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Satanic Reds 239
Satan
Satan’s name is commonly believed to originate
from the term satan, which connotes the idea of
opposition. The traditional account that Satan led
a revolt against God and ultimately was banished
along with his followers from heaven originates in
the Apocryphal, noncanonical Hebrew and
Apocalyptic books. This is the literature that
inspired John Milton’s Paradise Lost in the seventeenth
century.
Originally Satan represented more of an
abstract entity than the personification of evil as it
is commonly interpreted. When Satan appeared in
the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament), he
represented an adversary or an enemy, but he was
also a divine agent who could at times assume
human form or, at other times, angelic features. In
the books of the Old Testament Satan is in charge
of testing human beings’ integrity by tempting
them (e.g. Job), but God has the authority to set
limits to Satan’s power to do evil.
It was in the New Testament that Satan
personalized into the Devil or the tempter, and
was pictured as a dragon or a serpent. Still, while
the Devil’s power was acknowledged, Satan was
conceived as part of the creation that could not
overwhelm God, and was under God’s power. In
fact, if the Devil’s power could directly confront
God’s authority, the underlying principle of
monotheism could not hold. In Judaism and
Christianity there is no space for the dualistic
opposition of good and evil. Dualism in antiquity
was developed within the Persian religion of
Zoroastrianism, and in Manichaeism and
Gnosticism.
In Christianity, Satan is pictured as the
tempter, accuser, punisher, and the leader of the
fallen angels. With the advent of the kingdom of
God, he will be ultimately defeated. In fact, Satan
was already defeated by Christ with his descent to
hell and ultimately with his death on the cross.
The dualistic view of the opposing forces of good
and evil was reinforced by the Hellenistic opposition
of flesh and spirit. The term devil, from the
Greek word Diabolos (slanderer) developed in the
Hellenistic world in which the Acts of the Apostles
were written. But this also was to be reduced to the
underlying monotheistic view.
Islam shares with Christianity a number of
concepts about Satan. He is found in the Koran as
al-Shaytan (the demon), and was conceived of as a
tempter. He is also associated with the lower
human principle, the flesh, or the nafs, and has the
power to lead humans astray by disguising his
identity and inducing humans to do evil deeds.
In the biblical literature, Satan and the serpent
are often interchangeable, particularly in the apocalyptic
literature. But in the third century, the
Christian philosopher Origen fully established the
association between Satan and the snake. In the
following centuries the snake was conceived of as
either the tool of Satan, or as his incarnation.
Satan, however, is not only the symbol of death
and evil. In Judeo-Christian and Islamic folklore
traditions, where he is typically depicted as the
horned one, he appears in association with fertility
and sexuality cults and in the practice of witchcraft.
The Devil was held responsible for the
healing powers of witches practicing the Sabbath
rituals for centuries throughout Europe.
Satan has also inspired literature, poetry, art and
music throughout history. There are numerous
accounts of imaginary trips to the underground
kingdom of Satan, of pacts with the Devil, possessions
and exorcisms. The concept of Satan and his
role have evolved across time, reflecting the development
of culture and of changing views of human
conditions. While he has been blamed for massacres
and for mass destructions, he has also been held
responsible for inspiring artistic creativity.
See also Demons; Iblis; Judaism; Zoroastrianism
For Further Reading:
Davidson, Gustav. A Dictionary of Angels Including
the Fallen Angels. New York: Free Press, 1967.
Rudwin, Maximilian. The Devil in Legend and
Literature. Chicago: Open Court, 1931.
Satanic Reds
Satanic Reds is a new Satanist organization.
Although an individual within Satanic Reds may
be a communist, it would be a mistake to apply
that label to the group as a whole. Rather, the
Satanic Reds’ political philosophy springs from the
“New Deal” politics of American president
Franklin Roosevelt.