# Scripture debates - Satan, omnipotence, etc. \[split from 'Majority atheist world' thread\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 31, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308 "2011-12-31T19:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/41 "2012-01-03T17:37:22Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > An omnipotent being can’t have enemies. Not in any meaningful sense. And where it is in the book the “evil” is done with direct permission and the direction of god…e.g. Job. But most Abrahamic theiests ignore that also. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/42 "2012-01-03T19:22:16Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > And this is stated in the bible where, exactly? > [@Lobohan](#): > > It’s in the synopsis on the dust-jacket. I thought it was on the back, under mono-sodium glutamate. ---
**Author:** ![Untoward\_Parable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Untoward\_Parable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Untoward_Parable)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/43 "2012-01-03T19:25:32Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > An omnipotent being can’t have enemies. Not in any meaningful sense. Yep, in fact most well studied Christians will tell you that Satan is either a part of God or in his employ one way or another. It’s his Good god bad god routine. IE God believes in entrapment. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/44 "2012-01-03T19:33:28Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Uh, _technically_ the Serpent not Satan. It’s just a common–and fairly reasonable, I guess–assumption. Who was the Serpent if not Satan? > [@](#): > > That the “Fall of Man” occurred so shortly after Creation and while there were still just 2 people is a bit questionable, IMO. No, it isn’t. The Fall refers to the whole human race that was to follow. Sin & death enters the world through one man, and that one man is Adam. > [@](#): > > What was in it for the Serpent for humans to “know good and evil” and so on? The Serpent corrupted Adam and Eve in a bid to lead the whole human race astray. And it worked. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/45 "2012-01-03T19:35:53Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > An omnipotent being can’t have enemies. Not in any meaningful sense. How do you know? ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/46 "2012-01-03T19:38:04Z")
> [@Untoward\_Parable](#): > > Yep, in fact most well studied Christians will tell you that Satan is either a part of God or in his employ one way or another. It’s his Good god bad god routine. IE God believes in entrapment. Satan is a part of God inasmuch as he is being created by God. By they are not one and the same. You snark about things you don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/47 "2012-01-03T19:40:39Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Who was the Serpent if not Satan? Just a serpent. God punished the serpent by making it crawl in the dirt from then on. Since there is no mention in the Bible of Satan being forced to crawl in the dirt, I think it is safe to assume that he is a different character than the serpent mentioned in the tale of Adam and Eve. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/48 "2012-01-03T19:40:43Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > And this is stated in the bible where, exactly? You can improve your biblical literacy by reading the Bible yourself, Bryan. That is the best way. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/49 "2012-01-03T19:42:00Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Satan is a part of God inasmuch as he is being created by God. By they are not one and the same. You snark about things you don’t understand. And you keep bringing up things that aren’t in the Bible. You _really_ should read the book before you correct others about its contents. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/50 "2012-01-03T19:43:00Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > You can improve your biblical literacy by reading the Bible yourself, Bryan. That is the best way. If you don’t know, just say so. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/51 "2012-01-03T19:50:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And you keep bringing up things that aren’t in the Bible. You _really_ should read the book before you correct others about its contents. I am in a position to correct you, here. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/52 "2012-01-03T19:51:47Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > I am in a position to correct you, here. Then do so, with cites. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/53 "2012-01-03T19:53:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If you don’t know, just say so. Do you have an aversion to reading the Bible? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/54 "2012-01-03T19:57:08Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Do you have an aversion to reading the Bible? I have read it from cover to cover, which you would already know if you had bothered to read my posts instead of getting overly defensive about your inability to provide any cites for your claims. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/55 "2012-01-03T20:04:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Then do so, with cites. No, I used to play this little game with online atheists. But not anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/56 "2012-01-03T20:09:17Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > No, I used to play this little game with online atheists. But not anymore. Not backing up any of your claims about the Bible is only a game to you? I can imagine how all the others felt when you played your little “game” with them. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/57 "2012-01-03T20:12:14Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Here’s the first thing **you** need to learn, **Theophane:** > > Fear of the Lord is **not** the beginning of wisdom. I believe it is, but you can believe whatever you want. We could argue about this, but sooner or later the thread would be closed. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/58 "2012-01-03T20:17:51Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > I am in a position to correct you, here. The authority with which you do so has not been established. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/59 "2012-01-03T20:21:15Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > You can improve your biblical literacy by reading the Bible yourself, Bryan. That is the best way. No, it ain’t. The best way is to study some kind of companion that puts the books in historical context. I recommend _Asimov’s Guide to the Bible._ ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308/60 "2012-01-03T20:22:51Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Not backing up any of your claims about the Bible is only a game to you? I can imagine how all the others felt when you played your little “game” with them. If you’ve read the Bible cover-to-cover, my input is unnecessary. I’d rather not get into a scriptural argument with someone who doesn’t believe me anyway. If your aim is to Hitchslap my statements and make me look stupid, I’d rather not interact with you. If you are sincerely interested in improving your understanding of Scripture but don’t like what I have to say, that’s understandable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scripture-debates-satan-omnipotence-etc-split-from-majority-atheist-world-thread/608308.md?page=4)