Monday, March 23, 2009

These people know if Satan exists

As many of you know, I don't believe that Satan exists. If you read my book, I spend a good deal of time talking about the issues of both Satan and Hell and why I came to the conclusion they're not real.

But this is bizarre: ABC's Nightline (which has gotten very strange in the past few years, quite frankly) is bringing on board four "experts" to debate whether Satan is real. Here are the people involved.

In one corner, arguing that Satan is not real:

  • Deepak Chopra, famous spiritualist who, interestingly, wrote a rebuttal article against Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion. We don't really know what religion Chopra belongs to, but from what I've read he's both critcized and defended Christianity.
  • Carlton Pearson is a Christian preacher who believes God exists and is loving, but wouldn't condemn people to Hell; he doesn't believe Satan or Hell exist. (Kind of a strange do-it-yourself Christianity if you ask me.)

Then in the other corner, arguing Satan is real:

  • Mark Driscoll: A somewhat controversial preacher who, I might add, does have a Master's of theology.
  • Annie Lobert: The woman who started Hookers for Jesus. Why she should be considered an expert, I have no idea.

My take: Satan isn't real because Christianity and the Bible are based in myths. Jesus isn't real; God isn't real; the Holy Spirit isn't real; and as such neither is Satan or Hell. However, if you suspend belief momentarily and treat the Bible as real (bear with me here), you still find little or no evidence that Satan is real. In my own book, I point out that Satan and Hell actually occupy just a tinyl, miniscule portion of the Bible, and the references aren't at all clear. Anything beyond that is an invention of the person reading the Bible. So maybe the Carlton Pearson isn't the one with the do-it-yourself Christianity after all. Sphere: Related Content

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pity we won't see this in the UK it looks like it will be amusing. I have read quite a bit of Deepak's work, he's like a self help guru for people who are too lazy to help themselves, spiritual bollocks mixed with Pseudoscience.
Fred Phelps should have been invited though, he knows a thing or two about satan

Jeff C said...

Oh that would really fun if Fred Phelps joined in! In fact, now that I think about it, he has pretty much fused God and Satan together into a single deity. How fun!

Anonymous said...

I am more disturbed that Nightline would waste time on this subject. It's just ridiculous.

The_Darkest_Red said...

"If you suspend belief momentarily and treat the Bible as real" there is certainly a good deal of evidence showing the existence of Satan. 47 verses that I am aware of, all directly talking of someone/something called "Satan." I would be happy to spit out the references but I am sure you are quite aware of all of them. Perhaps I am ignorant to your complete view on this matter as I have not read your book but from this post alone I find your claim to be a little strange.

Just as an example Job 1:9 says "Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?" Is this clearly not a being called Satan speaking to God? Or perhaps 2 Corinthians 2:11 which states, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

I am just a little confused how these two (as well as 45 other) verses do not show that the Bible claims Satan to be real.

Also note that I am in no way remarking on the authenticity of the Bible, just commenting on the idea that the Bible does not claim Satan to be real.

The_Darkest_Red said...

Oh and by the way, I also agree that this episode of Nightline (and perhaps the program in general) is completely worthless.

Anders Branderud said...

You wrote: "God isn't real; "

The blog bloganders.blogspot.com (left menu) contains a formal logical proof of the existence of an Intelligent and Perfect Creator (of the universe).

Anonymous said...

The Holy Spirit exists. I could feel his presence as it is written in the Bible.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” (Gospel of John, 15:26)

Your text is crap. The Bible teaches the truth.

Unknown said...

The bible is full of CONTRADICTIONS and bullshit. Anyone with half a brain (who has actually read the damned thing) should clearly see this. Xtianity is the most destructive thing ever invented by mankind. Oh' and who slaughtered more people in the bible, god or Satan?

Anonymous said...

Agreed.
I will take the word of physicists, biologists, and cosmologists in white lab coats vs. men and women dressed like penguins and adorning their necks with a bloody man stapled to an execution device.