Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Satan

2017-02-11T00:43:07Z

YoYo: adding info about evolution

[[Image:GustaveDoreParadiseLostSatanProfile.jpg|right|thumb|Gustave Doré's depiction of Satan from John Milton's Paradise Lost.]]

'''Satan''' or the '''[[Devil]]''' is the embodiment of evil, and plays a major role in [[Christian]] theology and literature, as well as in many other religions. He is the tempter and spiritual enemy of mankind. He is the adversary of [[God]], although subordinate to him and able to act only by his sufferance, and is represented frequently as the leader or prince of all apostate angels and as ruler of [[hell]].
"Satan is the force that loves to find the guilt and weakness in people, to humiliate them with it, to convince them that, because they are not good, God cannot love them."<ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/258360/iritei-stuff-satan-prosecutor-mike-potemra The Rite Stuff: Satan as Prosecutor] - Mike Potemra</ref> [[Leftist]] Saul Alinsky dedicated to Lucifer his book ''Rules for Radicals'', which inspired some [[liberal]] activists.

==Old Testament==
Satan was once a member of the divine council of God referenced in the [[Old Testament]]. He is referenced 11 times in [[Job]] and 4 other times in the Old Testament. The [[New Testament]] mentions Satan 34 times in all, starting with the first book [[Matthew]] and ending with the last [[Revelation]]. In the Christian tradition he rebelled against God and is now the enemy of God and man alike. He is the father of lies and no good is found in him. He leads a host of fallen angels (or [[demon]]s) who know their days are numbered before they will be cast in the lake of fire and they seek to take as many humans as possible with them.

== New Testament==
In the [[New Testament]], Satan tries to tempt [[Jesus]] in the desert, and fails. Jesus warns extensively to beware of Satan as does [[Paul]].

In Christian theology Satan's goal is to lead people away from the love of God, by tempting or tricking them. The only sources of supernatural power in the world are from either God (good) or Satan (evil). In the book of [[Genesis]], Satan takes the form of a snake and tempts Eve with fruit from a tree. This causes sin to come into the world. Kelly (2006) demonstrates how assumptions—such as the identification of the Eden serpent with Satan, probably first made by Justin Martyr in the second century—have hardened into fact.

Satan, in the Book of Job, listens to God speak highly of Job and accuses Job to God before the host of angels that Job praises God only because he is blessed and would curse God if he was forced to suffer. God allows Satan to do what he will except to spare his life, and Satan causes Job to suffer immensely. (Job remained true to God through his hardships; Satan accused him further and punished him further, but could not get Job to break).
==Possession==
[[Jesus]] makes references to demonic possession on multiple occasions that He then casts out. Some believe that Satan is able to possess and control living humans on Earth even today. Even more, some others believe that Satan actually has done this in the past as well. Specifically, Satan is said to have entered Judas during [[The Last Supper]] (John 13:27). The Catholic church believes that priests (and sometimes only bishops) are able to exorcise this possession through Jesus.

==Terms==
The word ''Satan'' derives from the Hebrew "ha-satan", meaning the "accuser", "tempter", "persecutor", "calumniator", or "adversary". He "was a liar and a murderer from the beginning." (John 8:44) Synonyms include '''Lucifer, demon, Mephistopholes, Mephisto, Beelzebub, the Evil One, the Tempter,''' and '''The Prince of Darkness.''' Only "devil" is used as an epithet for a profoundly evil person.

The adjectives include "devilish," "demonic", and "diabolic". Those who worship Satan are called [[satanism|Satanists]], Satan-worshippers, or demonists.
=== Lucifer ===
'''Lucifer''' is a name literally meaning "Son of the Morning" (or "Light-Bearer"), and is mentioned in the Bible only in the [[book of Isaiah]] (Isaiah 14:12). Though in Christian tradition Lucifer is equated with Satan, the immediate context of the passage is Isaiah's prophecy against the king of Babylon, and the name "Lucifer" was not present at all in the original manuscripts (in the Latin Vulgate, the phrase "Son of the Morning" was transliterated as a proper name).

Whomever Lucifer may be, the Isaiah makes strong prophecy against him, condemning him for 5 pronouncements:

* I will ascend into [[heaven]]
* I will exalt my throne above the stars of God
* I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north
* I will ascend above the heights of the clouds
* I will be like the most High

Those who take this passage to be a reference to Satan believe that it gives more history of what caused his downfall, that he was created by God as one of His most powerful angels (possibly a [[Seraphim|Seraph]]), but that he fell from grace after he in his pride rebelled against his Creator. Some, however, believe that there is no grounding to interpret the passage as a history of Satan, citing that the passage uses highly figurative and poetic language that was meant as a prophecy against Babylon and nothing more.

[[Image:Paradise Lost 12.jpg|right|thumb|''The fall of Lucifer'' by Gustave Doré.]]

== Jewish Views ==
In the Jewish tradition, Satan is an angel who faithfully serves God as a prosecuting attorney — one who accuses men of wickedness and impiety. At the direction of God, Satan may be permitted to test these accusations, such as in Job. In this view, Satan's goal is not to lead men away from their faithfulness to God, but merely to reveal the true depths of their devotion, although in [[I Chronicles]] 21:1 Satan provoked [[David]] to take a [[census]] of the people of Israel against the will of God and 70,000 men are slain because of it. [[II Samuel]] 24:1 supports the view of Satan as God's prosecuting attorney by reporting that it was the Lord Who moved David to take the census; the two passages can easily [[Scripture interprets Scripture|be reconciled]] if Satan acted as God's agent.

