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New page: A '''Devil's advocate''' (in Latin, ''Advocatus diaboli'') is a person who takes a position for the sake of argument, rather than out of conviction. Originally, devil's advocates were...
A '''Devil's advocate''' (in [[Latin]], ''Advocatus diaboli'') is a person who takes a position for the sake of argument, rather than out of conviction.
Originally, devil's advocates were appointed by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to argue against the [[canonization]] of individuals <ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01168b.htm</ref>. The post was abolished by Pope [[John Paul II]], allowing him to create and [[beatification|beatify]] an unprecented number of [[saint]]s during his pontiffship.
A fictional example of a devils advocate is Panurge in [[Francois Rabelais]]' ''Gargantua and Pantagruel''<ref>http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1200 Text of ''Gargantua and Pantagruel'' at Project Gutenberg.</ref>, who argues (among other things) that it is good for him to remain in debt, it being better to give than to receive, allowing his creditors to gain merit thereby; moreover, his creditors pray for his continued well-being; moreover, that the very fabric of the Universe is held together by a cement of debt, etc.
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Religion]]
Originally, devil's advocates were appointed by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to argue against the [[canonization]] of individuals <ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01168b.htm</ref>. The post was abolished by Pope [[John Paul II]], allowing him to create and [[beatification|beatify]] an unprecented number of [[saint]]s during his pontiffship.
A fictional example of a devils advocate is Panurge in [[Francois Rabelais]]' ''Gargantua and Pantagruel''<ref>http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1200 Text of ''Gargantua and Pantagruel'' at Project Gutenberg.</ref>, who argues (among other things) that it is good for him to remain in debt, it being better to give than to receive, allowing his creditors to gain merit thereby; moreover, his creditors pray for his continued well-being; moreover, that the very fabric of the Universe is held together by a cement of debt, etc.
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Religion]]