[Miscellaneous]

Originally Posted by reggie_woic

is the devil "happy" or "satisfied" in hell?
or is the devil burning or experiencing some sort of punishment down there?
does the devil have free will - free will to influence us here on earth?

what i'm basically asking is: what exactly can the devil DO; what capacities or abilities does he have?

[infinitepyro]

I thought we were talking about the devil...understanding him, not God?

I realized something though, the whole arguement about the Devil being God's equal and opposite....thats bullcrap. A thing that needs an equal and opposite is not perfect for it cannot exist without its opposite even for the purposes of definition e.g light cannot exist without darkness so that we can distinguish it from the dark. But as for God, He is perfect. He needs no equal and opposite being in order to exist. He is perfect.

Back to the Devil, he was an angel right? Excuse my ignorance but I though the catholic church, hence the infallible papacy, teach that angels have no free will?
Correct me if am wrong but at this juncture I see the Devil as grossly misunderstood. Oh, one more thing, the Devil isn't in hell (unlike what the thread starter was taught at Sunday school), he is amongst us...in this God's green earth yet awaiting judgement where he will be judged last...or first depending on your Christian denomination.

[reggie_woic]

Excuse my ignorance but I though the catholic church, hence the infallible papacy, teach that angels have no free will?

"This "fall" ...consists in the free choice of those created spirits who have radically and irrevocably rejected God and his kingdom," -The Vatican

consider yourself ignorant no more

[opiche]

If Jesus is real and tells the truth, then the devil is real and tells lies.

[infinitepyro]

Originally Posted by reggie_woic

"This "fall" ...consists in the free choice of those created spirits who have radically and irrevocably rejected God and his kingdom," -The Vatican

consider yourself ignorant no more

Um...you have craftily highlighted that part which suits you. This was Pope John Paul's sermon about Satan & the fallen angels.

Psalms 103:20-21 Praise the LORD, you angels of his, you mighty creatures who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.
Yes, praise the LORD, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!

[ATLian]

Originally Posted by ndigila

It isn't contradictory. You're saying that your choice is dependent on what God sees you doing and that isn't the case. Your choice is dependent on you alone.

How do you explain the famous Christian maxim that everything happens according to god's plan and will? Doesn't that automatically mean that we have no free will?

Also how do you explain the times god intentionally robbed people of their free will, so they could serve as pawns in a bigger plan e.g. Pharaoh.

[ATLian]

[quote=grip_daddy;668712]but God knows because you will do it.[quote]

That there automatically means that I have no free will.

[ndigila]

How do you explain the famous Christian maxim that everything happens according to god's plan and will? Doesn't that automatically mean that we have no free will?

Modern Christian theology is influenced by the doctrine of John Calvin who espoused predestination. That 'famous Christian maxim' is a product of it.

Also how do you explain the times god intentionally robbed people of their free will, so they could serve as pawns in a bigger plan e.g. Pharaoh.

Just because he influenced some doesn't mean he influenced everybody.