==Jehovah's Witnesses==

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] believe that Satan was at one time an [[Angel]] who lived among the many millions of Angels that existed before the [[world]] was created. They believe that at some point He developed the desire to be worshiped by [[Humans]] and other Angels and so set himself in Opposition to worship of [[Jehovah]], his [[God]] and Father. This they believe occurred in the Garden of Eden, and not prior to the Earths creation. [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that Satan used a serpent as his mouth piece, the same way a vantriloquist uses a dummy, to bring the first [[Human]] couple under his control.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that God has allowed Satan to rule mankind for several resons such as:

*Satan has challenged God's Right to rule his creations, not his power....

*Satan accuses God of bribeing Humans for their loyalty with protection and blessings....

*Satan has accused Humans of being loyal to God out of selfish reasons....

*Satan claims that he can rule mankind better than God....

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach also that [[God]] decided that time, rather than a display of force, is needed to settle these issues. This, they believe, has giving Satan thousands of years to prove that Mankind is better off without God, that He (Satan) can rule Mankind successfully, and that the Humans that Do serve God do so only out of selfish reasons.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that Satan does not live in any kind of [[Hell]] or world of the dead, but on the [[Earth]] as it's current ruler, along with as many as a third of the Angels of [[Heaven]]. They teach that Satan had lived in Heaven up until 1914, when Jesus and his Angels cast him out of Heaven, bringing woe to the Earth. this is their reasoning on Why the world has experienced two World wars, increasing lawlessness, an increase in disease and pollution, and the overall conditions on earth today.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] believe that Satan delegates authority to each Demon as he see's fit, and over what he see's fit, sometimes including whole Nations and kingdoms. They believe that Satan and his demons are in every way the enemy of God, rather than working alongside him. They teach that Satan will continue to rule the world until [[Armageddon]], when Jesus Christ and his heavenly Angels come to earth and bind him, eventually killing him, freeing the world of all opposition towards True worship.

==Defenses==
The three classic defenses against Satan are:

* mockery, which Satan cannot withstand due to his pride
* sunlight or exposure, from which Satan hides
* the [[Holy Spirit]], meaning "The Advocate" (i.e., defense lawyer), or the ''Armor of God''.<ref>Ephesians 6:1-17</ref>

Note that Satan lacks self-restraint, which often leads him to failure. In addition, Satan delights in [[deceit]], even to the point of causing his downfall.

==Role in Propagating the Theory of Evolution==

Satan has played a key role in spreading the lie of evolution; he aids man's innate desire to sit on the throne of God by teaching Darwin's ideas. The theory of evolution was introduced to both Adam and Eve when they sinned, this most heinous doctrine was carried on by their descendants, until it left the Tower of Babel <ref>Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Education, Kent Hovind (pg.18)</ref>

==Dante and Milton==
The classic literary depictions of Satan appear in Dante's Italian poem, "Inferno," and in [[John Milton]]'s English poem, "Paradise Lost." These are considered the two greatest poems in Italian and English literature.

In western art and popular culture the devil is used to represent evil influences or motivations.

==See also==
* [[Devil]]
* [[satanic deception]]
* [[Salem Witch Trials]]
* [[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)]]

==Further reading==
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: I. In the Old Testament," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan., 1913), pp. 29–33 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142352 in JSTOR]
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: II. Satan in Extra-Biblical Apocalyptical Literature," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 2 (Feb., 1913), pp. 98–102 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142425 in JSTOR]
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: III. In the New Testament," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 3 (Mar., 1913), pp. 167–172 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142755 in JSTOR]
* Empson, William. ''Milton's God'' (1966)
* Jacobs, Joseph, and Ludwig Blau. "Satan," ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'' (1906) [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=270&letter=S&search=Satan#ixzz0UQlw0zPS online] pp 68–71
* Kelly, Henry Ansgar. ''Satan: A Biography.'' (2006). 360 pp. [http://books.google.com/books?id=gPIpQg0lRbMC&pg=PA12&dq=intitle:satan+inauthor:kelly&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false excerpt and text search] ISBN 0-521-60402-8, a study of the Bible and Western literature
* Kent, William. "Devil." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' (1908) Vol. 4. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04764a.htm online older article]
* Osborne, B. A. E. "Peter: Stumbling-Block and Satan," ''Novum Testamentum,'' Vol. 15, Fasc. 3 (Jul., 1973), pp. 187–190 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1560340 in JSTOR] on "Get thee behind me, Satan!"
* Rebhorn Wayne A. "The Humanist Tradition and Milton's Satan: The Conservative as Revolutionary," ''Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900,'' Vol. 13, No. 1, The English Renaissance (Winter, 1973), pp. 81–93 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/449871 in JSTOR]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity'' (1987) [http://www.amazon.com/Devil-Perceptions-Antiquity-Christianity-Paperbacks/dp/0801494095/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Satan: The Early Christian Tradition'' (1987) [http://www.amazon.com/Satan-Christian-Jeffrey-Burton-Russell/dp/0801494133/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle Ages'' (1986) [http://www.amazon.com/Lucifer-Devil-Middle-Cornell-Paperbacks/dp/080149429X/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World'' (1990) [http://www.amazon.com/Mephistopheles-Modern-Jeffrey-Burton-Russell/dp/0801497183/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''The Prince of Darkness: Radical Evil and the Power of Good in History'' (1992) [http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Darkness-Radical-Power-History/dp/0801480566/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255995689&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Schaff, D. S. "Devil" in ''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), [[Mainline]] Protestant; vol 3 pp 414–417 [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc03.d.iii.html online]
* Scott, Miriam Van. ''The Encyclopedia of Hell'' (1999) [http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Hell-Miriam-Van-Scott/dp/0312244428/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b excerpt and text search] comparative religions; also popular culture
* Wray, T. J. and Gregory Mobley. ''The Birth of Satan: Tracing the Devil's Biblical Roots'' (2005) [http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Satan-Tracing-Devils-Biblical/dp/1403969337/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]

