The Book of Job in the Hebrew bible was crafted to address human suffering and why bad things happen to good people. In it, Satan is a member of God's divine court who walks the earth looking for sin and reports back to God. When God brags about what a loyal servant Job is, Satan responds that is only so because God has blessed him with wealth, children, and health. If he did … [Read more...] about Satan and the Testament of Job
The Devil
The Devil is the personification of evil in many religious belief systems. He is often the direct adversary of God and is engaged in the cosmic battle between good and evil. In Christianity and Islam, the Devil is portrayed as a fallen angel or demon responsible for tempting humanity to sin against God or directly acting in ways to cause harm to individuals. Read articles about the Devil below.
Reader Q&A: Is Lucifer related to the planet Venus?
A reader asks I don't have the book or articles in front of me, but I've read that Lucifer may be related to Venus (the planet). In the bible passage you quote, it says it plainly: "O day star, son of morning!" Venus was often referred to as the day star, as it was visible during the day and especially at dawn (which is still true). You are correct. Lucifer is a Latin … [Read more...] about Reader Q&A: Is Lucifer related to the planet Venus?
Reader Q&A: What literary works include the devil and/or the Faust myth?
A reader asks I am an English Lit. grad. student and have long been interested in the portrayal of the Devil in literature. I am considering proposing an independent study that addresses the different ways Satan has been depicted in works from various centuries and countries. Aside from, say, Milton, Dante, Marlowe and Goethe, can you point me towards some other works that … [Read more...] about Reader Q&A: What literary works include the devil and/or the Faust myth?
The Devil by Amelia Wilson
Rating: The Devil by Amelia Wilson first caught my attention with its many color illustrations of the Judeo-Christian devil throughout history. It is a concise look at the evolution of the devil over 2.5 millennia through art. The book is divided into 6 chapters: Chap 1 - Paving the Way: The Devil's Earliest Origins - gives a brief overview of Sumerian, Babylonian, … [Read more...] about The Devil by Amelia Wilson
Sleep Paralysis: Demon Encounters and Terror in the Night
On the message board, we get numerous stories of people that wake up but can't move. Often, they see things, hear voices, and/or feel an evil presence near or on top of them. And no matter how hard they try, they can't move a muscle. Feeling trapped, they lie there hoping to survive. This week, sciencenews.org published a story on this not so uncommon phenomenon. I don't … [Read more...] about Sleep Paralysis: Demon Encounters and Terror in the Night