Just a thought

[TalonRath]

Most Christians believe in Satan the epitome of evil. Many believe that pagan traditions are Satan worship. That they are Satan's way of tempting people away from Christ. A thought that has been bouncing around for the past few weeks in my head is why would Satan, who was once 2nd highest to god, be so overt in his "temptations". Does it not make sense that a being that is as supposedly as powerful as Satan is and knowing as he should be that he would be a little more subtle and uh "influence" the churches to slowly back away from the light so to speak instead of showing his colors so to speak.

Just wanted to see fellow pagan thoughts on this.

thought due to defending my pagan leanings that are becoming stronger from my parents especially my father who just became a pastor

[Ann Cash]

First, you have to believe Satan exists. He is a product of Christianity, so you have to believe, at least in part, if the Christian teachings. Second, Satan and his ways are simplified so even the most dull witted follower can understand his purpose. He exists to keep people in line, to make them fear the worst imaginable afterlife, so they will behave and do as they are told. Christianity deals in extremes...good verses evil, heaven verses hell. Pagan faiths also have gods that incorporate good, and gods that incorporate darkness (some would say "bad or evil", but we don't view them the same way Christians would. We see them as a balance to each other. And yes, if Satan did exist, he would be much more inclined to act in a more subtle, nonthreatening way. It's just like the old saying, you get more bees with sugar than with vinegar. Christianity counts on its followers believing through blind faith, and not questioning its doctrine.
BB  Ann

[Theflyingsorcerer]

Does it not make sense that a being that is as supposedly as powerful as Satan is and knowing as he should be that he would be a little more subtle and uh "influence" the churches to slowly back away from the light so to speak instead of showing his colors so to speak.

If you read the history of Christianity, with its crusades (especially the Albigensian Crusade, a case of [supposedly] Christians slaughtering fellow Christians), its Inquisition, its Witch- and Heretic-burnings, its Holy Wars, its implacable opposition to science and knowledge, and its cover-ups of child-molesting priests, you might be forgiven for coming to the conclusion that "Satan" is doing exactly that; or even running the whole show himself.

Just a thought.

Theflyingsorcerer.

[Ken Ra]

Wicca does not have an Evil deity as part of it.   99.99% of what most people call evil is greed stupidity and fear,  that leaves .01% that is real evil. I will refer to this as the Betrayer.

How can blind faith read " The Good Book"    

[TalonRath]

Flying sorcerer I have yet to read a post of yours that i didn't like and agree with at least part of it.  The part where Satan might be running the show was where my thought was heading. On the part about Satan existing or not even as a Pagan side fence sitter (for now studies incomplete on what my faith truly is) I do believe he and the christian god exist just not quite how they are portrayed. For one thing if we say they don't exist aren't we subtly saying why no path is the one true path but the christian way is definitely wrong because your divine beings don't exist. Personally I believe every being ever worshiped as a god exists. With that your religious beliefs come into play when you decide what divine beings are worthy of your worship and adoration.

[Ken Ra]

It is perfectly reasonable for a person to say that Yahway and jc do not exist for them. To tell others that they must believe in them is dictatorial.  Most of us here have had plenty of experience with christian spiritual terrorism.  

Talon are you a troll?

[TalonRath]

Nope just trying to reconcile how all paths can be a right path if gods of one path don't exist. Now if you view all gods as archetypes than i can see particular gods not existing but if gods are seen as real how can certain gods not exist if every path is possibly valid.

[Abracadabra]

Does it not make sense that a being that is as supposedly as powerful as Satan,...

Nothing in Christianity makes any sense to me.  This is why I am no longer a Christian.

If I thought Christianity made sense, I'd probably still be a Christian.

[Masterofroses]

an interesting side note, the christian bible that I've read points toward Satan being the personification of evil and god be that of good yet in the book god kills more people???

[Theflyingsorcerer]

A good case can be made - spiritually if not scientifically - that everything that is vividly imagined becomes real, in some sense and in one or more of the Universes that make up the Multiverse. Thus, somewhere and in some way, Satan is real, Yahweh is real, Cthulhu and Azathoth are real, Middle Earth is real, Narnia is real, Dune is real..... somewhere, somehow.....

On the other hand, there is the Syadastian Affirmation of Discordianism; "All propositions are true in some sense, false in some sense, indeterminate in some sense, true and false in some sense, true and indeterminate in some sense, false and indeterminate in some sense, and true and false and indeterminate in some sense."*

On yet another hand (!) there is the wise saying of Hassan i Sabbah I, First Imam of the Hashishim sect of Islam, or Assasins; "Nothing is true; everything is permissible."

But one must remember, in the world of the Hashishim, everything was permissible except disobedience to Hassan i Sabbah I.

I'll leave you with a final thought; Pontius Pilate is reputed to have demanded of Christ, as he stood condemned to death; "What is Truth?" But Christ never answered. Is that because he knew the answer, but wasn't telling; or because he didn't know either?

Theflyingsorcerer.

* Quoted in Bob Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, in the "Illuminatus!" Trilogy

[LupusStormDancer]

I don't belive in Lucifer or any of that stuff soo I'm not really sure what to say about this...And theFlyingSorcerer made a very valid point discussing the history of the inquisition and such. For you to shoot it down is like you saying you don't really want our thoughts on the topic...Just saying. and I'd have to agree that in some way all of the things you listed FlyingSorcerer could in fact be real.

[Theflyingsorcerer]

Greetings Ms. Stormdancer,

I don't think anyone was shooting me down (or am I missing something?), but thank you for your kind words.

Theflyingsorcerer.


ps. That's a very fine Profile you have there; especially the wolf howls.....

[LupusStormDancer]

Lol yourwelcome and thank you