Changes

[[Image:GustaveDoreParadiseLostSatanProfile.jpg|right|thumb|Gustave Doré's depiction of Satan from John Milton's Paradise Lost.]]

[[Image:GustaveDoreParadiseLostSatanProfile.jpg|right|thumb|Gustave Doré's depiction of Satan from John Milton's Paradise Lost.]]

'''Satan''' or the '''Devil''' is the embodiment of evil, and plays a major role in Christian theology and literature, as well as in many other religions, and nowadays used as an epithet for profoundly evil people.   

'''Satan''' or the '''Devil''' is the embodiment of evil, and plays a major role in Christian theology and literature, as well as in many other religions.  He is the tempter and spiritual enemy of mankind. He is the adversary of God although subordinate to him and able to act only by his sufferance and is represented frequently as the leader or prince of all apostate angels and as ruler of [[hell]].

 

The word ''Satan'' derives from the Hebrew "ha-satan", meaning the "accuser", "tempter", "persecutor", "calumniator", or "adversary". '''Satan''' or the '''Devil''' "was a liar and a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44)

==Old Testament==

==Old Testament==

He was a member of the divine council of God referenced in the [[Old Testament]]. He is referenced 11 times in [[Job]] and 4 other times in the Old Testament.  The [[New Testament]] mentions Satan 34 times in all starting with the first book [[Matthew]] and ending with the last [[Revelation]].  In the Christian tradition he rebelled against God and is now the enemy of God and man alike.  He is the father of lies and no good is found in him.  He leads a host of fallen angels (or [[demon]]s) who know their days are numbered before they will be cast in the [ake of fire and they seek to take as many humans as possible with them.  Those who worship Satan are called [[satanism | Satanists]].

Satan was once a member of the divine council of God referenced in the [[Old Testament]]. He is referenced 11 times in [[Job]] and 4 other times in the Old Testament.  The [[New Testament]] mentions Satan 34 times in all starting with the first book [[Matthew]] and ending with the last [[Revelation]].  In the Christian tradition he rebelled against God and is now the enemy of God and man alike.  He is the father of lies and no good is found in him.  He leads a host of fallen angels (or [[demon]]s) who know their days are numbered before they will be cast in the lake of fire and they seek to take as many humans as possible with them.   

In the [[New Testament]], Satan tries to tempt [[Jesus]] in the desert, and fails.  Jesus warns extensively to beware of Satan as does [[Paul]].

In Christian theology Satan's goal is to lead people away from the love of God, by tempting or tricking them. The only sources of supernatural power in the world are from either God (good) or Satan (evil).  In the book of [[Genesis]], Satan takes the form of a snake and tempts Eve with fruit from a tree.  This causes sin to come into the world.  Kelly (2006) demonstrates how assumptions--such as the identification of the Eden serpent with Satan, probably first made by Justin Martyr in the second century--have hardened into fact.

In Christianity Satan's goal is to lead people away from the love of God, by tempting or tricking them. The only sources of supernatural power in the world are from either God (good) or Satan (evil).  In the book of [[Genesis]], Satan takes the form of a snake and tempts Eve with fruit from a tree.  This causes sin to come into the world.  Kelly (2006) demonstrates how assumptions--such as the identification of the Eden serpent with Satan, probably first made by Justin Martyr in the second century--have hardened into fact.

Satan, in the Book of Job, listens to God speak highly of Job and accuses Job to God before the host of angels that Job praises God only because he is blessed and would curse God if he was forced to suffer.  God allows Satan to do what he will except to spare his life, and Satan causes Job to suffer immensely.  (Job remained true to God through his hardships; Satan accused him further and punished him further, but could not get Job to break).

Satan, in the Book of Job, listens to God speak highly of Job and accuses Job to God before the host of angels that Job praises God only because he is blessed and would curse God if he was forced to suffer.  God allows Satan to do what he will except to spare his life, and Satan causes Job to suffer immensely.  (Job remained true to God through his hardships; Satan accused him further and punished him further, but could not get Job to break).

 

[[Jesus]] makes references to demonic possession on multiple occasions that He then casts out.  Some believe that Satan is able to possess and control living humans on Earth even today. Even more, some others believe that Satan actually has done this in the past as well. The Catholic church believes that priests (and sometimes only bishops) are able to [[exorcise]] this possession through Jesus.

