The way forward

Interested in Demonology?

A little bit of theology first.

It is generally accepted by Christianity that Satan is the Devil and that he is the essence and root of all evil and sin on the Earth.

The appearance of satan in the Bible is fairly early, even in the the Pentateuch (The first 5 books of the Bible’s Old Testament) satan appears. But, the word satan is derived from the Hebrew root word s’tn and translates as the verb satan which means “to oppose“.

A glance at that dusty old tome reveals the following passages (if you can be bothered to read them)

1 Samuel 29:42

1 Samuel 19:22

Kings 5:41

Kings 11:14

So according to the Bible Satan is not a diabolic entity or a diabolic being but someone or something that opposes someone or something; which is quite interesting because in the early Greek translation of the Bible from Hebrew the word satan translates as “diaboloc” from which we derive the word diabolic as a root and devil as a further derivative noun.

Hmmmmm….The plot thickens.

Further reading indicates that at no point in the earlier books of the Old testament is Satan portrayed as an evil being or devil. More often than not when satan is described as an entity he is merely a messenger who carries out God’s instructions. Admittedly the instructions when they are carried out have dreadful consequences, but they were God’s instructions. Which means that the concept of duality (Good God / Evil Devil) does NOT come from the Bible but from later interpretation.

So, no all-powerful devil intent on bringing misery and misfortune down on Mankind, whilst God sits back on his Heavenly throne handing out goodness and happiness. Instead we have a singular supernatural entity capable and responsible for dealing out misery and misfortune and kindness and happiness with the same hand. Don’t believe it? Read on…

"Who has commanded and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and evil come?" ~ Lamentations 3:37-38

"...God destroys both the blameless and the wicked. When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent." ~ Job 9:22-23

"...I am the LORD and there is none else. I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and I create evil. I the LORD do all these things." ~ Isaiah 45:6-7

Good or Evil or Good and Evil?

Which do you prefer?

Hello.

No good you looking at me like that. I know where you are now.

You don't.

A daring thumb to the nose, or the act of a desperate man seeking contrition?

All those robes and ropes amount to nothing now really do they? Relics stolen from an archaic ritual constructed by the desperate to disgorge the hook of belief from the mouths of men.

Blessed be.

Wow!

What a discovery! If only it had been put to real use, who knows what might have happened. Instead it was left to the military and the pseudo-intelligentsia to find a purpose for it.

Us lesser mortals have our own alternatives, including alcohol. Nasty side effects though, including boorishness and over-familiarity with reality.

Amanita Muscaria...Hmmmm, now there's a name to conjure with.

Personally I prefer reality.

There's no alternative to the real thing.

What a wonderful picture.

Painted in the late 19th Century by the fabulous Belgian artist Felicien Rops. What does it say to you? Does it express the sentiment prevalent in the latter years of the 19th Century that the church and organized religion had pulled the wool over the eyes of Man for too long? Does it allude to the pagan origin of the Christ testaments, upto and including the alleged crucifixion? Is it simply an allegorical representation of the animal within all of us - even the most zealous amongst us? Does the word sacred come to mind, or the word profane?

Does the image offend you?

More than the way that you are controlled and have been controlled, offends you?

Thinking outside of the box requires sacrifice. Are you prepared to give up everything you believed to make way for the truth?

Who is more aroused now? The figures in the picture? Or you?

Ahhhh...Those bonfires are being built now. Soon enough the crowds will arrive to watch and a torch-bearer will make their way with required majesty and purpose towards the pyre and begin the fire that will become an inferno and fill the sky with orange smoke and fiery embers.

An echo from the past.

A memory.

Doesn't the image fill you with warmth?

Who would you like to remember as you sit by the fireside?

I have a list, but no names.

I have no church.