What is the truth about The Devil?

[Gavmacp]

A much maligned character who may of just been misunderstood. Was he really as bad as people have made out?
I have not met him but I have heard he is quite hot!!

[Ankou]

do you mean the one with the horns and hairy features of the greek god pan, the trident of poseidon and the wings of hermes? or the egyptian serpent god apep ?

i don't know much about them really, but they all include 'gsoh' in their personal ads.

[Old_Geezer]

IMO the truth about the devil is that he makes a good fictional bad guy character. Evil incarnate, what could be a better foe for the good guy to vanquish ?

[Gavmacp]

I found a book about him it had all this stuff about sacrificing a goat. There was not an alternative for a vegetarian. I was disgusted!

[Mymom]

Who is the Devil? He is the arch enemy of God. He is also known as Satan because he is the foremost slanderer of God. Satan is described as the original serpent, evidently because he used a serpent in Eden to deceive Eve.
The Devil is a malicious manslayer. The Bible reveals that he is a real person, not just the evil in someone’s heart and contrary to popular belief he does not have a pointed tail and horns.

[seadogg]

You missed "The Goat of Mendes", Ankou , who appears in Denis Wheatley's books about devil worship. Though it might be pure fiction for all I know.

[Gavmacp]

Is he the guy in The Harry Potter book ?

[LazyGun]

MyMom - or, back in the real world, a figure of myth and legend...

[sandyRoe]

Foetid breath, the rustle of leathery wings, and insufferable pride, are all his hallmarks.
The people who laugh now at the idea of a devil won't be laughing when he calls to drag them down to eternal hellfire.

[Gavmacp]

Does it get hot there and what factor should I pack?

[LazyGun]

@Sandy- oh dear - Pascals Wager for Satan now?.

[WyeDyed]

He makes no appearance in Genisis, his first appearance is in Job where he is doing Gods bidding. It's not really until the New Testament where he takes on the form of ultimate evil and tempter of men.
The word 'Satan' is from Hebrew and means an obstacle, something that gets in your way.
The problem for theists is trying to square the circle of God (who created everything) creating pure evil.

[seadogg]

Glad you came in to cheer us all up Sandy.

[The Builder]

"They say you can't take it with you, but just the other day, I saw Crosby buying an asbestos suitcase" ................. Bob Hope

[sandyRoe]

There's nothing wrong with a carrot & stick approach to saving souls. If a mention of the Love of God doesn't draw the R&S atheists to their salvation then the fear of the Devil might.

[Gavmacp]

He was in Genesis? Was he the guy who left and made Phil Collins do the singing? I did think that was rather bad!

[sandyRoe]

Seadogg, it's being so cheerful as keeps me going.

[jomifl]

It's encouraging to see that evolution works on devils too.

[seadogg]

The organisation I work for saves souls all the time. Should we be preaching to them as we fish them out of the briny?

[LazyGun]

@Sandy - you are being mischevious again. Since atheists have no faith, no blind belief in either a god or a satan, how can a carrot or stick from either have any power, any force?