Does It Really Matter If You Believe In The Devil?

[Kafziel]

Think about it this way. In Buddhism for example, they have a whole process related to thinking. They believe that a thought is just a thought, it doesn't have to be part of you, you are your actions. What they do in meditation is try to let go of the ego (defined as the false sense of self) and attain enlightenment. They do this by letting thoughts surface and then slowly letting them go. This is the best self control training you can do in my experience. There's some debate about whether you should examine those thoughts later, but it's a common practice to let the thoughts go for a time.

Now let's say the devil is putting thoughts in your head, does it really matter if you decide he's the devil or the ego? Different paths, similar choice.

 

[SACREDWARRIOR]

Hello,
YES it does matter, if you believe in the devil.. Gods Holy Word names HIM, Describes Him, tells stories of His actions, therefore he exists...to NOT believe is to NOT believe GODS word thus NOT a Christian...

 

[ResidentAlien]

Think about it this way. In Buddhism for example, they have a whole process related to thinking. They believe that a thought is just a thought, it doesn't have to be part of you, you are your actions. What they do in meditation is try to let go of the ego (defined as the false sense of self) and attain enlightenment. They do this by letting thoughts surface and then slowly letting them go. This is the best self control training you can do in my experience. There's some debate about whether you should examine those thoughts later, but it's a common practice to let the thoughts go for a time.

Now let's say the devil is putting thoughts in your head, does it really matter if you decide he's the devil or the ego? Different paths, similar choice.

I know it doesn't matter to Buddhists, but if you're a Christian it matters. The New Testament is full of teachings and warnings about Satan. Unless you believe all of that is irrelevant, then yes, it matters.

 

[Kafziel]

Hello,
YES it does matter, if you believe in the devil.. Gods Holy Word names HIM, Describes Him, tells stories of His actions, therefore he exists...to NOT believe is to NOT believe GODS word thus NOT a Christian...

I think perhaps he's a personification of the dark side of mankind, or one could say the worldly side of mankind. It's not best if you view your dark side as part of your identity though, because then you may begin to follow it. They call him "the beast" and I have this idea that mankind is the "god beast" which I would describe as the point at which a beast conjoins with a god, so in theory we are where good meets evil, where enlightenment meets instinct, which is why we have so much more free will than any other creature on this planet.

I don't mean to say there aren't evil spirits that walk the earth though. I just am not sure they're fallen angels, I mean there's enough bad people that walked the earth and passed on that you don't really need demons to walk the earth.

 

[Tall_Timbers]

I would consider Buddhist practices to be irrelevant to someone seeking Truth since it is a false religion. For Truth, the Bible is the go to book since it is God's own Word to us and for us. It would be unwise to pick and choose what we are to believe from the Bible. We know a bit about lucifier (the devil) from the Bible.

 

[Kafziel]

I know it doesn't matter to Buddhists, but if you're a Christian it matters. The New Testament is full of teachings and warnings about Satan. Unless you believe all of that is irrelevant, then yes, it matters.

I knew that much, I just wondered if it was really necessary. At the end of the day, all you need to know is what the good and bad ideas are.

 

[Magenta]

I think perhaps he's a personification of the dark side of mankind, or one could say the worldly side of mankind.

Do you not believe Satan/the devil predated the creation and existence of humanity?

 

[Kafziel]

I would consider Buddhist practices to be irrelevant to someone seeking Truth since it is a false religion. For Truth, the Bible is the go to book since it is God's own Word to us and for us. It would be unwise to pick and choose what we are to believe from the Bible. We know a bit about lucifier (the devil) from the Bible.

I don't know it's just hard, I have schizophrenia and I get paranoid about demons. I just find it improves my emotional stability to not believe in them, and instead just view thoughts as thoughts. This simplistic thinking helps me.

 

[Kafziel]

Do you not believe Satan/the devil predated the creation and existence of humanity?

I don't know honestly. I am and am not a Christian. I heed Jesus, but not necessarily the rest of the bible. I treat most of it like a series of rumors that may be true.

 

[ResidentAlien]

I knew that much, I just wondered if it was really necessary. At the end of the day, all you need to know is what the good and bad ideas are.

If you value truth then it's necessary. Jesus taught that Satan was an actual spiritual entity. If you follow Buddhism, or some other philosophy, I guess it's not necessary; but Buddhism can't save your soul, Jesus can. I'm a Christian so I believe Jesus. Buddhism is essentially atheistic. I studied Buddhism and practiced Buddhist meditation when I was younger. I gave it up because it didn't satisfy my longing for truth. Maybe that's why you're here, looking for truth. Jesus can give you peace bro.

