Comments on THE IMPOTENCE OF SATAN --- ARE GOD’S POWERS FAILING HIM IN HIS OLD AGE ?

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Well Hello Kelli

posted by gomedome on January 19, 2005 at 5:05 PM | link to this | reply

Hi Gomedome!

posted by Kelli on January 19, 2005 at 5:01 PM | link to this | reply

empty_handed_painter -- back then questions meant beatings

I asked a few questions but for the most part gave up on it so as not to suffer the inevitable embarrasment and indignation.

posted by gomedome on January 19, 2005 at 5:00 PM | link to this | reply

great post!!!

how many of us have asked the same questions

and either gotten no answer

or an answer that doesn't answer the question

or and answer that raises more questions

?

posted by Xeno-x on January 19, 2005 at 2:35 PM | link to this | reply

I can imagine.

posted by pappy on January 19, 2005 at 1:48 PM | link to this | reply

pappy -- the only way I can see of implementing something a little

different is on an individual basis. I would not expose my kids to such things as demons etc. when they were very young so as not to cause nightmares. I also didn't want them growing up thinking as too many people do that Satan is a real being and missing the point of the concept. Still as you suggest this is almost imposssible, we live in a predominantly Christian society, the stories of Satan are inevitable. Aside from spun in laws who kept pushing the issue I only had to deal with a few instances over the years. One gradeschool teacher sent my youngest home one day at age 9 with cold sweats. I had a little word with that teacher if you can imagine.

posted by gomedome on January 18, 2005 at 6:06 PM | link to this | reply

you may be right, gomedome

The problem is that there is no way to try them both and see which is better. It doesn't work that way. NOBODY is in control of what goes on, so even if one was proved to be the better, it doesn't mean it would get done.

posted by pappy on January 18, 2005 at 5:52 PM | link to this | reply

pappy -- there are other ways to teach right and wrong

it not necessarily be taught with the use of Satan. There is something wrong with a concept if so many people are wandering around in this world not understanding that it is simply an example or a parable.

posted by gomedome on January 18, 2005 at 5:02 PM | link to this | reply

The Devil has Always been a Concept, gomedome

To us, at least.  But what else is there beside a swift kick in the head.  Is there a spirit of evil other than non-stop generations of humans who believe there is?  Well, there IS death.  But if every person on the earth stopped remembering evil for a minute, would evil disappear forever?  Are you kidding?

posted by pappy on January 18, 2005 at 4:36 PM | link to this | reply

Ciel -- I love it -- couldn't have put it better myself

and yes I took many a cuff in the head from the nuns. Corporal punishment in schools back then stopped just shy of bloodletting. Biggest whupping I ever got was with my objections to the story of creation. I let out an audible "c'mon" as in come on, you can't be serious. Not a wise thing to do in front of a nun.

I particularly like your take on how people should view the beliefs of others. I find that many of the most fervant objections in these comments are merely over small nuances of interpretation. As if anyone on this planet can make such claims of actually knowing in such absolute terms.  

posted by gomedome on January 18, 2005 at 10:43 AM | link to this | reply

Just wondering if your head still hurts from that cuffing the nun gave ya?

I've already made my statement and theory about how and why God is such a disappointment and an enigma to so many--feel free to visit my R & S blog, somewhere around page 3, I think... and later, about Good And Evil...   But the bottom line is this:  IN MY HUMBLE OPINION (ie, I know the only thing I can truly count on is that I will never have all the answers) your relationship with the Divine, God, the Universe, the What Is--however you name it and understand it-- is between you and It.  I may be fascinated by it, and agree or disagree with all or parts of it, but ultimately, it is none of my business.  It is certainly not my business to try to reaffirm my beliefs by attacking yours.  Or anyone else's here, no matter how far back on the road I think they may be. 

For all the hot and bothered who have added their rant to this page, and others like it--  Just one question:  Does God take you as seriously as you take God?

posted by Ciel on January 18, 2005 at 10:27 AM | link to this | reply

MikeCorthell -- You missed a good opportunity to create a post from your

comment. I can see how a disaster such as this could prompt some doubts in the faith of some. When it happened my take on it was quite different. Where some people would like to portray God as the grand puppet master controlling everything and determining the outcome of all events both man made and natural I felt that the portrayal itself was erroneous. This of course was construed by some of the more fervant as me blaming this disaster on God but that was not the point. Things such as tsunamis and earthquakes only illustrate that if this entity exists in whatever form it must be benigh and not pro-active.  

posted by gomedome on January 18, 2005 at 8:56 AM | link to this | reply

JanesOpinion -- and they do roll off like water off a ducks back

Nice back peddling on the insulting quote you left last comment. Suggesting that it was intended as anything else but an insult and then asking me why I am so defensive borders on insulting in itself. I have certainly constructed God in my own image or more accurately as best as my limited ability as a human being allows. In this I am like everyone else on this planet. That fact that this entity, if it exists, does not come close to what your vision of God may be is somehow something you feel you must take issue with. You are simply a Christian to me, nothing more, one of 30 billion people in the history of the planet that have been exposed to the word of Christianity. Approximately 1/3 of the 105 billion who have been born onto this planet. Your religion tells you that the son of God died for our sins, that would be humanity's sins except he missed 75 billion or a good 2/3rds of them. Close but no cigar.

