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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Freedom of choice Joel Friday, September 11, 2009

Question:

I was reading a post about choice between the "path of God" and the "path of Satan". The person asking the question seemed to think that God created Satan. The person answering the question seemed to hint that Satan gave a way certain gifts to Man. The answer also included the word CHOOSE in capital letters thus ordering to follow the "path of God"; this looks more like a command.

From the above, I have 3 questions:

1. Why is it absolutely true that God created Satan? Besides pure faith, please.

2. Why do you think Satan gives away gifts to Man? As far as I know, satanism is for self-made individuals through hard work. I don't see satanists extend their hands asking for alms and gifts.

3. Why is the path of God presented as a choice to those already in it from birth?



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Joel:

Sorry for the delay in answering.

This post you are referring to must have been somewhere else besides here as it does not sound like something that would come from us. In any event, to answer your questions:

1. Why is it absolutely true that God created Satan? Besides pure faith, please.

God is the creator the universe and all things in the universe, including the angels and man. This is not a matter of faith only. This knowledge is based upon reason. Without getting into a long dissertation on this, we know that God is the creator because the Bible tells us that and the Bible has been proven reliable on theological matters in a number of ways (through reasoned analysis we know this). In addition, St. Thomas Aquinas, for example, proved the existence of God philosophically. He proposed as five proofs for the existance of God. His first three ways deal with what is called the cosmological argument:

 

  1. First Mover (Argument from Motion): "whatever is in motion must be put in motion by another," and that, "this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover." Hence St. Thomas argues that in order to eliminate the infinite chain of motions, there must be a first mover and source of all motion, God.
  2. First Cause (Causation of Existence): "In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes. There is no case known (neither is it, indeed, possible) in which a thing is found to be the efficient cause of itself; for so it would be prior to itself, which is impossible." By this he means that any thing, circumstance or event cannot change itself, but can only change something else (concept of efficient cause). Since there is a string of causes in which the string cannot be infinite (see premise #1), then all causes must attribute themselves to a first cause: God.
  3. Chain of Causes (Contingent and Necessary Objects): St. Thomas notes that things in our world owe their existence to something else in the world. Aquinas calls this the way of "possibility and necessity," meaning that all things made possible, necessarily attribute their existence to some pre-existing thing. Only God can be the source of all things since he is a being having its own necessity and does not need a pre-existing thing to cause him to exist. All things existing can trace themselves in a chain back to God.

While faith is involved in our understanding of God as Creator, it is not "mere" faith. Faith is involved in some measure in everything we do. For example, when you sat down in front of your computer, you did not "test" to see if the chair would break when you sat in it. You had "faith" that it would because it has held your weight before. You have faith that it you sit on a tack it will hurt even if you have never experience it before because others have experienced it and informed you.  Part of the proof of God is experience. When God came to earth as Jesus, our Lord proved himself, that he was God, by doing miracles and preaching. The disciples "experienced" personally these proofs and told others about it. We do not believe out of blind faith. We believe from an experiential and reasoned faith.

God created the angel Lucifer. Lucifer was in heaven and one of the most beautiful angels. But, when Lucifer rebelled against God and was evicted from heaven he became Satan. Thus, Lucifer, in a sense, created Satan. He made himself Satan. For example, God does not create anyone to be a thief, but if I become a thief, then I have made myself a thief.

2. Why do you think Satan gives away gifts to Man? As far as I know, satanism is for self-made individuals through hard work. I don't see satanists extend their hands asking for alms and gifts.

The only "gift" Satan gives to man is damnation. Any so-called "gift" that Satan may give someone (like wealth and fame) will only be taken away by Satan later; Satan not only fails to keep his promises, he will take more from us besides -- he will take one's soul in return. There is nothing good that Satan does. He is pure evil and whatever he does is for evil purposes and intent. His ultimate desire is to destroy God's children.

Satanism is for no one. To say that Satanism is for anybody is like saying that the bubonic plague is for self-made individuals. Satan is not "for" anyone except himself. 

And, by the way, Satanic organizations do ask for donations (which is a form of alms). Members of the Church of Satan has "dues" that must be paid and donate to the cause.

3. Why is the path of God presented as a choice to those already in it from birth?

The path of God is a choice for all men, everywhere, and at all times. There is no one excluded from the choice to follow the path of God. In addition, those who are born to Christian parents do not automatically follow the path of God. Those children may choose to not follow the path of God when they are old enough to choose.

Each of us, no matter what the religion (or no religion) of our birth, and no matter what culture we are born into, have a choice to follow the path of God or to reject it. This is called "Free Will". God gives us the gift of Free Will, which allow us to choose Him or to reject Him as we choose.

This free will is give to us because God loves us and wants us to love Him. But, love cannot be forced, it must be chosen. So, with the ability to choose love comes also the ability to not choose love. One choice cannot be without the possibility of the other.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

 


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