Satan's Motivation

[Max560]

Suppose that the Dark Lord has compelled us to sin (murder, atheism, failing to pay the tithe, eating bacon, whatever) such that we go to hell.

Why would he let us burn? You'd think that he'd be happpy to see us.

Unless he is merely the property manager of Hell, with God in charge of the actual suffering. Wouldn't that make God a sick bastard?

 

[shemp]

There is no Satan. I hereby declare the question moot, null and void.

 

[Max560]

If he does exist, Whose view can we trust regarding the nature of Hell and Satan?

How would we know if he was the victim of a biblical smear campaign?

 

[triadboy]

If he does exist, Whose view can we trust regarding the nature of Hell and Satan?

How would we know if he was the victim of a biblical smear campaign?

I agree with Shemp, Hell and Satan are not real. You may just as well pose the questions, "Where does the tooth fairy store all the teeth she collects from our toothless children? How can she afford to pay a quarter for each tooth?".

 

[shemp]

I agree with Shemp, Hell and Satan are not real. You may just as well pose the questions, "Where does the tooth fairy store all the teeth she collects from our toothless children? How can she afford to pay a quarter for each tooth?".

HOW DARE YOU BLASPHEME THE TOOTH FAIRY!!!!!

 

[Max560]

I agree with Shemp, Hell and Satan are not real. You may just as well pose the questions, "Where does the tooth fairy store all the teeth she collects from our toothless children? How can she afford to pay a quarter for each tooth?". [/QUOTE

I do not think they are real either, but I do like to discuss fiction.

I was just interested in the Idea of Satan as the catch-all of evil deeds.

It is as though Satan is required as a character foil to God. Otherwise, God becomes the proximate cause of suffering and eternal damnation.

 

[Guest]

I agree with Shemp, Hell and Satan are not real. You may just as well pose the questions, "Where does the tooth fairy store all the teeth she collects from our toothless children? How can she afford to pay a quarter for each tooth?". [/QUOTE

I do not think they are real either, but I do like to discuss fiction.

I was just interested in the Idea of Satan as the catch-all of evil deeds.

It is as though Satan is required as a character foil to God. Otherwise, God becomes the proximate cause of suffering and eternal damnation.

Ooooh, ugliness. Is there no god without satan? No satan without god? Which is better, creamy or crunchy?

 

[evildave]

Well, you see, God and Satan were best friends. But then some kryptonite fell from the sky and made satan bald... oh, and EVIL. Then they made the Hall of Justice and Barney said "Let's IMAGINE..."

 

[Jethro]

Why would he let us burn? You'd think that he'd be happpy to see us.

You're not the first one to think that (see attatched picture). But I think a more conventional view is that Satan doesn't like people at all. So when you die after leading a life of sin, Satan laughs at you because he tricked you and then he throws you into the lake of fire and pokes you with his trident.

 

[triadboy]

It is as though Satan is required as a character foil to God. Otherwise, God becomes the proximate cause of suffering and eternal damnation.

Originally God was just that - the source of all good and evil. (That caused many a philosophical problem) It was only after the Babylonian exile that satan was recognized as the evil one.

 

[GrapeJ713]

Suppose that the Dark Lord has compelled us to sin (murder, atheism, failing to pay the tithe, eating bacon, whatever) such that we go to hell.
Why would he let us burn? You'd think that he'd be happpy to see us.
Unless he is merely the property manager of Hell, with God in charge of the actual suffering. Wouldn't that make God a sick bastard?

Hmm, I've never thought of it that way before. Maybe Satan is just God's sock puppet.

Of course then there is the Old Testament Satan vs. New Testament Satan. OT Satan was more of a prosecuting attorney type angel that pointed out human flaws for god to see. NT Satan gets into the evil trickster and tempter role.
But if Satan wanted to torture sinners, he would be about as psychotic as God. Imagine that internal struggle. "These people are sinners, I must torture them, but they make Gawd angry so I should reward them, no, I was once an angel, torture them, but Gawd cast me out, I should reward them, they did my bidding when they were alive, so I should reward them" Hopefully Satan is a Libertarian and only punishes sinners that violated the rights of other people, and he would reward the victimless sinners.

 

[Max560]

Well, you see, God and Satan were best friends. But then some kryptonite fell from the sky and made satan bald... oh, and EVIL. Then they made the Hall of Justice and Barney said "Let's IMAGINE..."

From the Book of Dave Chapter 2, Verse 6.

Fast paced, but difficult to follow all the characters.

 

[Max560]

Re: Re: Satan's Motivation

Hopefully Satan is a Libertarian and only punishes sinners that violated the rights of other people, and he would reward the victimless sinners.

Conversely, if you go to heaven, do you get differential quality and quantity of paradise depending on if you were merely good, or Really good?

Feeding the needy gets you into club med, whereas living a life without trying to hurt anyone gets you a part time job as a file clerk, and a nice apartment.

 

[K-W]

Well if Satan has given up hope of ever getting out of hell, than I can imagine hes pretty ill tempered and has alot of time on his hands.

 

[Crossbow]

Max, I think that your question is one of those that shows just how people can get so wrapped up in their religion, that they wind up loosing sight of the details.

I for one, like to carry it a bit further and point out why is it that Christians make such a big deal out of heavan and hell?

After all, there are not really such concepts in the Jewish, Muslim, or Buddist faiths, so why are the Christians so hung up on this deal?

Ugh!

 

[Frostbite]

Christian propaganda wants us to think Satan is evil when he's actually quite a nice guy, if you don't mind the hooves.

 

[FireGarden]

On a somewhat related topic....

There's a type of story line that's always bothered me.

(The Charlie Daniels band)


The devil went down to Georgia,
He was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind, cause he was way behind,
He was looking to make a deal.

[...]

"I'll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul because I think I'm better than you"

And when he loses, the devil hands over a fiddle of gold!!!

WHY??
He's the devil!!!
He doesn't have to keep his word!!!!

And then he does it again in Crossroads, that movie where the the Karate Kid mimes the blues while Steve Vai pretends he can't play his own tunes. When KK wins, the devil sticks to his contract and holds up his side of the bargain.

STOP IT!!!!

 

[A_Feeble_Mind]

On a somewhat related topic....

There's a type of story line that's always bothered me.


And when he loses, the devil hands over a fiddle of gold!!!

WHY??
He's the devil!!!
He doesn't have to keep his word!!!!

And then he does it again in Crossroads, that movie where the the Karate Kid mimes the blues while Steve Vai pretends he can't play his own tunes. When KK wins, the devil sticks to his contract and holds up his side of the bargain.

STOP IT!!!!

The devil needs to keep his end of the agreement to maintain his credibility. If he betrays the person who wins the bet, no one else would bother making deals with the devil anymore.

On the contrary, what the devil would probably do is publicize the win and the payout and write it off as a marketing/ advertising expense. Which is why you never hear the story about the numerous times the devil wins; just like a casino, he only advertises the big payout.

 

[FireGarden]

Thanks, A_Feeble_Mind

It seems so obvious now that you've said it.

 

[CWL]

Satan's motivation?

Apparently it's rock n' roll.