Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: CONS.ELF@AIDA.CSD.UU.SE (Ake Eldberg) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: The origins of the devil Message-ID: Date: 22 Mar 91 04:11:31 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 28 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I have recently had a conversation on a different newsgroup where we came to talk about the Christian belief in the devil. A person there, who I suspect is a modern "Pagan", stated that the devil is what resulted when the Church took the old Pagan gods and demonized them. Many pagan deities had horns and other animal features, which is the origin of our image of the devil. To this, I replied that the pagan deities may have affected our *image* and visualization of satan, but that the idea existed long before. Religious historians claim that the idea arose around 600 BC as a result of Iranian dualism which crept into Judaism. Another "modern Pagan" pointed out that many Irish saints appear to be Pagan deities which the Church converted into saints. This was an easy way out of the confrontation -- people could continue to pray to their favorite pagan gods while being Christians. I would like to know if anyone on this newsgroup has any more knowledge about these things, specifically: 1. How has the Christian image of the devil developed and changed since the New Testament was written, and 2. How have Christian missionaries in various parts of the world dealt with the existing pagan deities; have these been declared to be demons, fantasies &c, or have they been assumed into Christianity and declared "ancient saints"? Ake Eldberg