It is your right to believe this as it is my right to present a differing viewpoint. The only difference between us is that I do not assume a position of self righteous superiority as you do. Wanna argue that last point? You state that someday I will find out that your God and your Satan are real. You state this with absolute certainty while I hold the same certainty that I will not meet them or at least your version of them. It would probably never occur to you that there are people in this world that hold different convictions that are just as valid as yours. Some beliefs I dare say that have fewer disconnects in logic than Christianity.

As for meeting your God, I would surely like to. Then I could ask him point blank "hey big guy....what's up with your fan club?"   

 

posted by gomedome on January 18, 2005 at 8:49 AM | link to this | reply

Actually, Gome

That little quote was not necessarily misquoted, as there have been multiple variations on that theme, starting at least with Rousseau and Voltaire.  Dear Mark Twain was not the first. You have, indeed, created God in your own image.  You have made him out to be a weak kneed simpering little fusty old man.  No wonder you find him so worthless to you -- when you've made him out to be, at best, a step above humanity. 

I have never called myself a person of intelligence, by the way, nor attempted to make myself more than I am.  I am a nurse and a nurse practitioner who happened to do extremely well in school. So in spite of that biblical lobotomy of which you accused me of having . . . .  Although interested in these sorts of debates, I would be the first to admit that I'm not the best one to be arguing semantics.  I am, however, willing to step out of my shell and take a stand in defense of the God of the Universe. 

And you accused ME of insulting YOU?  How? By stating that only "a fool has said in his heart there is no God?"   I stand by that comment, by the way.  I fear you will make that discovery one day -- in spite of your notions that God and the Devil are figments of the imaginative minds of people living in the Dark Ages -- only when you discover the truth, it WILL be too late.  I pity you, Gome.  And this "blathering little rant" is not an attempt to demonstrate my intelligence, but rather to serve notice that someday you will stand before God and learn, the hard way, that God and the Devil are most definitely NOT "magic and constructed mythical beings."

If you feel I insulted you, perhaps you should step back and ponder why it made you so defensive?  Surely if I'm wrong, my comments should have no effect on you, but instead roll off like water from a duck's back. 

posted by JanesOpinion on January 18, 2005 at 7:48 AM | link to this | reply

Satan, Sin and Roaring Waves

Satan, Sin and Roaring Waves
Mike Corthell, Editor
January 13, 2005

"The righteous perishes," wrote the prophet Isaiah. "Merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace." Isaiah 57:1

"How can you believe in a God who permits suffering on this scale?'''[1] Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Anglican Church

"I don't know why God is testing us. It must be Kalikalam (bad times)."[2] Give so others may live again!

"In the village of Batiagon.... just 4 km from the sea, there were just two buildings made of concrete: a church and a rich man's house. The rest of the buildings were straw and clay. People rushed into the two buildings for shelter. About 300 people, both Christians and non-Christians, jammed into the church. They cried out to the Lord for His protection. At around 11 a.m., a massive tidal wave 30 feet high slammed into the village, instantly destroying the shacks and sweeping away the rich man's house. Witnesses inside the church say the wave seemed to split and go around both sides of the building. All 300 people who had taken shelter inside the church survived.... All the people in Batiagon village confessed that God had graciously saved their lives. The Hindus declared they would never again oppose Christianity."[3]

posted by MikeCorthell on January 18, 2005 at 5:23 AM | link to this | reply

No actually The_Devil - no one can offer any such type of evidence

as you well know... nor do I try to. Offering evidence of the manmade construction or manufacture of this entity is quite a different matter.

posted by gomedome on January 18, 2005 at 5:09 AM | link to this | reply

Sorry Justsouno -- but that is just comical

Satan never appears to, nor has any hold on those who do not believe in him. Why do you think that is?  

posted by gomedome on January 18, 2005 at 5:06 AM | link to this | reply

gomedome

Can you offer any substantial evidence that Hell and Satan does not exist?  Otherwise we're all just going around in circles with empty opinions.

