The trend continues. Now Blacks are the largest shift away from religion

[rstevens62]

Originally Posted by normstad

What is a "Satan"? And why doesn't this "Satan" have any rule over me?

Maybe, just maybe it's because this figment of ancient, bronze age goat herders is not real at all. Just like their god?

Wadda you think? Possible?

Of course he rules over you...Do you obey and comply with the laws of the land in your city? (If so, you are an obedient servant to Satan)

[normstad]

Originally Posted by rstevens62

Of course he rules over you...Do you obey and comply with the laws of the land in your city? (If so, you are an obedient servant to Satan)

I see, your illusions of a satan abilities is right up there with Odin I suspect. Or Freya? What about Horus? Mithra? Mazda?

I keep being astounded that grown adults actually still believe in imaginary friends and enemies.

[MysticPhD]

Originally Posted by thrillobyte

Definitely without doubt satan is a created entity. Old religions had their gods which represented good, and then because primitive people saw evil in the world they had to make up gods to represent the evil that good gods war with. So God and satan are nothing more than representations in the minds of primitive thinkers of this war between good and evil and of course good will win the day at some point. That's all played out in the elaborate fantasy of Jesus returning to earth to vanquish satan and set up some sort of kingdom where good thrives forever. Nice dream if you can buy it.

Actually, I would consider a return to this physical existence a nightmare, not a dream, Thrill. The simple truth is that Satan is an anthropomorphization of our inner animal nature and instincts (reptilian brain or "Serpent"). Our developing Spirit (consciousness) must grow and mature within a physical body in a physical world.

Our physical body has mandatory survival and other indiscriminate needs and desires in this physical world that render us selfish and self-centered. Our developing Spirit must learn to control and discriminate among those needs and desires on the basis of what we call good or evil. That is why our first lesson was that particular distinction.

[LearnMe]

As I have considered the history of blacks over the years, I have often thought how fortunate they had their faith in God to help them through so much hardship and abuse they had to endure for so long. Perhaps now that things have dramatically improved in some of those ways for black folks, the lure if not need for religion has lessened. I think so, though there is still much the black person must rely upon to overcome a lack of faith we can have in our fellow man when it comes to life, liberty and justice for all.

Here's to much better days for all concerned going forward. Most certainly for the black folks!