Devil

[brionon]

Is throwing stones at the Devil a wise thing to do ?

[Zen]

Obviously not !!!

[jake-the-peg]

Not every religion sees the devil as some supersized Pan with cloven hooves with awesome powers in the Dennis Wheatley/Omen/Exorcist sense.

The Islamic version is more of a tempter in the "garden of Eden" sense.

There's a brief summary of how different religions see the Devil (if they have an equivilent at all of course) here:

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/85/story_8521_2.html

[El D]

Well if you think that a rock is an equivalent then you aren't getting a degree in rational thought are you . . .

[Insurgent]

If it's the Hajj your referring to then the pillars (jamaraat) are a representation of the devil, not him in person. Abraham threw stones at the devils in three places to ward him off. So Muslims do it in remberance of this act and to testify they reject the devil and his ways.

[qapmoc]

Wel I would rather throw stones at a rock pillar than the real Devil anyday so they are not that stupid EL D

[jake-the-peg]

That expression "real Devil"....

Oh never mind

[noxlumos]

Jake, I think qapmoc was simply saying that he'd prefer to throw stones at a representation of the devil than at (any) sort of actual in the flesh, demon that might be able to have super powers/posess you/Dennis wheatley sort of way entity.

I don't think he necessarily meant that he thought the Christian version of the Devil was correct and no other religion's version was. I think he was taking on board what Insurgent was saying about representation of the devil.

Most religions denounce the Devil symbolically in some way, so for myself I don't find it that odd a notion that people should throw stones at the pillars.

[jake-the-peg]

I took the use of the words "the real devil" rather than "a real devil" to imply a belief that there somewhere existed real devils or demons - maybe that was too much of a leap

I'm afraid I'm still having a bit of a problem with this "actual in the flesh demon" idea. Christian, moslem or whatever.

Still I suppose there seem to be enough people who believe there are angels flying around so I guess it shouldn't be that strange that people believe in real devils!

<exits in a pentacle shaped puff of smoke>

[Lonnie]

I'd have thought, that if these people believe in God/Allah, and they profess to, then the Devil, which they also believe in, must have almost the same powers as God, and even though its symbolic, i'd say the Devil is using the Haj as an annual soul harvest.

[El D]

Well, symbolism or no, there are lots of people throwing rocks at a rock . . . I leave you to your own conclusions.

[*ALFIE*]

I would throw massive rocks at the devil, never mind stones :)

[Lonnie]

El D, very good, I actually laughed at that.

[joko]

well, if that's their way of "warding him off", the devil must be pizzing himself laughing!

He's probably hovering over them pointing and laughing, as the rocks go nowhere near him, saying to himself, "if they think thats going to stop me...!"

If i found out someone 20 miles away was kicking a fence in order to keep me away - i'd laugh my head off!

symbolic!? people die! And it doesn't work!

richard dawkins is right!

[Goodsoulette]

hmmmmm

[eupraxia]

having never met hm face to face I'm not sure what I'd do.