Just curious,. but when exactly did this Satan guy become part of the Christian narrative?

[idb]

'Satan' is only mentioned about 19 times in the Old Testament and only once in the New Testament. No where in those bibles is he referred to as the ruler of a place called hell or that he was once an angel but was cast out of heaven by God. The word Satan is used more as a description of evil than an actual evil deity ruling over a place called hell. I think the idea of Satan and his realm of hell is a narrative created less than a few hundred years ago to keep people in line....Who Is Satan?

Hell was invented by The Church to make the peasants give them money.

Karl Marx held that same opinion.

...in order to charm the golden birds, out of the pockets of his dearly beloved neighbours in Christ. He puts himself at the service of the other’s most depraved fancies, plays the pimp between him and his need, excites in him morbid appetites, lies in wait for each of his weaknesses – all so that he can then demand the cash for this service of love. (Every product is a bait with which to seduce away the other’s very being, his money; every real and possible need is a weakness which will lead the fly to the glue-pot. General exploitation of communal human nature, just as every imperfection in man, is a bond with heaven – an avenue giving the priest access to his heart; every need is an opportunity to approach one’s neighbour under the guise of the utmost amiability and to say to him: Dear friend, I give you what you need, but you know the conditio sine qua non; you know the ink in which you have to sign yourself over to me; in providing for your pleasure, I fleece you.)

Karl Marx
Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844
3rd paragraph

Human Requirements and Division of Labour, Marx, 1844

I haven't read Marx but that seems to be more of a carrot (...all so that he can then demand the cash for this service of love...) than a stick (you're going to Hell if don't give us money).

 

[ding]

'Satan' is only mentioned about 19 times in the Old Testament and only once in the New Testament. No where in those bibles is he referred to as the ruler of a place called hell or that he was once an angel but was cast out of heaven by God. The word Satan is used more as a description of evil than an actual evil deity ruling over a place called hell. I think the idea of Satan and his realm of hell is a narrative created less than a few hundred years ago to keep people in line....Who Is Satan?

Hell was invented by The Church to make the peasants give them money.

Karl Marx held that same opinion.

...in order to charm the golden birds, out of the pockets of his dearly beloved neighbours in Christ. He puts himself at the service of the other’s most depraved fancies, plays the pimp between him and his need, excites in him morbid appetites, lies in wait for each of his weaknesses – all so that he can then demand the cash for this service of love. (Every product is a bait with which to seduce away the other’s very being, his money; every real and possible need is a weakness which will lead the fly to the glue-pot. General exploitation of communal human nature, just as every imperfection in man, is a bond with heaven – an avenue giving the priest access to his heart; every need is an opportunity to approach one’s neighbour under the guise of the utmost amiability and to say to him: Dear friend, I give you what you need, but you know the conditio sine qua non; you know the ink in which you have to sign yourself over to me; in providing for your pleasure, I fleece you.)

Karl Marx
Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844
3rd paragraph

Human Requirements and Division of Labour, Marx, 1844

I haven't read Marx but that seems to be more of a carrot (...all so that he can then demand the cash for this service of love...) than a stick (you're going to Hell if don't give us money).

It was both.

Putting that aside though, people don't recognize just how much the appeal of socialism is of a religious nature.

 

[JoeBlow]

'Satan' is only mentioned about 19 times in the Old Testament and only once in the New Testament. No where in those bibles is he referred to as the ruler of a place called hell or that he was once an angel but was cast out of heaven by God. The word Satan is used more as a description of evil than an actual evil deity ruling over a place called hell. I think the idea of Satan and his realm of hell is a narrative created less than a few hundred years ago to keep people in line....Who Is Satan?

Satan was introduced to spice things up when they got a little stale. Like when Looney Tunes introduced Foghorn Leghorn. Same thing.

 

[Likkmee]

'Satan' is only mentioned about 19 times in the Old Testament and only once in the New Testament. No where in those bibles is he referred to as the ruler of a place called hell or that he was once an angel but was cast out of heaven by God. The word Satan is used more as a description of evil than an actual evil deity ruling over a place called hell. I think the idea of Satan and his realm of hell is a narrative created less than a few hundred years ago to keep people in line....Who Is Satan?

God does worse things in the Bible than Satan ever did

Imagine if Satan had created the Great Flood, killed the first born of Egypt or created plagues?

All Satan is accused of is “tempting”

Yeah, go with that.

Tell me some of the evil things Satan has done in the Bible
Just looking objectively. God does some nasty things in the Bible

This is why you're confused rightwinger. If you think God is evil but Satan is good, you start and end every day from a place of fundamental confusion

You DEFINE God as good and Satan as evil and then view their actions from that position. Rightwinger is judging their actions to define them as good or evil. That is the difference between you two.

RW has no basis from which to judge good and evil. In his worldview we are no more than "molecules in motion" at any rate.

OTOH, from my worldview, if God is the Author and Creator of life--if He is who He claims to be and knew me from eternity (and you too)--then He and He alone has the absolute right to determine the day I am born and the day I die. That is not "evil". I do not own my life; He does.

Everyone has the right and obligation to judge others by their moral compass. We do it all the time when we decide we like or don't like a person. RW has that same right and he is using his compass to judge God's actions as he would anyone's actions.

I didn't say RW does not have the RIGHT--I said he has no basis. If you don't believe in God, if you instead believe in evolution, then we are molecules in motion. You have no basis, no standing, to say God is wrong or right or Satan is wrong or right. In other words, RW is "sitting in God's lap to smack His face".

He can't do that and be consistent.

His basis is his personal moral compass, same as yours. Do you think stoning adulterers is good or evil?

We are molecules in motion, that is the reality (your molecules stop moving and you're dead), and DNA is the blueprint. You can believe God creates DNA and sets the molecules in motion or not that is your choice.

If there is no God then you are correct, all we are is molecules in motion. Then there is absolutely no sense in arguing over good and evil. There is no such thing. "Good" is whatever is my survival. "Good" is just the next meal in my stomach, or maybe, in my child's stomach. That's it.

You are being condescending in assuming that only those who believe in God have values

Wrong. You have those values--everyone does--because you are made in the image of God. From my worldview, the fact that you understand right and wrong is sensible and can be explained.

It cannot be explained from your worldview.

You are assuming that humans cannot have values without God giving them

My values say God did some horrible things. You look the other way

Also by your worldview, I don't care about your values. I don't have to. You are an evolved ape.

Humans form societies That is why we are the dominant species.

As a member of society we developed a sense of right and wrong. It allows us to function as a group

God is not essential to that society

New International Version
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

 

[Iamartiewhitefox]

'Satan' is only mentioned about 19 times in the Old Testament and only once in the New Testament. No where in those bibles is he referred to as the ruler of a place called hell or that he was once an angel but was cast out of heaven by God. The word Satan is used more as a description of evil than an actual evil deity ruling over a place called hell. I think the idea of Satan and his realm of hell is a narrative created less than a few hundred years ago to keep people in line....Who Is Satan?

You are right saying Satan is not a ruler of a place called hell. This is the first time I saw someone say the truth. Lucifer had a name change. The Fallen Lucifer was in the serpent described in Ezekiel 28: 13 - 19, KJV. There were no earthy kings in the Garden of Eden. Satan was once a covering cherub called Lucifer. That being was one of the angels who covered the mercy seat. Muhammad saw that masquerading being in a cave, saying he was Gabriel, not being Gabriel. That being did not say fear not, when seen. Legal system, and Islam does not say fear not, saying fear me. Satan made both of them.

 

[Iamartiewhitefox]

New International Version
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

We are made in God's naked image. The church does not like seeing that image. Who then is in church leaders? Church leaders want people to worship clothing, and money, that is made out of cloth.