[[Jesus]] makes references to demonic possession on multiple occasions that He then casts out.  Some believe that Satan is able to possess and control living humans on Earth even today. Even more, some others believe that Satan actually has done this in the past as well. The Catholic church believes that priests (and sometimes only bishops) are able to [[exorcise]] this possession through Jesus.

==Terms==

 

The word ''Satan'' derives from the Hebrew "ha-satan", meaning the "accuser", "tempter", "persecutor", "calumniator", or "adversary". He "was a liar and a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44)  Synonyms include '''Lucifer,"' '''demon,''' '''Mephistopholes,''' '''Mephisto,''' '''Beelzebub,''' the '''Evil One,''' '''the Tempter''', and '''The Prince of Darkness.'''  "Devil" is used as an epithet for a profoundly evil person.  

==Names==

The notion of Satan, or an evil force, is noted in many if not all of the major world religions.

 

Satan, is also called by several different names (the Devil, deceiver, Bealzebub, Beelzebul, Lucifer, Dis, [[Asmodeus]], Abaddon, "Old Scratch," the Crooked One, etc).

 

=== Lucifer ===

=== Lucifer ===

 

'''Lucifer''' is a name literally meaning "Son of the Morning" (or "Light-Bearer"), and is mentioned in the Bible only in the [[book of Isaiah]] (Isaiah 14:12). Though in Christian tradition Lucifer is equated with Satan, the immediate context of the passage is Isaiah's prophecy against the king of Babylon, and the name "Lucifer" was not present at all in the original manuscripts (in the Latin Vulgate, the phrase "Son of the Morning" was transliterated as a proper name).

'''Lucifer''' is a name literally meaning "Son of the Morning" (or "Light-Bearer"), and is mentioned in the [[Bible]] only in the [[book of Isaiah]] (Isaiah 14:12). Though in Christian tradition Lucifer is equated with Satan, the immediate context of the passage is Isaiah's prophecy against the king of Babylon, and the name "Lucifer" was not present at all in the original manuscripts (in the Latin Vulgate, the phrase "Son of the Morning" was transliterated as a proper name).

Whomever Lucifer may be, the Isaiah makes strong prophecy against him, condemning him for 5 pronouncements:

Whomever Lucifer may be, the Isaiah makes strong prophecy against him, condemning him for 5 pronouncements:

== Jewish Views ==

== Jewish Views ==

In the Jewish tradition, Satan is an angel who faithfully serves God as a prosecuting attorney - one who accuses men of wickedness and impiety.  At the direction of God, Satan may be permitted to test these accusations, such as in Job.  In this view, Satan's goal is not to lead men away from their faithfulness to God, but merely to reveal the true depths of their devotion, although in [[I Chronicles]] 21:1 Satan provoked [[David]] to take a [[census]] of the people of Israel against the will of God and 70,000 men are slain because of it.

In the Jewish tradition, Satan is an angel who faithfully serves God as a prosecuting attorney - one who accuses men of wickedness and impiety.  At the direction of God, Satan may be permitted to test these accusations, such as in Job.  In this view, Satan's goal is not to lead men away from their faithfulness to God, but merely to reveal the true depths of their devotion, although in [[I Chronicles]] 21:1 Satan provoked [[David]] to take a [[census]] of the people of Israel against the will of God and 70,000 men are slain because of it.

==Defenses==

==Defenses==

The classic literary depictions of Satan appear in Dante's Italian poem, "Inferno," and in [[John Milton]]'s English poem, "Paradise Lost." These are considered the two greatest poems in Italian and English literature.

The classic literary depictions of Satan appear in Dante's Italian poem, "Inferno," and in [[John Milton]]'s English poem, "Paradise Lost." These are considered the two greatest poems in Italian and English literature.

==Secular and liberal views==

==Mainstream Protestant views==

 

Like [[Santa Claus]], Satan is not considered a real person but is the embodiment or epitome of evil.  

Satan is not considered a real being (compare [[Santa Claus]]) but is recognized as the embodiment or epitome of evil. The concept is seen as playing a major role in Christian theology and literature, as well as in many other religions; the term ''Satan'' is used as an epithet for profoundly evil people.  

In western art and popular culture the devil is used to represent evil influences or motivations.

In western art and popular culture the devil is used to represent evil influences or motivations.