Is There Really a Devil?

[Elderman]

Is there basis for believing that a wicked "spirit" creature exists? Or is this belief unfounded?

[Gavmacp]

3. People of faith all my life have told me that certain music, films, literature is evil or works of the devil. They are definitely not and are now laughable that anyone believed that.

[jake-the-peg]

Elderman - I think you're the one not particularly clear on the Devil

I assume you're familliar with the book of Job

Perhaps you'd like to explain to us how it is that in it Satan is working with God's blessing to torment Job

I'm waiting with baited breath

[Elderman]

Geezer.....If you asked: Who is responsible for the mad irresistible surge toward a third world war? Who is responsible for the frenzied conscription of manpower and natural resources for war purposes all over the world? Who is responsible for the fear-inspiring war of nerves which no one claims to want, yet everyone is afflicted with? Who is responsible for the insane development of atomic energy and hydrogen power, poison gas, germs, death rays, and so forth, for the wholesale destruction of humankind? People are fearful and want to know the answers to these questions.

[Davethedog]

Suicide bombers commit there acts in the certain belief they are gong to heaven is that the work of "God" or the "Devil"

Elderman - Question Did "God" create the "Devil" Yes or No

[NOX]

It's a simple answer Elderman WE ARE RESPONSIBLE- because we allow ourselves to be influenced by things like a desire for money and power and RELIGION- wake up for goodness sake, or at least converse in ways that make some sense.

[joggerjayne]

Did "God" create the "Devil" Yes or No ?

Clearly ... Yes!

In the beginning (apparently) there was ONLY God.

So ALL things are created by God.

Even aubergines.

[Gavmacp]

4. A lot of my friends are Christians and they appear to find things 'Hokey' (my terminology). They appear to see evil where it does not excist and quite often without asking questions. I wanted to hire their hall for a friend. His book had the word 'magic' in it and without asking anything they said that this would be unlikely.

[Davethedog]

JJ I appreciate the answer - but I want the reply to come from Elderman.

Who avoides any direct question whilst quoting total b*!!*(s

:-)

[joggerjayne]

sorry

[Davethedog]

JJ No need lovely lady

[Old_Geezer]

People are more likely to want to know solutions, rather than who to assign responsibility to.

Responsibility is a strange beast, The buck can stop at any point right back to the originator. You choose the point you wish, but is one point more valid than another ?

[Gavmacp]

And a last thing for now. Which I really do not get.
There is an immense amount of homophobia in the churches I have attended. In fact I have read of right wing American preachers preaching what I can only call hatred towards the Gay community. They are very silent on the wars America enter into. So in a simplistic view War is okay but homosexuals is not.

[Elderman]

Geezer.....If asked: Who is responsible for the mad irresistible surge toward a third world war? Who is responsible for the frenzied conscription of manpower and natural resources for war purposes all over the world? Who is responsible for the fear-inspiring war of nerves which no one claims to want, yet everyone is afflicted with? Who is responsible for the insane development of atomic energy and hydrogen power, poison gas, germs, death rays, and so forth, for the wholesale destruction of humankind? People are fearful and want to know the answers to these questions.

[naomi24]

Elderman, Why have you posted the same thing twice? Are your automated computer generated answers experiencing a blip - or is it the devil at work?

Answer Dave's question. He's asked it more than once - and it only requires a 'yes' or 'no' answer - so not difficult.

[Elderman]

Davethedog........Why , then, do many who profess Christianity—and who claim to believe the Bible—reject the idea that a real Devil exists? Because, in truth, they do not accept the Bible as God’s Word. (Jeremiah 8:9) Bible writers, they say, reflected the philosophies of the nations around them and did not accurately convey the truth from God., for example, writes: “Mythological ideas of Satan with legions of devils . . . penetrated from Babylonian mythology into early Judaism and from there into the New Testament.”

[naomi24]

Elderman, stop avoiding the question. 'Yes' or 'no'?

[pa___ul3]

the devil is another creation of religious folk to create fear, gain control, and absolve them of accountability.
They are free to sin and clear their consciences by requesting forgiveness. For anything they can't control, or anything they personally decide isn't right, it's the work of the devil.
You'd have thought in this day and age people would understand this.

[sandyRoe]

God did create the devil. We all know the old saying: You sometimes have to be cruel to be kind.
The idea that God is a soppy, white bearded, benign old chap, is the one that puzzles me.

[Davethedog]

Elderman YES OR NO

[naomi24]

//The idea that God is a soppy, white bearded, benign old chap, is the one that puzzles me. //

The idea that God is benign is the one that puzzles me.