SATAN
Satan (from the Hebrew word for "adversary") is a term that originates from the
Abrahamic faiths, being traditionally applied to an angel in Judeo-Christian
belief, and to a jinn in Islamic belief.
While Hebrew Ha-Satan is "the accuser" the one who challenged the religious
faith of humans in the books of Job and Zechariah Abrahamic religious belief
systems other than Judaism relate this term to a demon, a rebellious fallen
angel, devil, minor god and idolatry, or as an allegory for evil.
Satan has as many appearances as there are religions. For example, some people
believe that Satan is invisible, some believe he is like the Minotaur, (half-man,
half-bull). Others believe he is a small devilish spirit and others think that
he is like a man. In many descriptions he looks like an angel. He is typically
depicted with horns, a pointed tail, batlike wings, and a staff or trident. In
the Bible book of Revelation, he is described as the dragon.
In modern movies such as Constantine, Devil's Advocate or Omen III: The Final
Conflict, Satan is often portrayed as a middle-aged man wearing an expensive
suit, usually (but not always) entirely white or entirely black.
The Apocrypha are religious writings which are not generally accepted as
scripture by many mainstream sects of Christianity and Judaism. These works
usually bore the names of ancient Hebrew worthies in order to establish their
validity among the true writers' contemporaries. To reconcile the late
appearance of the texts with their claims to primitive antiquity, alleged
authors are represented as "shutting up and sealing" (Dan. XII. 4:9) the works
until the time of their fulfillment had arrived; as the texts were not meant for
their own generations but for far-distant ages (also cited in Assumption of
Moses I. 16:17).
In the Book of Wisdom, the devil is represented as the being who brought death
into the world.
The 2nd Book of Enoch, also called the Slavonic Book of Enoch, contains
references to a Watcher Grigori called Satanael. It is a pseudepigraphic text
of an uncertain date and unknown authorship. The text describes Satanael as
being the prince of the Grigori who was cast out of heaven and an evil spirit
who knew the difference between what was "righteous" and "sinful". A similar
story is found in the book of 1 Enoch; however, in that book, the leader of the
Grigori is called Semjâzâ.
In the apocryphal literature, Satan rules over a host of angels. Mastema, who
induced God to test Abraham through the sacrifice of Isaac, is identical with
Satan in both name and nature.
For the Chasidic Jews of the eighteenth century, Ha-satan was Baal Davar.
Satan (from the Hebrew word for "adversary") is a term that originates from the
Abrahamic faiths, being traditionally applied to an angel in Judeo-Christian
belief, and to a jinn in Islamic belief.
While Hebrew Ha-Satan is "the accuser" the one who challenged the religious
faith of humans in the books of Job and Zechariah Abrahamic religious belief
systems other than Judaism relate this term to a demon, a rebellious fallen
angel, devil, minor god and idolatry, or as an allegory for evil.
Satan has as many appearances as there are religions. For example, some people
believe that Satan is invisible, some believe he is like the Minotaur, (half-man,
half-bull). Others believe he is a small devilish spirit and others think that
he is like a man. In many descriptions he looks like an angel. He is typically
depicted with horns, a pointed tail, batlike wings, and a staff or trident. In
the Bible book of Revelation, he is described as the dragon.
In modern movies such as Constantine, Devil's Advocate or Omen III: The Final
Conflict, Satan is often portrayed as a middle-aged man wearing an expensive
suit, usually (but not always) entirely white or entirely black.
The Apocrypha are religious writings which are not generally accepted as
scripture by many mainstream sects of Christianity and Judaism. These works
usually bore the names of ancient Hebrew worthies in order to establish their
validity among the true writers' contemporaries. To reconcile the late
appearance of the texts with their claims to primitive antiquity, alleged
authors are represented as "shutting up and sealing" (Dan. XII. 4:9) the works
until the time of their fulfillment had arrived; as the texts were not meant for
their own generations but for far-distant ages (also cited in Assumption of
Moses I. 16:17).
In the Book of Wisdom, the devil is represented as the being who brought death
into the world.
The 2nd Book of Enoch, also called the Slavonic Book of Enoch, contains
references to a Watcher Grigori called Satanael. It is a pseudepigraphic text
of an uncertain date and unknown authorship. The text describes Satanael as
being the prince of the Grigori who was cast out of heaven and an evil spirit
who knew the difference between what was "righteous" and "sinful". A similar
story is found in the book of 1 Enoch; however, in that book, the leader of the
Grigori is called Semjâzâ.
In the apocryphal literature, Satan rules over a host of angels. Mastema, who
induced God to test Abraham through the sacrifice of Isaac, is identical with
Satan in both name and nature.
For the Chasidic Jews of the eighteenth century, Ha-satan was Baal Davar.