Is the Devil Real?

"For those who believe, no proof is necessary; for those who do not believe, no proof is possible."- