in the book of Job).I think it's often argued that Lucifer and Satan are 2 very different entities (Lucifer being a Roman god and all), and that it was only later translators of the Bible who conflated the 2.

Interestingly, in the book of Job he's referred to as Ha-Satan - the Adversary. The idea seems to be that, in the celestial court, he is the chief representative of the "other side." Not evil, necessarily, just on the other side, kind of like the prosecutor and the defense attorney in a trial.

Satan isn't really anything "to" me; I don't believe in the literal existence of any deity. But stories about Satan do fascinate me. As a character, I see similarities to the trickster gods of other pantheons.

[David19]

I think ha-satan is a different to the Christian Satan, as ha-satan is more like a prosecuting attorney for YHWH, not really 'evil'.

The Christian Satan, i believe, to be an enemy of YHWH's, but not a god i worship, although like what others have said, i like hearing others views on him, especially those of Theistic Satanists (the saner ones anyway) (like Diane Vera, etc).

I don't believe he's 'pure evil', just one god among many.

[Rudas Starblaze]

well, if ya wanna get into old testement terms and gnostic terms, Satan was/is God's left hand man. his punisher. he sat next to God and was the one the evil doers were sent to in death. the holy revolution, as i put it, that was recorded in the OT was really started because Satan would NOT bow down to God's creation of mankind like God commanded his angels to do. the only reason why hes refered to as the "adversary" is primarily based on new testement and dante's inferno writings.

personally, i strongly believe the new testement and dante's inferno gave him a bad rep. grant it, there was more secret activity involving Satan centuries ago before "uncle" Anton wrote the Satanic Bible.....lol :smoke:

oh, and dont get me started on my fav.... Judas Iscariot. now he is someone who DOES NOT get the proper credit. Judas IS da man!!!\m/

[Hank Freid]

Satan is often caricatured as a red-horned, trident-raising cartoon villain; no wonder people question the history of Satan. His existence, however, is not based on fantasy. It’s verified in the same book that narrates Jesus’ life and death (Genesis 3:1-16, Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11). Christians believe Satan acts as leader of the fallen angels. These demons, existing in the invisible spirit realm yet affecting our physical world, rebelled against God, but are ultimately under His control. Satan masquerades as an “angel of light,” deceiving humans just as he deceived Eve in the beginning (Genesis 3).

Regards:
Hank Freid (http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/Marrakech/Kazbar/prweb484503.htm)

[Beatnik Bettie]

Satan is often caricatured as a red-horned, trident-raising cartoon villain; no wonder people question the history of Satan. His existence, however, is not based on fantasy. It’s verified in the same book that narrates Jesus’ life and death (Genesis 3:1-16, Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11). Christians believe Satan acts as leader of the fallen angels. These demons, existing in the invisible spirit realm yet affecting our physical world, rebelled against God, but are ultimately under His control. Satan masquerades as an “angel of light,” deceiving humans just as he deceived Eve in the beginning (Genesis 3).



So if the bible verifies it, it must be true, right? :rolleyes:

How exactly does Satan "deceive humans"?

I don't believe that Satan is a real, living entity, more of a symbolic figure instead. To me, Satan represents the driving force of my life.

[Aidron]

1. What do you know about the history of the word Satan, as it appears within Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Satanism? Other religions?

A good deal, I suppose.

2. What is "Satan" to you?

An entity which appears in the beliefs and literature of some religions and paths, such as Christianity and Satanism, which while share a very close relationship I feel should be mentioned separately. Beyond that? Nothing. I don't give much thought to it, just as I don't give much thought to the god of Christianity. I'm not opposed to either (although I am opposed to a great deal of their followers), I am just apathetic.

And yes, Rainbow Brite totally rocks.

[Stormbeard]

Satan is the Christian God of Hell/Anti-God/Adversary of the Sky God Jehovah. I'm not a Christian so He doesn't mean a whole lot to me.

You know that's a very offensive view to take

[manual]

HISTORY IS INFINITE
the body of awareness, encompasses 'two sides'
the known 'side' and the unknown 'side'
in actuality the sides are one
meaning that both the unknown and the known
are within perception right now
occuring right now
the unknown is simply not focused on and so not comprehended
understood.. interpreted
so it is not 'registered' within perception
even tho it is there, it needs to be acknowledged
then converted into the known awareness
now.. as i examine my past awareness
my entire life that is past
i see that the awareness i have become aware of was always there in my field
seeing creation.. creation occurs right now always
even when 're-examining' the past
i am still in the moment NOW, with creation in hand.. the past
with the awareness and the direction we are looking to
creating
everything i become aware of i can remember in my past
i am saying is that i dream the past
a dream occuring now
with the observation and awareness that i possess
now