- Related Topics:
- Satanism
- Faustian bargain
- demon
- apotropaic power
- spirit
devil
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What does the word 'devil' mean in religion?
In religion, the word "devil," derived from the Greek diabolos ("slanderer" or "accuser"), generally refers to the spirit or power of evil. The devil is often viewed as the prince of evil spirits.
In monotheistic Western religions, the Devil is a fallen angel who tried to usurp God's position. In Judaism and Christianity, the Devil is known as Satan. Christian theology views the Devil's main task as tempting humans to reject life and redemption and accept death and destruction. Islamic theology refers to the Devil as Iblīs, also called al-Shayṭān ("the Demon") and ʿAduw Allah ("Enemy of God").
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How is the devil portrayed in different religions?
The devil, embodying evil, appears differently across religions. In Western monotheistic religions like Judaism and Christianity, the Devil, initially known as Satan, is a fallen angel who rebelled against God, tempting humans towards destruction. Islam features Iblīs, who refused to bow to Adam and tempts the unfaithful. In Zoroastrianism, Angra Mainyu is the destructive spirit and twin of the Holy Spirit, embodying greed and envy, destined to be defeated by Ahura Mazdā. Buddhism presents Mara as the "Lord of the Senses," who tempted Buddha.
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What stories or myths feature the devil?
The devil appears in various stories and myths across different religions. In Judaism and Christianity, the devil, often known as Satan, is portrayed as a fallen angel who rebelled against God. Christian theology describes the Devil's role as tempting humans to reject goodness and embrace destruction. The archangel Michael is seen as his main adversary.
Islam features Iblīs, also called al-Shayṭān, who refuses to bow before Adam and is cursed by God, tasked with tempting the unfaithful until the Day of Judgment.
The devil is also a character in literature. In Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, Faustus sells his soul to the devil for knowledge and power. Milton's Paradise Lost recounts the war in heaven, where Satan and his cohorts are defeated by the Son of God and expelled from heaven.
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Why do some religions believe the devil exists?
In Western monotheistic religions, the Devil, from the Greek diabolos ("slanderer" or "accuser"), embodies the spirit or power of evil. In Christianity, the Devil, also known as Satan, is a fallen angel who rebelled against God and now tempts humans to reject good and embrace destruction. Islamic theology features Iblīs, also called al-Shayṭān or ʿAduw Allah, who refuses to bow before Adam and is cursed by God to tempt the unfaithful until the Day of Judgment.
Some theologians view the Devil as a counter-god figure who challenges God's plan, while others see the Devil as a creation of God, serving a purpose in the history of salvation. The Devil's existence and role vary across religions and theological interpretations.
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How do religious people protect themselves from the devil?
The devil, also known as Satan or Iblīs, is viewed across religions as the spirit or power of evil who tempts humans. To protect against the devil, people engage in various religious practices.
In Buddhism, protective rites and chanting are performed to ward off danger and evil influences. Some traditions use dharanis and mantras, short statements or single words encapsulating doctrine, for protection and exorcism.
Across religions, purification rites aim to reverse disorder and renew purity through symbolic acts of cleansing, atonement, penance, or virtue. Exorcism rites and sacrifices may be performed to placate or combat demonic forces. Amulets, sacred texts, and hand gestures are also used for protection.
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How does belief in the devil influence religious practices or moral teachings?
Belief in the devil significantly shapes religious practices and moral teachings. In Christianity, the Devil, or Satan, is seen as the tempter, who leads humans away from redemption. This belief reinforces the need to resist temptation and adhere to religious doctrines to avoid evil.
In Islam, Iblīs (the Devil) tempts the unfaithful but cannot sway true believers. This reinforces the importance of faith and obedience to God. Across religions, the Devil is often depicted as the adversary of God, thus emphasizing the eternal struggle between good and evil and the need to choose good. Some individuals, dissatisfied with religious institutions, have even engaged in devil worship.
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devil, (from Greek diabolos, “slanderer” or “accuser”), the spirit or power of evil. Though sometimes used for minor demonic spirits, the word devil generally refers to the prince of evil spirits and as such takes various forms in the religions of the world.
In the monotheistic Western religions, the Devil is viewed as a fallen angel who in pride has tried to usurp the position of the one and only God. In Judaism and, later, Christianity, the Devil was known as Satan. In the Old Testament, Satan is viewed as the prosecutor of Yahweh’s court, as in Job, chapters 1 and 2, but he is not regarded as an adversary of God. In postbiblical Judaism and in Christianity, however, Satan became known as the “prince of devils” and assumed various names: Beelzebub (“Lord of Flies”) in Matthew 12:24–27, often cited as Beelzebul (“Lord of Dung”), and Lucifer (the fallen angel of Light).
In Christian theology the Devil’s main task is that of tempting humans to reject the way of life and redemption and to accept the way of death and destruction. The leader of the angels who have fallen from heaven because of pride, Satan has as his main adversary in Christian thought, legend, and iconography the archangel Michael, leader of God’s heavenly hosts.
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Islamic theology is rich in references to Iblīs, the personal name of the Devil, who is also known as al-Shayṭān (“the Demon”) and ʿAduw Allah (“Enemy of God”). In the Qurʾān, Iblīs first appears in the story of the creation of the world. He alone of the angels refuses God’s order to bow before Adam, the first man. He is then cursed by God; his punishment is to come on the Day of Judgment, but until then he is empowered to tempt the unfaithful (but not true believers). Iblīs next appears as the tempter of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In Islamic theology, Iblīs is described variously as an angel, a jinni (spiritual creature capable of good or evil), or an angel who was the leader of the jinn. The questions of his sins of pride and disobedience are especially important in the Sufi traditions, in which he is sometimes presented as a true monotheist who would bow only to God.
The Devil was also an important figure in certain syncretic religions. In gnosticism the Devil was often called the Demiurge (the Creator) and in Manichaeism the Prince of Darkness, as well as other names.
The Devil, as the great power of evil, has been much depicted in religious and secular literature and art. At various intervals in history, devil worship becomes significant for certain individuals dissatisfied with existing religious institutions, and exorcism is often consequently reinstated by these institutions.