Satan

Satan is a figure appearing in the texts of the Abrahamic religions who brings evil and temptation, and is known as the deceiver who leads humanity astray. Some religious groups teach that he originated as an angel, or something of the like, who used to possess great piety and beauty, but fell because of hubris, seducing humanity into the ways of sin, and who now rules over the fallen world.

Satan is primarily understood as an "accuser" or "adversary" in the Hebrew Bible, and is not necessarily the personification of evil that he would become in later Abrahamic religions. In the New Testament, Satan is a name that refers to a decidedly malevolent entity (devil) who possesses demonic god-like qualities.

In Theistic Satanism, Satan is considered a positive force and deity who is either worshipped or revered. In LaVeyan Satanism, Satan is regarded as holding virtuous characteristics.

Etymology and Terminology

The original Hebrew term satan is a noun from a verb meaning primarily "to obstruct, oppose", as it is found in Numbers 22:22, 1 Samuel 29:4, Psalms 109:6. Ha-Satan is traditionally translated as "the accuser" or "the adversary". The definite article ha- (English: "the") is used to show that this is a title bestowed on a being, versus the name of a being. Thus, this being would be referred to as "the satan".

Hebrew Bible

The term satan appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. In the Hebrew Bible, the word is used as a generic term for anything that opposes God or the Israelites.

New Testament

In the New Testament, Satan is a proper name for the Devil. He is portrayed as a powerful being who tempts humans to sin, opposes God's will, and is the ruler of the world.

Satanism

There are several different religions that are called Satanism. LaVeyan Satanism, founded by Anton LaVey in 1966, views Satan not as a literal deity, but as a symbol of individualism, freedom, and personal achievement.

See also

• Devil
• Demon
• Lucifer
• Fallen angel

References

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  Codex Gigas devil
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  Gustav Jaeger Bileam Engel
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  Blake Book of Job Linell set 6
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  Paradise Lost 12
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  Ary Scheffer - The Temptation of Christ (1854)
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  Le Grand Saint Michel, by Raffaello Sanzio
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  Luzifer (Lucifer) painting by Franz von Stuck 1890 National Gallery in Sofia
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  Silvester II and the Devil Cod. Pal. germ. 137 f216v
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  Hans Memling - Hell
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  St. Francis Borgia Helping a Dying Impenitent by Goya