== Notes ==
<references/>

== External links ==

*[http://www.1timothy4-13.com/files/teach/accuser.html The accuser of the brethren - commentary on Revelation 12:7-12] - Dr. J.B. Buffington
[[Category:Abrahamic Religions]]
{{DivineComedy}}

Satan

2017-02-11T00:42:20Z

YoYo: adding ifno about evolution

[[Image:GustaveDoreParadiseLostSatanProfile.jpg|right|thumb|Gustave Doré's depiction of Satan from John Milton's Paradise Lost.]]

'''Satan''' or the '''[[Devil]]''' is the embodiment of evil, and plays a major role in [[Christian]] theology and literature, as well as in many other religions. He is the tempter and spiritual enemy of mankind. He is the adversary of [[God]], although subordinate to him and able to act only by his sufferance, and is represented frequently as the leader or prince of all apostate angels and as ruler of [[hell]].
"Satan is the force that loves to find the guilt and weakness in people, to humiliate them with it, to convince them that, because they are not good, God cannot love them."<ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/258360/iritei-stuff-satan-prosecutor-mike-potemra The Rite Stuff: Satan as Prosecutor] - Mike Potemra</ref> [[Leftist]] Saul Alinsky dedicated to Lucifer his book ''Rules for Radicals'', which inspired some [[liberal]] activists.

==Old Testament==
Satan was once a member of the divine council of God referenced in the [[Old Testament]]. He is referenced 11 times in [[Job]] and 4 other times in the Old Testament. The [[New Testament]] mentions Satan 34 times in all, starting with the first book [[Matthew]] and ending with the last [[Revelation]]. In the Christian tradition he rebelled against God and is now the enemy of God and man alike. He is the father of lies and no good is found in him. He leads a host of fallen angels (or [[demon]]s) who know their days are numbered before they will be cast in the lake of fire and they seek to take as many humans as possible with them.

== New Testament==
In the [[New Testament]], Satan tries to tempt [[Jesus]] in the desert, and fails. Jesus warns extensively to beware of Satan as does [[Paul]].

In Christian theology Satan's goal is to lead people away from the love of God, by tempting or tricking them. The only sources of supernatural power in the world are from either God (good) or Satan (evil). In the book of [[Genesis]], Satan takes the form of a snake and tempts Eve with fruit from a tree. This causes sin to come into the world. Kelly (2006) demonstrates how assumptions—such as the identification of the Eden serpent with Satan, probably first made by Justin Martyr in the second century—have hardened into fact.

Satan, in the Book of Job, listens to God speak highly of Job and accuses Job to God before the host of angels that Job praises God only because he is blessed and would curse God if he was forced to suffer. God allows Satan to do what he will except to spare his life, and Satan causes Job to suffer immensely. (Job remained true to God through his hardships; Satan accused him further and punished him further, but could not get Job to break).
==Possession==
[[Jesus]] makes references to demonic possession on multiple occasions that He then casts out. Some believe that Satan is able to possess and control living humans on Earth even today. Even more, some others believe that Satan actually has done this in the past as well. Specifically, Satan is said to have entered Judas during [[The Last Supper]] (John 13:27). The Catholic church believes that priests (and sometimes only bishops) are able to exorcise this possession through Jesus.

==Terms==
The word ''Satan'' derives from the Hebrew "ha-satan", meaning the "accuser", "tempter", "persecutor", "calumniator", or "adversary". He "was a liar and a murderer from the beginning." (John 8:44) Synonyms include '''Lucifer, demon, Mephistopholes, Mephisto, Beelzebub, the Evil One, the Tempter,''' and '''The Prince of Darkness.''' Only "devil" is used as an epithet for a profoundly evil person.

The adjectives include "devilish," "demonic", and "diabolic". Those who worship Satan are called [[satanism|Satanists]], Satan-worshippers, or demonists.
=== Lucifer ===
'''Lucifer''' is a name literally meaning "Son of the Morning" (or "Light-Bearer"), and is mentioned in the Bible only in the [[book of Isaiah]] (Isaiah 14:12). Though in Christian tradition Lucifer is equated with Satan, the immediate context of the passage is Isaiah's prophecy against the king of Babylon, and the name "Lucifer" was not present at all in the original manuscripts (in the Latin Vulgate, the phrase "Son of the Morning" was transliterated as a proper name).

