I don’t get something about Satan. So, he’s evil and all. He lives in hell in fire and brimstone and whatnot. And yet, all of the bad people on earth go to hell when they die. Now, if I were as evil as Satan, and all these similarly evil people were under my control, I sure as hell wouldn’t punish them! I may have deep, intellectual conversations about evildoings that last until 3:00 A.M., I may occasionally have tea with some of them, or maybe even start a book club. But not punish them. In the devil’s eyes, these people are good. And they’re like-minded. Why punish them into doing an eterny of fiery labor? Hell (no pun intended), if I were the devil I’d do everyone in Hell a favor and get them air conditioning.
So, why would Satan harm his fellow evildoers? Is he that sadistic? That’s not how it is in comic books.
Note: I know that hell as we know it isn’t what it was intended to be. The image of hell has been skewed greatly by such works as Dante’s Inferno. And I know some people will come in and post the obvious “because god isn’t real, silly”. This also may seem like a joke, but I’d like some real, intelligent responses.
Yes, he is that sadistic. And that is why Satan is not a great villian to portray in comic books. He doesn’t have any “fellow” anythings. He supposedly defied even God Himself in his arrogance. Not the kind of individual you can claim likes to pet his cat while thinking of ransoming the world for a million dollars.
I think the reasoning behind the eternal damnation is because it’s the reverse of what God would do. I think Satan would try to offend God as much as possible, and what better way then to take something he created and loved and torture it eternally.
If we view Satan as pure evil, his only motivation would be to increase suffering and anguish in the world and afterworld. Thus its entirely consistent that he would act only to torment and torture those who fell under his control.
I believe your teatime in Hell would require that Satan be somewhat jovial and desiring of company and late night chats.
There’s actually nothing in the Bible that says Satan is in charge of Hell, nor has that ever really been what most Christian churches have taught. Hell is not where Satan punishes sinners in the lake of fire, Hell is where God punishes sinners (including Satan) in the lake of fire. (More modern Christians will say that Hell is where sinners punish themselves by cutting themselves off from God, which entails some sort of anguish which is the spiritual equivalent of burning flames, but this still does not put Satan in charge of anything.)
Why confuse the debate with theological facts? We are talking about the Satan/devil that is “evil and all. He lives in hell in fire and brimstone and whatnot.” Now that dude is the epitomey of evil and sadism.
According to pop culture (and I am including Chick tracts in pop culture!!!), Satan tries to make people evil so that they will be sent to Hell, so he will have more people to torture. Plus, it’s more fun to torture people than to have conversations with them.
Again, it looks like you wanted this thread to focus on pop culture Satan, not theological Satan, so there you are.
So, Satan likes evil BECAUSE it’s a condition that sends him playthings.
::: singing :::: "
“To let the punishment fit the crime,
The punishment fit the crime;
And make each prisoner pent,
Unwillingly represent
A source of innocent merriment,
Of innocent merriment.”
Spite, plain and simple. And that’s exactly how it is in the comic books.
Dashing Hero: “Trusted-Ally! How could you betray us?”
Trusted Ally: “Sorry, Dashing Hero. Money Talks.”
Evil Master Mind: “Bwa-ha-ha! Take them away!”
The Evil Master Mind cackles as his hench men drag Dashing Hero and Friends away to the dungeon.
Evil Master Mind: “Good work, Trusted Ally. Or should I say, EVIL work? Heeheehee!”
Trusted Ally: “Good pun. Anyway, about my reward?”
Evil Master Mind: “Oh, yes, your reward… Ever-Present Side Kick, show Trusted Ally his … ‘reward’…”
Evil Master Mind begins to rub his hands together like a greedy fly as he watches his Ever-Present Side Kick suddenly grab Trusted Ally and hurl him into the PIT OF SNAKES!
Evil Master Mind: BWA-HA-HA!
Ever-Present Side Kick: weasel-like giggling
Trusted Ally: SWEET GOD! THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE! EVERY MOMENT IS AGONY! LET ME DIE! HOLY GOD IN HEAVEN LET ME DIE!
I, however, am more inclined to believe in the ‘Eternal Separation from God = Hell’ bit rather than ‘Tortuous S&M Dungeon run by Satan = Hell’ bit.
I don’t think Satan is “in charge” of Hell (if one exists), I think he would be the most powerful being there (which compared to God would be insignificant). So ruling in Hell would be much like a prison structure as MEBuckner and His4Ever suggested.
And I also prefer the without-god idea of hell. Getting poked by a red goat-looking demon witha trident in a big fiery hellhole doesn’t seem intriguing.
And I guess we agree that Satan really is that crazy. Though, I don’t see why he wouldn’t like to have a little chit-chat with Stalin or Ping Pong (whatever that guy’s name was). He’d probably find them interesting. He’s not a very good ruler, I must say. I bet the tax rate is really high in hell.
From the epic poem Paradise Lost by John Milton; see Book One, lines 260-265.
While a bit above the comic book level, Paradise Lost still isn’t necessarily an accurate depiction of Christian dogma about Satan and Hell. Very influential on the popular and literary conception of such things, though.
When it comes right down to it satan is not control of anything. That is why he is so bitter he has no authority. He will be just one of the crowd in hell. he will be more vengeful when he is turned loose at the end of the thousand years. 0887