 

[Mem]

I don't know if the remedy has as much to do with letting things go as it does with accepting one thing in light of all those things. Healing is accompanied by that you accept that you are accepted, and you are made whole by that.

 

[Magenta]

I don't know honestly. I am and am not a Christian. I heed Jesus, but not necessarily
the rest of the bible. I treat most of it like a series of rumors that may be true.

I have schizophrenia and I get paranoid about demons.

I am very sorry to hear that...

Demons can be extraordinarily frightening if one does not have a sense of God's protection.

 

[Sipsey]

I don't know honestly. I am and am not a Christian. I heed Jesus, but not necessarily the rest of the bible. I treat most of it like a series of rumors that may be true.

The Bible is only a book until one has been touched by God. Communication has been broken and requires a renewal of our Spirit. The Bible states that we should fear no one but God. Evil spirits have no real power over God’s people. As a matter of fact, I recommend becoming a child of God to eliminate all of your human fears.

 

[Kafziel]

If you value truth then it's necessary. Jesus taught that Satan was an actual spiritual entity. If you follow Buddhism, or some other philosophy, I guess it's not necessary; but Buddhism can't save your soul, Jesus can. I'm a Christian so I believe Jesus. Buddhism is essentially atheistic. I studied Buddhism and practiced Buddhist meditation when I was younger. I gave it up because it didn't satisfy my longing for truth. Maybe that's why you're here, looking for truth.

I just use some of their tools like meditation. I am forever a pragmatist in faith, I simply use things that I think will work. Meditation has helped me with the mood aspect of my disorder. Their thinking strategies have brought me peace. Jesus has pulled me out of my depression though, I have developed this thing I call "love meditation" where I just sit down and try to experience as much love for things as possible. It's a sort of east meets west thing and it's improved my mood greatly at times.

 

[PennEd]

I think perhaps he's a personification of the dark side of mankind, or one could say the worldly side of mankind. It's not best if you view your dark side as part of your identity though, because then you may begin to follow it. They call him "the beast" and I have this idea that mankind is the "god beast" which I would describe as the point at which a beast conjoins with a god, so in theory we are where good meets evil, where enlightenment meets instinct, which is why we have so much more free will than any other creature on this planet.

I don't mean to say there aren't evil spirits that walk the earth though. I just am not sure they're fallen angels, I mean there's enough bad people that walked the earth and passed on that you don't really need demons to walk the earth.

That's a whole lot of your OWN thinking and not much of what the Bible teaches.

 

[Kafziel]

I am very sorry to hear that...

Demons can be extraordinarily frightening if one does not have a sense of God's protection.

Yeah I am slowly recovering, but it's taking a very long time. I am just doing everything I can to help my mental health. It's not at all helpful being afraid, I try to catch every moment of peace I can. The thing I hate most is my mind will come up with little characters based on my religious beliefs, and sometimes it creates demons. I feel so vulnerable sometimes, and frail.

 

[Kafziel]

That's a whole lot of your OWN thinking and not much of what the Bible teaches.

It's just a guess really, the ancients had a good sense of what is, they had less idea of the why.

 

[MaryM]

Yes it matters immensely. The devil is real and we ought to be aware of him and his snares. We must be strong, discerning and resist him - then he must flee.

 

[SaysWhat]

Think about it this way. In Buddhism for example, they have a whole process related to thinking. They believe that a thought is just a thought, it doesn't have to be part of you, you are your actions. What they do in meditation is try to let go of the ego (defined as the false sense of self) and attain enlightenment. They do this by letting thoughts surface and then slowly letting them go. This is the best self control training you can do in my experience. There's some debate about whether you should examine those thoughts later, but it's a common practice to let the thoughts go for a time.

Now let's say the devil is putting thoughts in your head, does it really matter if you decide he's the devil or the ego? Different paths, similar choice.

An ego is what satan has, it's manifested through temptation. The devil falsely thought he was equal to God.

 

[Magenta]

Yeah I am slowly recovering, but it's taking a very long time. I am just doing everything I can to help my mental health. It's not at all helpful being afraid, I try to catch every moment of peace I can. The thing I hate most is my mind will come up with little characters based on my religious beliefs, and sometimes it creates demons. I feel so vulnerable sometimes, and frail.

Have you heard of the Alpha Course? It should be starting up very soon in churches all over the world.
I would highly recommend it to you. People meet for dinner and then a video followed by question and
answer, it really is lovely. There is really nothing quite like the peace of God that passes all understanding.
I came to belief at such a one, realizing during the course that I no longer needed more convincing of
the Truth of God's revealed written Word. It was such a relief after all my years of running to know
that my opposition to Him was finally and forever laid down! That was twenty years ago...

Try Alpha - Alpha (alphacanada.org) <= the link is for the T.O. area but you can modify it.