why do people sell their souls to the devil?

[ultraman]

why do people sell their souls to the devil? can people feel that god has left them and they just have no other option.

[naomi24]

Ultra, I don't believe the devil exists, so selling a soul to him is something from storybooks.

[jenstar]

This should be in Arts & Literature.

[jake-the-peg]

Early alchemists and magicians claimed extrordinary discoveries/powers and a common reaction was that these must have been gained supernaturally.

As those practicing them did not fit in with Christian tradition of hermits or priests (possible exception Roger Bacon) they couldn't be miracles from God so the power must have been infernal.

In such a simple mindset the practitioner must have bargained with the only thing he had to bargain with - his soul.

This was also a hany metaphor for the church, selling your soul to the devil is to be compared to wilful disobedience to God.

Put all of this into a nice big cauldron stir in a generous helping of prejudice and fear and leave to pressure cook and you end up with a whole bunch of old women being burned alive

[wizard69]

and then there was the dysexic devil worshipper who sold his soul to santa...

[jenstar]

...and the dyslexic agnostic insomniac who lay awake at night wondering if there really is a dog...

[lobbert]

if you sell your soul. there is a procedure that involves crossroads at midnight with something written in your own blood. the devil will appear and ask you what you want. you get a choice of three things:
incredible talent, fame or vast wealth.
all of these will inevitably backfire spectaculary.
loads of old blues musicians did this.
i believe eric clapton sold his soul. and he had the tragedy that his son died.
so its not worth it.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Before you sell your soul, it's worth finding out what it's worth.

And here's how: http://www.wewantyoursoul.com/

(though when I just tried it, it got a SQL error. I did work it out a few years back, and it wasn't worth that much. I sold it anyway.)

[Octavius]

jenstar is quite correct.

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus is a play by Christopher Marlowe, based on the Faust story (Faustus is Latin for Faust). In the fanciful tale of Dr. Faustus, a man makes a deal with the devil: in exchange for his body and soul, the man is to receive supernatural power and pleasures for 24 years. The devil agrees to the trade, and Dr. Faustus enjoys the pleasures of sin for a season, but his doom is sealed. At the end of 24 years, Faustus attempts to thwart the devil�s plans, but he meets a frightful demise, nonetheless. So that�s the why (supernatural powers and lots of sin, can�t be all that bad eh!).

The second bit. There is no mention of anyone selling their soul to the devil in the Bible nor that it is possible to do so. But if someone wishes to submit to the temptations of sin, then they are effectively submitting themselves at the will of the devil (Satan has dominion over those who live without Christ in the world etc). Another way is to join the Church of Satan but the annual subscriptions to that would probably cost you more!

[Llamatron]

Sold at a crossroads?
I think the devil should move with the times and set up a website.
Some kind of soul eBay.

[wizard69]

pmsl@ Llamy

[wizard69]

on a more serious note, life at times can seem quiet crap, so if God has given you a bum deal, (you'r starving in Ethiopia, you'r parents were killed by a "friendly" bomb from the U.S.A., You have caught crabs from the local bicyce) what's wrong with a little wheeling and dealing from Old Nick?

[taperface]

You're an oddball, Wizard - but perversely amusing!