Whomever Lucifer may be, the Isaiah makes strong prophecy against him, condemning him for 5 pronouncements:

* I will ascend into [[heaven]]
* I will exalt my throne above the stars of God
* I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north
* I will ascend above the heights of the clouds
* I will be like the most High

Those who take this passage to be a reference to Satan believe that it gives more history of what caused his downfall, that he was created by God as one of His most powerful angels (possibly a [[Seraphim|Seraph]]), but that he fell from grace after he in his pride rebelled against his Creator. Some, however, believe that there is no grounding to interpret the passage as a history of Satan, citing that the passage uses highly figurative and poetic language that was meant as a prophecy against Babylon and nothing more.

[[Image:Paradise Lost 12.jpg|right|thumb|''The fall of Lucifer'' by Gustave Doré.]]

== Jewish Views ==
In the Jewish tradition, Satan is an angel who faithfully serves God as a prosecuting attorney — one who accuses men of wickedness and impiety. At the direction of God, Satan may be permitted to test these accusations, such as in Job. In this view, Satan's goal is not to lead men away from their faithfulness to God, but merely to reveal the true depths of their devotion, although in [[I Chronicles]] 21:1 Satan provoked [[David]] to take a [[census]] of the people of Israel against the will of God and 70,000 men are slain because of it. [[II Samuel]] 24:1 supports the view of Satan as God's prosecuting attorney by reporting that it was the Lord Who moved David to take the census; the two passages can easily [[Scripture interprets Scripture|be reconciled]] if Satan acted as God's agent.

==Jehovah's Witnesses==

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] believe that Satan was at one time an [[Angel]] who lived among the many millions of Angels that existed before the [[world]] was created. They believe that at some point He developed the desire to be worshiped by [[Humans]] and other Angels and so set himself in Opposition to worship of [[Jehovah]], his [[God]] and Father. This they believe occurred in the Garden of Eden, and not prior to the Earths creation. [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that Satan used a serpent as his mouth piece, the same way a vantriloquist uses a dummy, to bring the first [[Human]] couple under his control.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that God has allowed Satan to rule mankind for several resons such as:

*Satan has challenged God's Right to rule his creations, not his power....

*Satan accuses God of bribeing Humans for their loyalty with protection and blessings....

*Satan has accused Humans of being loyal to God out of selfish reasons....

*Satan claims that he can rule mankind better than God....

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach also that [[God]] decided that time, rather than a display of force, is needed to settle these issues. This, they believe, has giving Satan thousands of years to prove that Mankind is better off without God, that He (Satan) can rule Mankind successfully, and that the Humans that Do serve God do so only out of selfish reasons.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that Satan does not live in any kind of [[Hell]] or world of the dead, but on the [[Earth]] as it's current ruler, along with as many as a third of the Angels of [[Heaven]]. They teach that Satan had lived in Heaven up until 1914, when Jesus and his Angels cast him out of Heaven, bringing woe to the Earth. this is their reasoning on Why the world has experienced two World wars, increasing lawlessness, an increase in disease and pollution, and the overall conditions on earth today.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] believe that Satan delegates authority to each Demon as he see's fit, and over what he see's fit, sometimes including whole Nations and kingdoms. They believe that Satan and his demons are in every way the enemy of God, rather than working alongside him. They teach that Satan will continue to rule the world until [[Armageddon]], when Jesus Christ and his heavenly Angels come to earth and bind him, eventually killing him, freeing the world of all opposition towards True worship.

==Defenses==
The three classic defenses against Satan are:

* mockery, which Satan cannot withstand due to his pride
* sunlight or exposure, from which Satan hides
* the [[Holy Spirit]], meaning "The Advocate" (i.e., defense lawyer), or the ''Armor of God''.<ref>Ephesians 6:1-17</ref>

Note that Satan lacks self-restraint, which often leads him to failure. In addition, Satan delights in [[deceit]], even to the point of causing his downfall.

==Role in Propagating the Theory of Evolution==
Satan has played a key role in spreading the lie of evolution; he aids man's innate desire to sit on the throne of God by teaching Darwin's ideas. The theory of evolution was introduced to both Adam and Eve when they sinned, this most heinous doctrine was carried on by their descendants, until it left the Tower of Babel<ref>Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Education, Kent Hovind (pg.18)</ref>

==Dante and Milton==
The classic literary depictions of Satan appear in Dante's Italian poem, "Inferno," and in [[John Milton]]'s English poem, "Paradise Lost." These are considered the two greatest poems in Italian and English literature.

In western art and popular culture the devil is used to represent evil influences or motivations.

