Controversial...............

[ScabbyDouglas]

"That's why you look to Apostolic Tradition."

OK.. now I could go look up a formal definition of this term, but let's see if I can guess what it means?

something like:
The received wisdom as agreed by prominent and significant thinkers, commentators and authorities within the Church.

I'll quite happily take a revised definition.

But basically, the current position of the Church on Satan and the Devil depends upon which way the heap of accumulated theological head scratching happens to be leaning at present.

That's Ok, I mean, it's not my Church, you can run it anyway you like.

I read something recently though that made me think.
It was something along the lines of: when unexplained good things happen, religious people feel comfortable in describing them as "miracles". However when unexplained bad things happen, people do not ascribe a malevolent, evil origin to those events.

I think that people in the Middle Ages probably had at least a more consistent and balanced view of things: when good unexplained things happen, it was due to prayer and God; wehn unexplained bad things happened it was because of Satan or a curse.

[fluffi]

Originally posted by ScabbyDouglas
Fluffi,

I'm troubled when people try to "interpret" stuff from the Book of Revelation. It's only marginally better (possibly worse) than the extremely enthusiastic Jehovah's Witness who came to my door one evening, who insisted that it was all to be taken absolutely literally.

Wisnae "The artist formerly known as Prince" wis it????

Funny Fluffi

[Fear_nam_Beanntan]

Originally posted by fluffi
You refer to the cjaining of Satan as being the result of Christ's victory over death. Revelation states that the chaining of Satan occurs at Christ's second coming.

No it doesn't. We have no clue as to the chronological order in which the visions will be/have been fulfilled. John doesn't say "and then this will happen, then this..." he says "and then I saw this, and then I saw this."

Originally posted by fluffi
Do you still believe that Satan is chained up, or free to rule the planet.

Christ's atonement severely weakened Satan's power, but he still has some. He had quite a bit in pagan Rome when the Apostles called him "the god of this world."

Originally posted by fluffi
It's jus like every one thinks Satan has two horns and one head, look closely, satan has 10 horns and seven heads, that is because that is what is described in the bible, not a basic 'chinese whisper' (Revelation 13:1-10)

What makes you think that that beast represents Satan? Rev 13:4 explicitly states that that beast is a distinct entity from the dragon (Satan). The dragon is what gives the beast power. I believe the beast represents the Roman Empire, and the Herodian dynasty which they propped up in Israel.

[Mamie]

I won't ...I won't!

[ScabbyDouglas]

One of the themes that is consistently associated with the Devil or Satan is that of "seduction", libertinism, hedonism - specifically with women who are sexually active.

Even in Tom's post, we can see that the association is still strong today.

Why is that? Is it just the scary face put on to the official Church viewpoints on sex (which can usually be summed up as Thou Shallt Not Unless Thou Art Well And Truly Married) - Is it just a way of enforcing sanctioned sexual activity by frightening us with the Bogey Man?

The Devil is almost always emphatically male, but historically women have been castigated for Original Sin. Mixed messages?

[fluffi]

What makes you think that that beast represents Satan? Rev 13:4 explicitly states that that beast is a distinct entity from the dragon (Satan). The dragon is what gives the beast power. I believe the beast represents the Roman Empire, and the Herodian dynasty which they propped up in Israel.

Fair point, will examine that point more closely.

Fluffi