Not pp. Some religions absolutely believe the devil is an entity and not just a symbol. |
Yes, it varies from religion to religion. This implies that a person can make the devil exist or not depending on the religion they choose |
Same as a person choosing to believe God doesn't exist. |
Ha! You don't get out much, read the news much or interact with people much do you? Satan is very, very real. Yes, it's just another name for Evil, but it absolutely exists. All true Christian faiths recognize that. |
Ah yes -- Satan is in the news -- this definitely means he's real |
Not if there is a Greek priest to build a temple real fast at the right moment |
You know, I disagree with everything you say, but I really admire your ability to come up with an explanation for everything. Bravo and oy vey. |
Obviously you've encountered Satan yourself at some point in your life. Somewhere, you had to pick up your fervent anti-Christian beliefs. |
I don't think a young person having an existential crisis - or questions about existence - is evidence of a weak mind. I'd say it's evidence of an inquisitive mind. And the person who asks questions like these at age 7 probably won't accept just any old explanation or story, I wouldn't think - I think that person is likely to keep reading and keep asking questions until she finds answers that make sense to her. Or comes to accept life's uncertainties. |
the explanations are standard Christian thought. Not to say that all Christians think alike. There is much diversity among them, as evidenced by there being so many different denominations and even people who identify as Christian who don't belong to any denomination but who make up their own stories, not found in any church doctrine or the Bible, e.g. Jesus writing notes to a 3 year old saying their dead pet is in heaven. |
People who are not religious, don't believe in Satan. I suppose Satan could still operate through such a person, but that person wouldn't know that they were being influenced by Satan. They'd just assume they were thinking their own thoughts. The same would apply when God was working through them to do something good. A person who didn't believe in God would think it was their own sense of morals that was guiding them, not giving any credit to the Almighty. |
The evidence of a weak mind is the emotional crisis, when confronted with a fact that normal people deal with just fine. One would expect a child to have a weak mind. This is why we shield things from children, to give their minds a chance to mature, to gradually introduce to them the realities of this world, until finally they are strong enough to deal with everything on their own as an adult. It's very tough to accept life's uncertainties at a young age because they are used to being provided for and having all questions answered. Young kids have no sense that life is not permanent, especially their own. When they come to realize that one day they will die and become nothing, that's pretty big news. It impacts not just oneself, but everyone he/she knows and loves. If parents are not ready to confront this with the child, then the child will be emotionally distressed. |
Children are naturally both weak and inquisitive. Religion can help with both of these characteristics, providing strength through Christ and answers through his church. |
Religion gives false strength through false answers. It's a fairy tale that claims to be true on insufficient evidence. However, circling back, I am at least glad that there's now consensus that religion is for the weak minded. That's progress. |
This is what you have chosen to believe. Others of us choose another way. |