==See also==
* [[Devil]]
* [[satanic deception]]
* [[Salem Witch Trials]]
* [[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)]]

==Further reading==
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: I. In the Old Testament," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan., 1913), pp. 29–33 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142352 in JSTOR]
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: II. Satan in Extra-Biblical Apocalyptical Literature," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 2 (Feb., 1913), pp. 98–102 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142425 in JSTOR]
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: III. In the New Testament," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 3 (Mar., 1913), pp. 167–172 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142755 in JSTOR]
* Empson, William. ''Milton's God'' (1966)
* Jacobs, Joseph, and Ludwig Blau. "Satan," ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'' (1906) [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=270&letter=S&search=Satan#ixzz0UQlw0zPS online] pp 68–71
* Kelly, Henry Ansgar. ''Satan: A Biography.'' (2006). 360 pp. [http://books.google.com/books?id=gPIpQg0lRbMC&pg=PA12&dq=intitle:satan+inauthor:kelly&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false excerpt and text search] ISBN 0-521-60402-8, a study of the Bible and Western literature
* Kent, William. "Devil." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' (1908) Vol. 4. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04764a.htm online older article]
* Osborne, B. A. E. "Peter: Stumbling-Block and Satan," ''Novum Testamentum,'' Vol. 15, Fasc. 3 (Jul., 1973), pp. 187–190 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1560340 in JSTOR] on "Get thee behind me, Satan!"
* Rebhorn Wayne A. "The Humanist Tradition and Milton's Satan: The Conservative as Revolutionary," ''Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900,'' Vol. 13, No. 1, The English Renaissance (Winter, 1973), pp. 81–93 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/449871 in JSTOR]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity'' (1987) [http://www.amazon.com/Devil-Perceptions-Antiquity-Christianity-Paperbacks/dp/0801494095/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Satan: The Early Christian Tradition'' (1987) [http://www.amazon.com/Satan-Christian-Jeffrey-Burton-Russell/dp/0801494133/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle Ages'' (1986) [http://www.amazon.com/Lucifer-Devil-Middle-Cornell-Paperbacks/dp/080149429X/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World'' (1990) [http://www.amazon.com/Mephistopheles-Modern-Jeffrey-Burton-Russell/dp/0801497183/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''The Prince of Darkness: Radical Evil and the Power of Good in History'' (1992) [http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Darkness-Radical-Power-History/dp/0801480566/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255995689&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Schaff, D. S. "Devil" in ''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), [[Mainline]] Protestant; vol 3 pp 414–417 [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc03.d.iii.html online]
* Scott, Miriam Van. ''The Encyclopedia of Hell'' (1999) [http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Hell-Miriam-Van-Scott/dp/0312244428/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b excerpt and text search] comparative religions; also popular culture
* Wray, T. J. and Gregory Mobley. ''The Birth of Satan: Tracing the Devil's Biblical Roots'' (2005) [http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Satan-Tracing-Devils-Biblical/dp/1403969337/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]

== Notes ==
<references/>

== External links ==

*[http://www.1timothy4-13.com/files/teach/accuser.html The accuser of the brethren - commentary on Revelation 12:7-12] - Dr. J.B. Buffington
[[Category:Abrahamic Religions]]
{{DivineComedy}}

Ken Ham

2017-02-11T00:21:39Z

YoYo: adding info about ken ham

[[File:KenHam.JPG|thumb|Ken Ham]]
'''Kenneth Alfred (Ken) Ham''' (born 1951 in Australia) is a self-described Biblical apologist emphasizing [[Young Earth Creationism]] and the reliability of Scripture in all matters of which it speaks, including science. He is founder and president of [[Answers in Genesis]], an apologist organization founded in 1994 in the [[United States]] with the purpose of upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse.<ref name="answersingenesis.org">answersingenesis.org</ref>

Ham also speaks on a daily radio feature, "Answers with Ken Ham," and is a prolific public speaker and author and the brains behind the [[Creation Museum]] and the [[Ark Encounter]] in Cincinnati, OH. He also founded "Answers" magazine, which won the prestigious "Award of Excellence" for top Christian magazine in 2011 from the Evangelical Press Association.<ref name="answersingenesis.org"/>

==Early Life and Education==

Ham was born and raised in [[Queensland]], [[Australia]].<ref name="Rogers">Rogers, Ben (August 8, 2016). [http://journeyonline.com.au/features/ken-ham-queenslander-answers/ Ken Ham: A Queenslander with all the Answers]. ''Journey'' - ''Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> His career of defending Christianity and the Bible was partly inspired by his father, a school teacher who had the same passion as Ham.<ref name="Rogers"/>

Ham earned a Bachelor's degree in applied science from [[Queensland Institute of Technology]] and a Diploma of Education from the [[University of Queensland]]. In addition to this, he has also received four honorary degrees—DD in 1997 from Temple Baptist College in Cincinnati, OH, DLitt in 2004 from [[Liberty University]], DLitt in 2010 from Tennessee Temple University, and DHL in 2012 from Mid-Continental University in KY.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/bios/ken-ham/ Ken Ham]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

In his last year of his university training to become a public school science teacher, Ham was strongly influenced by ''The Genesis Flood,'' a book co-authored by Dr. [[Henry Morris]], a hydraulic engineer, and Dr. John Whitcomb, a theologian, showing how scientific evidence supported the Great Flood as described in the Bible.<ref>Appeal letter from Ham for Answers in Genesis, Nov. 20, 2015</ref>

