From: pwhite@ems.cdc.com (Peter White)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Is satan really evil?
Date: 16 Nov 92 20:33:52 GMT
Reply-To: pwhite@ems.cdc.com
Organization: Empros Systems International, a division of Ceridian

In article <1992Nov16.112709.1@csc.canterbury.ac.nz>, phys224@csc.canterbury.ac.nz writes:
|> I've recently read the bible,and am stunned and horrified at the cruety and
|> irrationality of the christian god. It is mean,spiteful,selfish,demands
|> we obey under pain of (eternal!) suffering.i could'nt believe it!why do
|> some people believe in this god,and why follow it?
Odd, that the One who defines and maintains reason is looked at by one of
his creatures as being irrational. 

God doesn't demand that we obey under the pain of eternal suffering as much
as call out to us to come to Him so that we can avoid eternal suffering.
TO be without God is to be in eternal suffering. They are one and the
same. 
|> In the flood,innocent beings of all kinds are killed (even human babies!)
|> The chosen people move about the landscape,annihalating people as they go.
|> God's punishments in the old testement are nothing short of ridiculous
|> and cruel.he wants our faith and obedience,yet refuses to offer evidence of
|> his own existence? much of the bible surely cannot be read literally,
|> some statements are crazy e.g. the new jerusulum in revelations is huge
|> and perfectly square;such a city can only fit on a flat earth!etc, most
|> of whats in the bible conflicts with evolutionary theory,biology,physics
|> etc. So why should i believe in it?
I assume that God is just and that he can see into the future. So rather
than to say he killed "innocent babies" in the flood, it seems much more
likely that he saved humanity from a fate worse even than the flood.

When we look at the nations that defeated Hitler and Mussolini, we don't
just say that those nations went around the landscape, annihalating people
as they go, although we could. What we say is that those nations delivered
the world from a worse fate. None of the nations destroyed by the
Israelites were bringing a wonderful civilization to the earth. As with
Hitler, their destruction was sad, but did result in a plus for mankind.

As far as the new Jerusalem being flat, perhaps you'll notice that
most buildings require some sort of leveling of the ground before
the construction takes place.

Evolution is a theory, nothing more. It doesn't make much sense as a 
theory. Creation is far easier to believe than evolution. 
As far as conflicts with biology or physics, you'll need to get a bit
more specific as to the conflicts if you'd like an answer.

As far as why you should believe the Bible, that is your choice. 
If you're looking for recommendations, I do recommend it highly. I have
been studying it for over 20 years now and find no flaw or contradiction
in it. It's crowning recommendation is that it talks of a relationship
with our creator that we can have because of the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ.
|> Why do some people believe Satan is evil? dosen't satan simply want us to
|> be ourselves,to make our own choices and morality?Lucifer seems to be
|> the opposite of god;he wants us to be us,not just computers whose
|> programs are scriptures.I don't belive in 'GOD' or Satan;but would
|> worship Satan if i did.if it is true,was Satan fighting for us as well as
|> himself?to free us from god's yoke?
|> please,could i have replys on this issue?replys based on what satan did/
|> wants,not on statements from the bible saying he is evil or whatever;
|> after all,the bible is written by pro-god people.
|> what is so wrong about inventing your own morality?i follow my own
|> personal (atheistic) beliefs,i judge them adequate;i try to cause no pain to
|> others,actively try to help out people who need help,as well as attempt
|> to weaken religion if i possibly can.what is so wrong with my morality?
|> nothing that i can see.
Satan portrays himself in a great many ways. The result of believing him
is always negative. He is the father of lies, so anything he says is not
to be trusted as being true in the first place.

A problem with inventing your own morality, is what do you base it on
and why can you trust it? Suppose there is something really wrong
with your morality, but you don't see it. 
What's so great about weakening religion, if there is really nothing to 
it anyway? Certainly one must ask why that could be considered kind.
Also, the fact that you suppose that it can be weakened says that you
recognize that there really is something to it in the first place. Which
says that one ought not to go about weakening religion, but investigating
it.
|> 
|> see ya
|> stephen botha,christchurch,new zealand.

-- 
Peter White
disclaimer: None of what is written necessarily reflects 
     			a view of my company.
            His anger lasts only a moment, 
			but his favor lasts a lifetime. Ps 30:5