Thread: Necessary Evil and the Allegory of Good vs Evil
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Necessary Evil and the Allegory of Good vs Evil
Posted : 15 Jul, 2015 06:11 PM
Please don't hate me for typing this, I'm just addressing some old curiosities and sharing them here so that you all might add your input:
�Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.�
- 1 Chronicles 21:1
�The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."
- 2 Samuel 24:1
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, "Whence have you come?" Satan answered the LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nought? Hast thou not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face." And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
- Job 1:6-12
Where is says "The Lord" it is most likely saying "Yahweh" or "Jehovah".
Where is says "Satan" is most likely says "Adversary ".
With these passages in mind, as well as a few others, the picture is painted that A. This Satan, Adversary, Lucifer, or what ever, is not cut off from God and can approach him and speak to him freely. So, so much for the whole "sympathy for the devil" concept.
More than that, it would seem that 2nd Samuel is defining this Satan as being the "Anger of the Lord", therefore a part or aspect of God, not separate, not unlike you will see in Hinduism.
More than that, it would seem that 2nd Samuel is defining this Satan as being the "Anger of the Lord", therefore a mode, emotion, aspect, or part or of God, not separate, and certainly not an equal opposite.
In fact as you can see by reading, Satan can not act accept upon God's command. Again making Satan out to be more of a minion, an agent, and instrument of God. After all, according to the stories, God created everything, and everything God creates has a purpose, and therefore the Evil within the world has a God intended purpose.
Job 42:11 is also reflective of this notion, where in Job's family came to comfort him because of all the evil God had brought down upon him.
This reminds me of how Hindu texts communicate, as well as many other traditions. It is poetry, allegory, and I don't think so much to be taken as defining of the characteristics of God, as if God and the Adversary aka Satan, are like mortal men, with the feelings of mortal men, both good and bad, patient and compassionate, or quick to anger and wrathful.
At the same time, it does reflect a truth, ALL is ALL. Though what God does, is not for men to do in such circumstances, nor is it personal such as curses and what have you. Life is, what life is. Hence the reason people in smug living conditions, well groomed, smiling, seemingly content with the world at their feet, continue to live on under such circumstances without any immediate or karmic retribution, and others such as the meek and the innocent, often get murdered, tortured, live in desperation, cut off from hope, etc.
There is something deeper at work within reality, and the Truth is hidden within the Bible as sort of a Zen Koan, and the key to unraveling is of course what we most commonly referred to as Spirit.
It would seem that the habit of literal interpretation of the Bible, especially through the trapping of "Western" thought, is what has brought about the Atheist movement and argument, and has also planted seeds for the "progressive" movements within various Church bodies and religious organizations.
Likewise, neglect of the impersonal aspects of God and Nature also seems to have gave rise to the Prosperity Gospel, and the notion that the fruit by which one is to be judged is their material wealth, health, and seeming happiness which is said to be a reward from God for proper conduct. In this sense much of the culture found within the Business world could be confused as Godly conduct, just as European Colonization and preemptive warfare has also been confused as such.
Who is to say. Though, as I see it, many of the stories within the Bible are metaphors, and the descriptions given to God, the angles, devils, etc. are personifications. A means to explain to the feeble human mind the deeper truths of reality that we may well not have the capacity to fully understand as God does. Though yes, that being said, regardless if it's all literal or not, God has the last say on EVERYTHING and the devil, again assuming he is literal, can not act without God's permission.
As for me though, I have witnessed within the world and within my own human failings, characteristics that no doubt mirror the descriptions of Satan and demons that the Bible provides, but I never ever say "the Devil made me do it", rather I say, "I did it", and if I am willing to be honest to my self, I can see why I did what wrongs I have done. That's where understanding comes in. Sometimes people act violently and they are not sure why it is that they are so stressed and lash out as they do. The Spirit has the ability to show us in order that we may find composure and understand our selves, and therefore better understand others.
If a devil really exists and there is a literal war between God and the devil, then I do not know, and belief in the existence of Satan is not required for my salvation. What is required though is to identify the devil within me and sincerely work (with God's grace) to uproot it and walk the path God intended me to walk.
I hope that answers your question, but again, I truly know nothing. ;)
The devil,Ha-Satan is real,look at the evil in this life,but not one person has the right to blame the devil for anything they do wrong in this life.
Man is responsible for his/her actions and words,the devil can only tempt a person to sin,he cannot make a person sin,look at when Satan tempted Messiah in the desert.
Evil is necessary in this life,in order to show man what he/her is really like. When the woman drove her car into the water to kill her children,how many women said that they would never do that to their children,yet had they been in exeactly 5he same frame of mind,they also might have done the same thing.
Without evil,is a person able to understand what is right,without hatred,can a person actually understand love.Without the devil,does a person need Jesus.
I agree with some of what you're saying. We're never allowed to use the excuse that "the devil made me do it". However, the bible very much talks about a real being called "Lucifer", the first sinner. He caused rebellion in heaven, he caused rebellion on the earth. Sin did not originate with humans, which is part of the reason why we can be saved from it. We were deceived, and we can be shown the truth. To say that Lucifer/the devil/satan doesn't exist would make Jesus a liar. I do think that humans have surpassed Lucifer in our sinfulness, but he does exist. To quote "The Usual Suspects": The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.:devil:
