The Devil

[Hopkirk]

Do Christians believe the devil is a real being, like God, or is he just an abstract character to symbolise evil?

[Mamyalynne]

Well to me a brought up Catholic he is a symbolism of badness nothing more, and was never threatened with him, it or that.

[wheaten]

I once read a fascinating (and very funny) book by Jeremy Pascall. Half the book is called 'GOD The ultimate Autobiography', turn it over and the other half is 'SATAN The Hiss and Tell Memoirs'. Or vice versa. As they both tell their stories, they meet in they middle with fors and againsts for each of them. Don't know if it now available anywhere but you could try, you won't be able to put it down and it will stay with you forever as it has me.
Wheaten

[tamborine]

the devil is purported to be your dark side.

[wildwood]

When I was young they taught me at school that Hell was a continual sea of fire and the devil made sure that if you ended up with him, he would keep dunking you in the fire forever.

Later when I grew up I heard that Hell is a place of promiscuous debauchery and all the naughty girls go there. Now I can't wait to get there.

[sandyRoe]

It is a place of eternal torment. I dread the final judgement.

[jomifl]

Depends who does the judging

[Davethedog]

The devil is a fallen angel that punishes the unjust. How ever given that God appears to be a heartless b*$£*rd im with Wildwood.

[naomi24]

Many Christians (and not only Christians) believe the devil is a very real being.

I'm laughing at Wildwood and Dave. They're gonna create havoc in hell! :o)

[ummmm]

I think I gave birth to him....

[sandyRoe]

When you go to hell that which you most desire is unobtainable. So they'd be like kids with their noses pressed up against a toy shop window.

[Davethedog]

Sandy Just like here on Earth.

[WaldoMcFroog]

What happens to masochists in Hell then, Sandy Roe? Nice arm chair and a cuppa?

[China Doll]

Funnily enough ummmm, my mum says the same thing about me...

[sandyRoe]

Masochists aren't allowed in. They have to go to heaven and sit imagining the pleasures they're missing.

[jomifl]

So the devil can get people into heaven? it gets stranger still

[SarcasticStevie]

Interesting read here when you have the time hopkirk.

http://englishatheist.org/indexz26.shtml

[Clanad]

... and he has a home and a throne... Revelations Chapter 2, vs 12-13... (Pergamos is in today's central Turkey, by the way...)

[jake-the-peg]

Yes I think the devil in revellations is a characature of the Emperor Nero isn't it?

[Davethedog]

"and cannot be based on any factial evidence" LMAO

[jake-the-peg]

Incidently have you noticed how there are two devils?

The first is the trickster - the one that offers Eve the apple, that trys to get Jesus to bow down, the one that makes bets with God that he can turn Job.

And then there's the Dennis Wheatley / Dante fire and Brimstone revellations one

The devil in musllim tradition is very much the first one - that's the meaning when the US is accused of being the Great Satan - not so much great evil but the tempter, the trickster not to be trusted.

As for revellations - I'll have a pint of whatever John of Patmos was drinking - who decided that should make the cut into the bible I can't imagine!