Satan

Paper Summary:

This paper explains the origin of Satan from Jewish, Islamic and Christian view points and texts. The author points out that one of the most widely debated aspects concerning the origin of Satan revolves around the question as to exactly what extent the power of evil is manifested in Satan. The paper relates that the contemporary views of Satan are not that much different from the beliefs of the ancient Israelites or those of the later Christians. The author concludes that Satan, as a personage of evil and destruction, remains an elusive yet easily recognizable figure even in modern times.

From the Paper:

"In the "Gospel of Mark" as in that of "Paul", one finds multiple references to the name of Satan, but in the other gospels, the authors use various forms and deviations. In the "Gospel of John", the reader is told that Jesus experienced an epiphany similar to what God accomplished cosmologically in creation, being "the separation of light from darkness," i.e. the separation of good from evil. The appearance (or perhaps indication) of Satan in the "Gospel of John" is related in several ways."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Pagels, Elaine. The Origin of Satan. New York: Random House, 1995.
• Panati, Charles. Sacred Origins of Profound Things. New York: Penguin Books, 1996.
• Radcliffe, Tom. "The Birth of Dualism: A Review of The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels." Internet. July 29, 2000. Retrieved from http://enlightenment.Supersaturated.com/essays/text/tomradcliffe/dualism.html.
• Turner, Alice K. A History of Hell. New York: Harcourt-Brace, 1993.

More papers on Satan:

• Analytical Essay # 88749 : " John Putnam Demos' "Entertaining Satan"
• Analytical Essay # 138933 : "Satan and Adam in "Paradise Lost"
• Analytical Essay # 52630 : "Satan, the Protagonist of "Paradise Lost"
• Research Paper # 94154 : "Origin of Satan"

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