The Devil At The Dawn Of Christianity - 904 Words

The devil at the dawn of Christianity bore little resemblance to the ruler of hell, the antichrist and agent of evil that he is known as in present day. Satan makes few overt or implied appearances in the Old Testament. For the important role of God’s greatest adversary, early Christians had to flesh out great parts of Satan’s story in order to develop him into his present, fearsome persona. The Christian story of the Devil is heavily influenced by earlier Greek mythology, and early Christian writings about the Devil co-opted local mythology in order to gain new converts and discredit popular pagan beliefs. In the Old Testament story of Job, Satan is one of God’s angels. In order to become the Satan of evil, he must fall from God’s grace and vacate his position in His court. Greek mythology told the story of an epic battle in heaven between Zeus, god of heaven, and Typhon, the most fearsome of the giants, with â€Å"100 dragon heads, coiling serpents for legs and hundreds of hands† (Littleton, 149). Zeus succeeded in casting Typhon out of heaven forever, and the beast is said, variably, to either be destroyed in Mt. Etna, or banished to Tartarus, the deepest level of the underworld. In Revelations 12: 7-9, Michael and the angels fight Satan, described as â€Å"the great dragon†¦ that old serpent†, and cast him out of heaven and into hell. Early versions of 2 Peter, telling the same story, even use the word Tartarus, which is later replaced with hell in King James and other popularShow MoreRelatedSymbolism In Young Goodman Brown960 Words   |  4 PagesIn the short story â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† the author Nathaniel Hawthorne shows the fragility of humans when it comes to their morality. Goodman Brown goes on a journey through the forest with the devil to watch the witches’ ritual and observes the evil in the Puritan society. He loses his faith as he sees the people he respects the most participati ng in the sinful ritual. Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes setting, and symbolism in his short story â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† to show how a person’s perspectiveRead MoreWitchcraft1411 Words   |  6 PagesThe concept of witchcraft and the belief in its existence has existed since the dawn of human history. It has been present or central at various times, and in many diverse forms, among cultures and religions worldwide, including both primitive and highly advanced cultures, and continues to have an important role in many cultures today. Historically, the predominant concept of witchcraft in the Western world derives from Old Testament laws against witchcraft, and entered the mainstream whenRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe 1621 Words   |  7 PagesWeight of Glory, Miracles, and later Mere Christianity, a hallmark of religious classics. While the younger generation pondered how Narnia could fit into something as small as a wardrobe, mature readers would have mulled over a different question. How does The Chronicles of Narnia fit into his other religious works? With some study, it becomes apparent in the plot, characters, and settings of Narnia that C. S. Lewis incorporated elements of Christianity into the story. Plot The Magician’s NephewRead MoreChristianity And Paganism In Beowulf775 Words   |  4 Pagescontext and Beowulf’s heroic traits compared with Grendel’s anathematic characteristics by highlighting the major conflicts between Christianity and Paganism, emphasizing the contrast of man against monster. Christian ideas are ingrained in different characters, the glorious and brave Beowulf exemplifies good Christian values, while Grendel personifies evil in a devil-like character that Christians associate with Pagans. Grendel is described as a grim demon who haunts the desolate marsh where dueRead MoreSlavery And Slave Trade During The American Civil War Essay1512 Words   |  7 PagesUnited States of America dissolved slavery and slave trade through the American Civil War. Slavery was a national institution in the United States of America, slave labor existed in every colony. During the American Great Awakening, guided by Christianity and the Enlightenment, many citizens especially in Northern states, began to oppose slavery. Northern states began passing laws providing for gradual emancipation, some states even abolished slavery entirely. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 barredRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Story Of Job Are Both Literary1677 Words   |  7 Pagescompensat e him for his struggles, telling him â€Å" For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail.† (37; 14. 7-8). God responds with â€Å"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place?† (37; 38. 12). This allows Job to accept that there is no such thing as imortality in his religion, and accepts God’s will, for Job cannot understand God’s will. In both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Book of Job they both have strongRead MoreThe Vs. Teleological Defence1256 Words   |  6 PagesThe fact that moral evil does exist proves that humans are not perfect and if God is omnipotent and perfect, then a perfect god should have made perfect things. The dilemma of God has challenged both the theist and non-theist population since the dawn of religion. If evil is so predominant, especially in relation to the innocent, it is illogical for the justification of such a God to be all-powerful, all-loving and perfect. The evils of the world can be divided into four categories. These beingRead MoreMessi Is the Best Player776 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is Islam Islam , [Arab.,=submission to God], world religion founded by the Prophet Muhammad. Founded in the 7th cent., Islam is the youngest of the three monotheistic world religions (with Judaism and Christianity). An adherent to Islam is a Muslim [Arab.,=one who submits]. Believers Worldwide There are more than 1 billion Muslims worldwide, fewer than one fifth of whom are Arab. Islam is the principal religion of much of Asia, including Indonesia (which has the world s largest Muslim population)Read MoreThe History Of Islam And Islam1247 Words   |  5 Pagestrue God and several time per day, they stop everything to participate in prayer rituals. The region, in which Islam was founded, was a melting pot of religious beliefs. There were small concentrations within the region that practiced Judaism and Christianity, but the religions were overshadowed by cults of the Tribal Gods that participate in barbaric practices. (A Brief History in Islam, 2009). All supporters of Islam support Allah and the Prophet Muhammad, which is the last messenger of God. The Qur’anRead MoreChristianity, Islam, And Buddhism1474 Words   |  6 Pagesreligion acknowledges revelation in the wide sense that its followers are dependent on the privileged insights of its founder or of the original group or individuals with which the faith began. In the essay I will explain how Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism were founded. ​Christianity is the world s largest religion, with over 2.4 billion adherents. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of humanity who’s coming as Christ or the Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament. It