Just saw a post from someone to the following link and it got me wondering...?

Let's also not forget that he allegedly cast man out of paradise for "EATING FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE".... what kind of being would be so threatened by our desire to learn unless it had something to hide?

It is only AFTER we begin to use our minds that we are no longer fit for this "god" character.... how interesting.

The responses coming from the christian side of this are also indicative of how a great a sin it is to even question the nature of their deity....a deity that seems to rule by fear.

I gotta say, I really like where you're heading with this one!

*EDIT*....love the name too....poodlewurst HA!

**EDIT 2** How many wars have been waged in the name of this god? How many have been waged for satan? The only ones that can be laid at the feet of this satan guy are indirectly attributed to him by.....(drum roll)....the bible and the guy claiming to be a vengeful god of love (as though vengeful and love just go together naturally).

"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." - Richard Dawkins.

Yahweh is all the things in practice that we're meant to believe Satan is in theory. I am also an atheist (or tooth-fairy agnostic, whichever you prefer) and I find your theory really fascinating.

If I were to assume for a moment that this religion were true then I think it is very likely, when you think about it, that there was a God/Satan mix up. After all isn't the idea of Satan to mislead and cause wrong doing? As you've said their God not only condones and encourages atrocities in his name but also condemns natural things such as sex unless done under very strict guidelines. Sex is very important for human survival so why would the 'good' deity put restrictions on it while the 'bad' deity encourages it?

The idea of the punishment of hellfire for following Satan rather than God can also be turned on it's head because it could simply be an empty threat to keep people in line and promote wrongdoing in the name of God.

I also agree with the comment someone made above me that it's strange God would become so upset when we seek knowledge, what has he got to hide? If he created the world surely he wouldn't have created things he didn't want us to see/know about. On a similar note what's with the not being allowed to inquire into other religions, what is he afraid that we might find out about?

It is a very interesting possibility. Very thought provoking. Thanks :)

It is said God made a covenant with the Jewish people. The three major religions which trace their roots back to Abraham are often referred to as the Abrahamic(Abramic) Religions.

These are: Judaism, Christianity, Islam.

Jesus himself is descended in some fashion from Adam's third son, Seth.

Now ask yourself, why did the church take so long to exculpate the Jews as a whole from the collective and heritable charge of "deicide"? It ought to have been simple enough to determine that the Sanhedrin of the time, whatever it may have done, could not have bound all Jews for all eternity. The answer is equally simple: If Christianity had to excuse one group of humans from everlasting blood-guilt, how could it avoid excusing them all?

Two millennia of ignorance, cruelty & superstition dissolve in an instant when we notice that even some early believers were shrewd enough to see though the whole sham. Hence, Heresy.

I find it extremely interesting to witness just how offended these christians are at a purely philosophical and rhetorical question. Even after admitting that you aren't a believer, and that this is nothing but a reasoning exercise, it is still met with open hostility by many posters here..... how very christian of them. (I particularly enjoy the comment by the christian demanding some kind of rectal abuse as atonement for the unforgivable sin of not agreeing with his answer).

The few that weren't openly angered simply dismissed it out of hand and ran away, tails tucked.

Is your faith so fragile? Is your god so weak?

Can you not even begin to utilize your mind without abject fear of divine retribution?

Maybe you really are worshiping the wrong dude......

What the.... this actually smacks of an original idea on R&S.

Isn't this one of the seven signs of the apocalypse?

I gotta just re-iterate to those that are so quick to dismiss this without even a second thought....consider your source.

Of course the bible WOULD cast satan as the bad guy and predict his eventual defeat. Taken as is in a typical christian twists of logic, this would almost constitute proof of the big "switcheroo".

What interests me is my personal response to your question. I find the premise fascinating and seemingly valid. Yet, even though I am a Pagan who has rejected Christianity, I still have a strong aversion to seeing Satan as an sort of positive force. I don't even believe in Satan or even in absolute evil... but I still shy away from viewing him as good. I guess it's another example of cultural influence.

Thanks for the props, and I'm glad I got someone thinking.

I've been wondering that since that little clip as well. I know we all believe that hell is this horrible place that we're supposed to avoid....but consider the source of that belief.

If nothing else, it's an interesting thing to ponder, huh?

oh, and I'm a dude....lol

the great deceiver is the only one that could actually make you think anything like this up. Granted you admit that you don't believe, so right now whatever I say will probably not change your mind,however just think of it this way- What if God is right, and your theory is wrong? Where would you be if today was the last day you were on this earth. He has deceived people from the very beginning, starting with convincing Eve to eat the apple. Jesus came to earth to die, not just to save us, but to ultimately destroy Satan, and Satan knows it, so he will do anything to try and convince us that God is the one that is the deceiver. Satan wants us to live our lives as we see fit, due to the fact that he also knows his future, and he too will be punished forever, along side those who have believed what you are talking about. Sorry God is the true God and Satan already has been defeated. You say you don't believe, however, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. I will guarantee that Satan will bow as well,

Interesting how truth can get so many thumbs down. Oh well

Wtf, people only learned how to be more stupid. I was speaking and giving an example of the of the satan in job. Your idea of the 2 hearts is still a long way from the truth. Even I dont know that one. So dont jump to conclusions and dont break God's law because you lie to yourself and say I dont know what wrong is because we all know that is some BS.

BTW:: I was the one who posted that. And take your judgmental thumbs and put them (you know where).

Worship Satan?

Only God knows why He saw fit to create Satan in the first place.

According to your description, Satan is a bleeding heart liberal who condones sin. You make it obvious that he is the wrong guy to worship.

If Satan is not all powerful, judgmental, and willing to shed blood to wipe out Evil, then he is certainly not worthy of our time. You'll never get anywhere, especially Heaven, sucking up to a loser.

We don't bow down to losers. We worship powerful kings only. It's our God given instinct to recognize that might makes right.

Satan will burn in Hell right along with all the people who don't believe in him. You really think we ought to worship him? Think again.