As an adult, Ham became a science teacher in Dalby State high school, and there he "was soon confronted with a need to defend his faith in the classroom".<ref name="Rogers"/> Ham started a creationist ministry that was based in his house in Sunnybank, and in 1987 he and his family moved to the United States to work at the [[Institute for Creation Research]] (ICR).<ref name="Rogers"/> After moving to America, Ham worked for seven years under Dr. Henry Morris at ICR.<ref>Appeal letter from Ham for Answers in Genesis, Nov. 20, 2015</ref> He began the Answers in Genesis ministry in late 1993 along with Mark Looy and Paul Palmon. The [[Creation Museum]] broke ground in 2000 and opened in 2007. The [[Ark Encounter]], featuring a full-size Noah's Ark according to Biblical dimensions, opened on July 7, 2016.<ref>Appeal letter from Ham for Answers in Genesis, Nov. 20, 2015</ref>

==Publications==

Some of his many publications include, but are not limited to, ''How Could a Loving God...?'' 2006; ''Already Gone'', 2009; ''One Race, One Blood'', 2010; ''Already Compromised'', 2011; ''The Foundations'', 2011; ''The Lie/Millions of Years'', 2012; ''Science Confirms the Bible'', 2012; ''The Great Delusion'', 2013; ''Rescuing our Kids from the Lie'', 2013; ''Inside the Nye-Ham Debate'', 2014; and ''Ready to Return'', 2015. He has also authored or co-authored many books for children, such as ''Did Adam Have a Belly Button?'' 2000; ''My Creation Bible'', 2006; ''Did Eve Really Have an Extra Rib?'' 2007; ''Dinosaurs for Kids'', 2009; ''N is for Noah'', 2013, and the ''Answers Book for Kids 2013'', and books for teens, such as ''Answers for Teens'' (Vols 1&2), 2012.

==Creation Museum==
According to AiG, Ken Ham had a vision for "a creation museum that teaches the truth" since 1979, when he began his ministry in [[Creation Science]].<ref name="History">[https://answersingenesis.org/about/history/ History]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> During the mid-1990s, after AiG was founded, the ministry began searching for land in Northern Kentucky to build the museum.<ref name="History"/> The Museum was opened on May 28, 2007<ref name="History"/> at the cost of $27 million.<ref name="Rothstein">Rothstein, Edward (May 24, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/arts/24crea.html?_r=0 Adam and Eve in the Land of the Dinosaurs]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 10, 2016.</ref> $21 million of the cost was raised through private donations.<ref>Lovan, Dylan (July 31, 2006). [http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14122311/ High Tech Museum Brings Creationism to Life]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved August 10, 2016.</ref>

It was estimated that 250,000 people would visit the museum in the first year.<ref name="Rothstein"/> However, the 250,000th visitor visited the museum in early November, nearly seven months ahead of schedule.<ref name="History"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Creation Museum hits 250K visitors |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=November 3, 2007 |url=http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20071103/NEWS0103/711030409/ |accessdate=July 22, 2013}}</ref>

The aesthetics of the museum have been praised even by critics of the museum.<ref name="Rothstein"/>

==Homeschool Conventions==
Ham has been uncompromising in his defense for young-earth creationism and has criticized schools and individuals that have failed to uphold it. In March 2011, AiG and Ham had an invitation to the two Great [[Homeschool]] Conventions revoked by the events' organizers. The organizers cited Ham's criticism of the group as the reason for the revoked invitation, but the board of AiG found no spiritual wrongdoing on Ham's part.<ref>[http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/03/22/kicked-out-homeschool-conferences Kicked Out of Two Homeschool Conferences]. ''Answers in Genesis''. March 22, 2011.</ref>

==Debate with Bill Nye==
[[File:Creation Museum Legacy Hall.jpg|thumb|The Legacy Hall in the Creation Museum, where the debate between Ken Ham and Bill Nye took place.]]
On February 4, 2014, science educator and evolutionist [[Bill Nye]] debated Ham.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/countering-the-culture/bill-nye-debates-ken-ham/ Bill Nye Debates Ken Ham]. ''Answers in Genesis''. February 4, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> The debate was the dominant trending topic on Twitter and Facebook and it was estimated that over 3 million people watched the debate live.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/creation-vs-evolution/over-3-million-tuned-in-live-for-historic-bill-nye-and-ken-ham-evolutioncreation-debate/ Over 3 Million Tuned In Live for Historic Bill Nye and Ken Ham Evolution/Creation Debate]. "'Answers in Genesis''. February 5, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> It was reported in the mainstream media that because of the debate, interest and support for the Ark Encounter, which had been struggling for funds, returned, and AiG was able to raise enough money so construction could begin in 2014,<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/28/creation-museum-kentucky-noahs-ark-museum-ken-ham |title= Creation Museum's $73m Noah's Ark park to begin construction in Kentucky |department= World news |newspaper= [[The Guardian]] |agency= [[Associated Press]] |date= 28 February 2014 |accessdate= 13 April 2014}}</ref> even though AiG has stated that this was not the case, as it was not reasonably possible to purchase a bond after the debate.<ref>Ham, Ken & Looy, Mark (August 22, 2016). [https://answersingenesis.org/ministry-news/ark-encounter/media-misinformation-continues-ark/ Media Misinformation Continues with the Ark]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 22, 2016.</ref>

