Dear runner,

The Bible was written and translated by humans who included the fantasies and legends of their time. It is only logical that if God is omniscient and all-powerful God creates evil. Whatever exists is created by God. One doesn't need a devil to explain evil.

God is a human invention. There is no God, devil or any of the other supernatural fantasies gullible believers accept.

However, evil could not exist if there really was an all-powerful, all-knowing, benevolent God. It is that simple. It is only a problem for those who believe in that contradiction.

All the stories of miracles are due to the fact that imaginative humans could write what would now be called science-fiction and fantasy.

If one grows up one realises there is no Santa Claus and discards all other religious fantasies. To believe the Bible stories of miracles means that one has not grown up and has remained a child. Unfortunately these childlike minds are in the bodies of adults who try to push their nonsense on others.

I have a belief. I believe that some human beings will refuse to face reality, and so we will continue to have religion. I believe that some humans will never grow up. I hope my belief is wrong, and all humans can become fully adult.

Runner, we can all take the bible out of context can't we?
Even you?

What I was wondering, is the Devil an evil spirit?
If not, what is he?

If Jesus talked about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - then surely He believed in spirits, Holy or otherwise?

Some have said that the bible was written in times when spirits were believed in, and thus they were written about in the bible- even though we now know they are not real.

Why then are some Catholic Priests, in very recent times, still claiming to 'exorcise demons'?
Aren't these considered evil spirits that take over human's bodies and minds?

Poor runner, davidf describes you to a 't'.

And millions like you too.

It's odd that a god that so loves you, has you constantly in fear of it, spruiking all sorts of gobbledegook about how wise it is.

Try sinning for a few moments, and imagine a world free of supernatural bogeymen, with just a squillion tossers to contend with, ego driven, greedy bar stewards, and unobservant others.

Of course, we can all be seen in that light, when the 'others' disagree with our views, but it's much easier to deal with that reality than to always be trying to second guess which goat to sacrifice next, to keep the water bills from rising.

Philo,

We can’t even know if Jesus actually existed and here you are purporting to know what he believed.

<<It is pointless to tell people there are no such things as demons who believe very deeply they do exist.>>

So god can create anything, do anything, see anything, but he can’t convince some dune dwellers that evil spirits don’t exist?

Couldn’t he have at least had the nous to pick a better time to visit Earth then?

What about helping us to progress? Sure, the concept of modern medicine may have been a little hard for the people of those times to grapple, but surely they would have understood the medical benefits of regular bathing and general hygiene.

<<...it was the culture of his time that he confronted to cast out evil spirits.>>

Slavery was also a big part of the culture of his time, but he didn’t bother to confront that to cast it out.

<<Such a practise was used by the Sadducean Jews to cast out demons [evil spirits]. He did not originate the practise it was first used by the Sadducees as the NT identifies.>>

I realise Jesus didn’t originate the practice of casting out spirits, but he would have foreseen the blood that would be spilled because of superstition, so considering he chose to do nothing to deter such beliefs - particularly when he was going to have such a large following - he could justifiably be considered to be the most criminally negligent person of all time.

Davidf

for such puny man to wave his fist at His Creator and pretending He does not exist is not grown up in my eyes. In actual fact I think it it is height of arrogance.

Suzionline you ask
What I was wondering, is the Devil an evil spirit?

Yes he is. He is a fallen angel who often appears to man as an angel of light.

you write
If Jesus talked about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - then surely He believed in spirits, Holy or otherwise? Of course He did.

you write

'Some have said that the bible was written in times when spirits were believed in, and thus they were written about in the bible- even though we now know they are not real.'

Some people write some pretty dumb stuff. The work of the devil along with his helpers is obvious everywhere throughout the world.

you write

Why then are some Catholic Priests, in very recent times, still claiming to 'exorcise demons'?
Aren't these considered evil spirits that take over human's bodies and minds?

I can't answer for the Catholic church.

TBC

I would rather struggle against and resist sin than to cave in and become in bondage like it seems you have. Their is nothing pretty about men and women being enslaved by their lusts. You seem to think its fun. Tell that to the kids being tampered with by men and women enslaved by porn.

Human nature..