Do theists really believe that the Devil is real?

[Martin TK]

I had to ask this question.  I was watching a show on the History Chanel on Saturday, and in it was stated that before around 180 AD, most people did NOT think that Satan was a real entity, but was a way to explain man's inhumanity to man, and other "evils" that existed among men.

What says you, both theists and atheists?

[pinkocommie]

Some do, some don't.

[Sophus]

According to this Gallup poll 68% of the US believes in the Devil. A little lower than the number whom believe in God.

[Thumpalumpacus]

When I was religious, I certainly believed that Satan was real.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a Southern Baptist who doesn't, I think.

[pinkocommie]

When I was a kid, I randomly ended up hanging out at a Unitarian church for a good chunk of time, and I don't think many of those people believed in the devil as a person, though I remember them talking about the devil being a symbol for things like self doubt and fear.  Unitarians must be like the polar opposite of Southern Baptist, though.  Hahaha.

[Thumpalumpacus]

When I was a kid, I randomly ended up hanging out at a Unitarian church for a good chunk of time, and I don't think many of those people believed in the devil as a person, though I remember them talking about the devil being a symbol for things like self doubt and fear.  Unitarians must be like the polar opposite of Southern Baptist, though.  Hahaha.

You don't wanna know what we said about 'em behind closed doors, but I'll bet you've got a pretty good idea anyway.

[KDbeads]

I had to ask this question.  I was watching a show on the History Chanel on Saturday, and in it was stated that before around 180 AD, most people did NOT think that Satan was a real entity, but was a way to explain man's inhumanity to man, and other "evils" that existed among men.

What says you, both theists and atheists?

Banned from the Bible, Part II?  Or Afraid of the Dark?

[Martin TK]

I had to ask this question.  I was watching a show on the History Chanel on Saturday, and in it was stated that before around 180 AD, most people did NOT think that Satan was a real entity, but was a way to explain man's inhumanity to man, and other "evils" that existed among men.

What says you, both theists and atheists?

Banned from the Bible, Part II?  Or Afraid of the Dark?

Afraid of the Dark.

[KDbeads]

Cool

[Reginus]

I had to ask this question.  I was watching a show on the History Chanel on Saturday, and in it was stated that before around 180 AD, most people did NOT think that Satan was a real entity, but was a way to explain man's inhumanity to man, and other "evils" that existed among men.

What says you, both theists and atheists?

As a theist, I believe the devil is real, along with demons and angels.

And I doubt that most people before 180 AD believed in a religion with Satan in it.  Did you mean to say "most Christians did not think satan was real"?

[Thumpalumpacus]

The religions of the world are littered with evil deities.  Christianity is not special.

[Martin TK]

I had to ask this question.  I was watching a show on the History Chanel on Saturday, and in it was stated that before around 180 AD, most people did NOT think that Satan was a real entity, but was a way to explain man's inhumanity to man, and other "evils" that existed among men.

What says you, both theists and atheists?

As a theist, I believe the devil is real, along with demons and angels.

And I doubt that most people before 180 AD believed in a religion with Satan in it.  Did you mean to say "most Christians did not think satan was real"?

Actually I meant both Christians AND Jews, since they share the Old Testament and at least a partial god, which I find just strange.  That two religions, three if you count Islam, would all share a same deity, but have such dissimilar belief systems, seems very odd indeed.  All thinking that Abraham was the "father" of their religion since he is reported to be the first man who worshiped a single deity.  I also find it to be somewhat funny that Christians read and use the Old Testament and yet do not agree with the very religion that their own religion was born from, and then sometimes they do.  All so odd to me, so odd.

[Tank]

I had to ask this question.  I was watching a show on the History Chanel on Saturday, and in it was stated that before around 180 AD, most people did NOT think that Satan was a real entity, but was a way to explain man's inhumanity to man, and other "evils" that existed among men.

What says you, both theists and atheists?

As a theist, I believe the devil is real, along with demons and angels.

And I doubt that most people before 180 AD believed in a religion with Satan in it.  Did you mean to say "most Christians did not think satan was real"?

Thank you for sticking your head above the parapet and joining in.

[Reginus]

Actually I meant both Christians AND Jews

As for Jews not believing in the devil, that's not strange at all.  According to Wikipedia, there isn't really a concept of a devil in Judaism.

However, I find it very strange that the majority of Christians of the time would not believe in the devil as a real entity (do you know of any cross-references to the statement by the show on History Channel?)  Satan and demons were very often mentioned in Jesus's teachings.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Actually I meant both Christians AND Jews

As for Jews not believing in the devil, that's not strange at all.  According to Wikipedia, there isn't really a concept of a devil in Judaism.

However, I find it very strange that the majority of Christians of the time would not believe in the devil as a real entity (do you know of any cross-references to the statement by the show on History Channel?)  Satan and demons were very often mentioned in Jesus's teachings.

... assuming, of course, that the Gospels accurately report his words and deeds.