==Ark Encounter==
After the completion and success of the Creation Museum, Ham and AiG started focusing on building the [[Ark Encounter]], a life-sized replica of Noah's Ark.<ref name="History"/> The plans for constructing the Ark Encounter were announced by AiG, along with Kentucky Governor [[Steve Beshear]] on December 1, 2010.<ref name="History"/>

During the construction of the Ark Encounter, AiG sued the state of Kentucky after officials blocked AiG from receiving a sales tax tourism incentive worth up to $18 million because AiG would use the Ark Encounter to share the gospel. On January 25, 2016, Federal Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled in AiG's favor, ruling that blocking the incentives from AiG was unconstitutional and violated their [[First Amendment]] protections.<ref>Lovan, Dylan (January 25, 2016). [http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/grant-county/ark-encounter-builder-wins-legal-battle-over-tax-incentives Ark Encounter builder wins legal battle over tax incentive]. ''WCPO.com'' Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref><ref>Caproni, Erin (January 26, 2016). [http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2016/01/judge-rules-on-ark-encounter-incentives.html Judge rules on Ark Encounter incentives]. ''Cincinatti Business Courier''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/religious-freedom/victory-ark-encounter-federal-court/ Victory for AiG/Ark Encounter in Federal Court]. ''Answers in Genesis''. January 25, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

On July 7, 2016, the Ark Encounter was opened to the public in Williamstown, Kentucky.<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/07/ark-encounter-opens-to-the-public/ Ark Encounter Opens to the Public!] ''Answers in Genesis''. July 7, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> The ark cost $100 million and is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, based on the dimensions given in the Bible.<ref>Weed, Alexis (July 8, 2016). [http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/07/us/noahs-ark-kentucky/ Noah's Ark Opens at Kentucky Theme Park]. ''CNN''. Retreived August 5, 2016.</ref> The opening date, 7/7, was intentionally chosen to coincide with Genesis 7:7. The next day, Bill Nye visited the Ark Encounter upon invitation from Ham.<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/08/bill-nye-visits-ark-encounter/ Bill Nye Visits the Ark Encounter]. ''Answers in Genesis''. July 8, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

==Beliefs==
As a Christian, Ham believes that salvation is obtained through faith in [[Christ]] alone, regardless of their beliefs on creation.<ref name="Rogers"/><ref>Ham, Ken (May 15, 2008). [https://answersingenesis.org/gospel/salvation/do-all-creationists-go-to-heaven/ Do All Creationists Go to Heaven?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> Ham denies any claim that he is any type of messiah, stating that only Jesus is the Messiah.<ref>Ham, Ken (May 18, 2016). [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/05/18/bill-nye-called-who-messiah/ Bill Nye Called Who “the Messiah”?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> He has criticized those who attach his name to his beliefs, stating "What I say really doesn’t matter. What matters is what God’s infallible, perfect Word says."<ref>Ham, Ken (August 5, 2016). [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/dr-andrew-fabich-quit-calling-hams-interpretation/ Dr. Andrew Fabich: “Quit Calling This ‘Ham’s Interpretation’”]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

Ham believes [[homosexuality]] is a sin, based on clear biblical teaching. To celebrate the [[Christmas]] season in 2016, AiG decorated the Ark with [[rainbow]] lights in order to "take the rainbow back" from the [[homosexual agenda]] and show the true and undefiled meaning of the rainbow as recorded in [[Genesis]] 9:12-16.<ref>Ham, Ken (December 20, 2016). [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/12/20/rainbow-lights-at-ark/ Rainbow Lights at the Ark]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved January 17, 2017.</ref><ref>Wartman, Scott (December 23, 2016). [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/12/23/kentucky-ark-builder-wants-take-rainbow-back/95802416/ Kentucky ark builder wants to take rainbow back]. ''USA Today''. Retrieved January 17, 2017.</ref> Like usual, the media and supporters of the homosexual agenda have circulated blatant misrepresentations and even lies concerning this action as well as the true meaning of the rainbow.<ref>Ham, Ken (January 16, 2017). [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2017/01/16/christians-who-accept-millions-years-undermine-gods-word/ Christians Who Accept Millions of Years Undermine God’s Word]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved January 17, 2017.</ref> Ken Ham announced in February 2017 that AiG would permanently light the Ark in rainbow colors.<ref>Ham, Ken (February 3, 2017). [https://answersingenesis.org/ministry-news/ark-encounter/keeping-rainbow-at-ark-encounter/ We’re Keeping the Rainbow at the Ark Encounter]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved February 5, 2017.</ref>

Ham, being one of the world's most influential creationist thinkers, has refuted Darwinian Theory numerous times, proving that is naught but a fairy tale for adults <ref>https://twitter.com/aigkenham/status/784851946758934532 </ref>. In addition to soundly refuting Evolutionary theory in all its forms, Ham urges people to accept the truth that the Bible is wholly historically and scientifically accurate, and it alone should be mankind's guide, not the ideas of scientists, which change all the time <ref>https://twitter.com/hemantmehta/status/800778594913923072?lang=en</ref>.