posted by Rupert_Bottom_Paddler on January 18, 2005 at 5:04 AM | link to this | reply

JanesOpinion --- you forgot to use the other catch phrase that people

who have had a bible lobotomy use. You know the one. About casting pearls before swine. It was Mark Twain who said that by the way, except you have misquoted him. He actually said "God created man in his own image and man being a gentleman returned the favour" Which is exactly my point. Both Satan and the traditional image of God are constructs of mankind. Manufactured centuries ago with the limited comprehension of earlier man. Somehow you have construed this to warrant (in your mind) an insulting attack on me.  You somehow think your little blathering rant demonstrates that you are a person of intelligence? Hardly. This is 2005, if you feel the need to cling to outdated and redundant dogma that asks one to believe in magic and constructed mythical beings..... that is entirely your problem

posted by gomedome on January 18, 2005 at 3:39 AM | link to this | reply

Yeah, yeah, Jutso. I just tangoed with him in the back yard yesterday.

I'll tell you more about it in a separate poster......... JJ

posted by Jack_Flash on January 18, 2005 at 2:43 AM | link to this | reply

Justa, JJ and the granddaam

You may need to be informed this non-entity you people have declared Satan to be may not have a short term memory. He has you three just where he wants you, eating from his hand of deception. You will have a very long time to do his bidding after this most intellectually elevated life you live. 

posted by Justi on January 17, 2005 at 9:31 PM | link to this | reply

Who was it that said

"God created man in his own image. . . and man returned the favor"?  It must be nice to be so all knowing and cocky.  Like a God.  And then to conclude by insinuating that if one believes in God or the Devil or Hell he or she has not learned to conceptualize -- i.e. has not gotten past the child-like concrete phase of thinking -- well if it helps your god-complex to make that statement, more power to ya! 

Only "the fool has said in his heart 'there is no God.'" 

posted by JanesOpinion on January 17, 2005 at 9:15 PM | link to this | reply

Good Luck…JJ WildDog

posted by justAcarpenter on January 17, 2005 at 8:27 PM | link to this | reply

All Paths Lead Home…

posted by justAcarpenter on January 17, 2005 at 8:26 PM | link to this | reply

justAcarpenter -- okay -- I can sort of buy that

a different path to the same conclusion.

posted by gomedome on January 17, 2005 at 8:21 PM | link to this | reply

I'm not sure right now.....

Got to get to the back yard.  Sounds like the dogs are having a problem with him.  I stuck a couple of silver forks in the muzzle.  I'll let you know how it goes...I hope.

posted by Jack_Flash on January 17, 2005 at 8:20 PM | link to this | reply

“Sister Neverhadaman”

Now that’s funny…

When people believe something to be real…it then, to them is real. When they begin to doubt it’s realness, it begins to lose its power over them. Satan is losing his power because people are realizing his unrealness…only The Truth exists. Think about it…nothing but Truth exists…

As for why God would create Satan? To get us where we needed to go, as far as understanding is concerned. Belief in lies always comes to an end…and Satan is a liar. This means he is just that…a lie.

posted by justAcarpenter on January 17, 2005 at 8:19 PM | link to this | reply

JJ WildDog

No weapon stops a spirit…you should know that…

Take gomedomes advice…lol

posted by justAcarpenter on January 17, 2005 at 8:18 PM | link to this | reply

Sprinkle him with holy water

no shoot that's for vampires isn't it?

posted by gomedome on January 17, 2005 at 8:15 PM | link to this | reply

I don't think I better just now........

Too much weird stuff that I haven't had time to look into, and I think I just saw Satan at the back window.  Do you think a 20 gauge with number twos will work on that guy?

posted by Jack_Flash on January 17, 2005 at 8:12 PM | link to this | reply

JJ_WildDog -- care to translate that comment

into something a little more cohesive?

posted by gomedome on January 17, 2005 at 7:57 PM | link to this | reply

Oh...good/evil...yin/yang...immoviable object/irresistible force...Hmmmm

Thanks.  All of that, plus a real devil that knocks shit around.  Now I see the light. 

Thanks a million.  Now I get the PastorB deal.  WOW!    JJ

posted by Jack_Flash on January 17, 2005 at 7:53 PM | link to this | reply

yeah, my husband has enough on his plate!

posted by Kelli on January 17, 2005 at 7:52 PM | link to this | reply

Kelli -- and that is very true.

we create evil, we do not need some little red, pointy horned guy to blame it on.

posted by gomedome on January 17, 2005 at 7:49 PM | link to this | reply

evil is found only in the hearts of men (I got that from Dr. Dre but really.....) 

posted by Kelli on January 17, 2005 at 7:39 PM | link to this | reply