Satan

"Satan before the Lord"

Satan (meaning "the enemy" or "the trouble-maker" in Hebrew), sometimes called the devil, is a character found in the writings of the Abrahamic religions. Muslims, Baha'is, Christians and Jews believe that he tempts people to do bad things. LaVeyan Satanists see Satan as a good force.

In the Bible

• In the Hebrew Bible (also called the Old Testament in Christianity), Satan is responsible for several acts opposed to God's way; these are some examples:
  • Thought to be the one who talked Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit (though his name is not used)
  • God let Satan make Job suffer
  • Caused King David to go against God's wishes and count the people of Israel
  • Accused God's servant Joshua, the high priest

• In the New Testament:
  • Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit to fast, and to be tested by the devil. Satan tempted Jesus three times. Jesus stood against him by using the Scriptures.
  • Revelation tells of a final battle between God and Satan, with God winning over the powers of evil

Many people believe that Satan was first an angel called Lucifer that left Heaven and took many other angels with him. He did this because he thought he was as big as God.

Baphomet is often used as a symbol of Satan, especially in Satanism

In other religions

In Judaism, Christianity, Baha'i and Islam his role is to question and tempt the faith of humans.

In Islam, a shayṭān is any sort of evil creature.

In Satanism, Satan is thought to be just a metaphor for what humans want. In Theistic Satanism, Satan is seen as having good characteristics.