==Personal and Family Life==
Ham is married to his wife Mally, who trained as a bank teller. The couple has five children—four born in Australia and one in the U.S.<ref>Answers in Genesis appeal letter from Ham, Nov. 20, 2015</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[https://answersingenesis.org/ AiG official website]
*[http://creationwiki.org/Ken_Ham Ken Ham - CreationWiki]
*[http://www.answersingenesis.org/events/state-of-the-nation State of the Nation with Ken Ham '09]
*{{cite web |last1=Nye|first1=Bill |last2=Ham |first2=Ken |lastauthoramp=yes|title=Bill Nye Debates Ken Ham (video - 165:32)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6kgvhG3AkI |date=4 February 2014 |work=[[YouTube]]}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ham, Ken}}

[[Category:Young Earth Creationists]]
[[Category:Christian Apologists]]
[[Category:Christian Authors]]

Ray Comfort

2017-02-11T00:16:21Z

YoYo: adding info about atheist delusion

[[File:Ray Comfort Promo Picture.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|Ray Comfort]]
'''Ray Comfort''' (born December 5, 1949) is a leading [[Christian]] apologist. He has written large numbers of books on [[evolution]] and [[theology]], including ''Evolution: A Fairy Tale for Grownups'', and ''How to Know God Exists: Scientific Proof of God''. His latest book, ''You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, But You Can't Make Him Think'' knocked [[Richard Dawkins|Richard Dawkins']] book ''The God Delusion'' off the number 1 spot in the atheism category at Amazon.com.<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=89453</ref> He has also written a foreword to [[Charles Darwin|Darwin's]] ''On the Origin of Species''.<ref>http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Species-Anniversary-Charles-Darwin/dp/0882709194/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256938714&sr=8-2</ref> Since then, certain atheists have shown their bias against him by writing negative reviews of the books, even though most of them have never read them.

Comfort's films have been endorsed by numerous prominent Christian leaders, and he has a particularly close relationship with [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] and [[Answers in Genesis]] president [[Ken Ham]]. On October 22, 2016, his film ''[[The Atheist Delusion]]'' - arguably one of the most intellectually stimulating documentaries ever produced - premiered at the [[Ark Encounter]], run by AiG.<ref>Ham, Ken (October 26, 2016). [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/ray-comforts-atheist-delusion-premieres-ark-encounter/ Ray Comfort’s ''The Atheist Delusion'' Premieres at Ark Encounter]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved October 26, 2016.</ref>

== The Atheist Delusion film documentary ==

''See also:'' [[The Atheist Delusion]]

[[File:Atheist-Delusion.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|[[Matt Barber]] wrote that ''The Atheist Delusion'' "is the most persuasive and captivating answer to atheist questions I've ever seen on film."<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-atheist-delusion-is-most-persuasive-answer-to-atheists-ever-put-on-film-164860/ 'The Atheist Delusion' Is Most Persuasive Answer to Atheists Ever Put on Film, Matt Barber, ''The Christian Post''</ref>]]
The film documentary ''[[The Atheist Delusion]]'' is a movie produced by Ray Comfort which offers [[Arguments for the existence of God|evidence for the existence of God]] to various [[Atheism|atheists]]. The film was released in 2016.

The documentary primarily uses the [[teleological argument]] for the existence of God and focuses on the complexity of [[DNA]] which has been called the "book of life". Comfort argues that just as printed books are [[Intelligent design|intelligently designed]], DNA is likewise designed.

Comfort also uses the [[argument from beauty]] in the movie and the movie features nature photos.

On October 22, 2016, the full movie was uploaded to [[YouTube]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChWiZ3iXWwM The Atheist Delusion - YouTube]</ref>

==180 Documentary==
In 2011, Ray made a short documentary on [[abortion]] and the [[Holocaust]] called ''180''. In it, he expressed concern that a generation was forgetting the existence of Adolf Hitler and his actions. The documentary included street interviews with people who were asked on their thoughts of the Holocaust. After hearing their reasons, Ray went on to ask the people's views on abortion. By demonstrating people's inconsistencies in their reasoning, he persuaded some of them to change their minds and oppose it. The documentary won a 2011 Telly Bronze Award for film/video.<ref>http://heartchanger.com/faq.php Project Heart Changer - Frequently Asked Questions</ref>

== Books ==

*[[How to Win Souls and Influence People]]
*[[How To Know God Exists: Scientific Proof Of God]]
*[[You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, But You Can't Make Him Think]] (2009)
*[[Evolution: A Fairy Tale for Grownups]] (2008)
*[[God Doesn't Believe in Atheists]] (1993)
*[[Hitler, God, and the Bible]] (2012), with [[Tim LaHaye]]

==Movies==
*The Secrets of Nostradamus Exposed (1995)
*True Fiction (1999)
*The Way of the Master series (2003–14)
*180: Changing the Heart of a Nation (2011)
*Genius (2012)
*Evolution vs. God: Shaking the Foundations of Faith (2013)
*Noah and the Last Days (2014)
*Audacity (2015)
*''[[The Atheist Delusion]]'' (2016)

== See also ==

*[[The Way of the Master]]
*[[Thunderf00t - Ray Comfort discussion]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.livingwaters.com/ Ray Comfort's Living Waters website]
*[http://www.180movie.com/ Ray Comfort's "180" documentary]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Comfort, Ray}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Christian Apologists]]