Satan

Guide Note

The religious term Satan refers to either an evil-aligned spiritual entity or a metaphor for evil or selfish desires. In the Abrahamic mythologies of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Satan is said to have been God's most beautiful and powerful servant before staging a coup in order to rule Heaven himself. After being spurned by God, Satan turned his attention to the destruction and corruption of God's creation.

Fast Facts

1. Second most powerful being in Christian theology
2. Name 'Satan' derived from the Hebrew word for 'adversary'
3. Formerly named 'Lucifer' when serving as God's angel
4. Known as 'Iblis' in Islam
5. Said to rule the underworld of deceased nonbelievers
6. Has appeared in more films than God or Jesus Christ

Contemporary Stories

In popular culture, Satan is often depicted as a trickster. He may be red skinned and sport the traditional horns, cape, and pointed tail or appear as a suited businessman, but regardless of appearance he frequently serves as the deceiving but smooth talking tempter. In many cases, his frightening true nature becomes apparent later, once the characters are fully entangled in his schemes.

Satanism

Satan is prominent in LaVeyan Satanism, a nontheistic religion promoting humanistic desires, and Theistic Satanism, whose adherents believe that Satan was merely misunderstood or that they should actively serve 'evil' and fight against 'good'.

Quotes

1. "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."—The Bible
2. "To me God and Satan are just like Marilyn and Manson -- two words to describe the different sides of your personality. I think everybody has those sides. I don't see it as two entities so much as two parts of mankind."—Marilyn Manson
3. "I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him."—St. Teresa of Avila
4. "Satanism represents a form of controlled selfishness."—Anton LaVey
5. "Bart, stop pestering Satan!"—Marge Simpson
6. "But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?"—Mark Twain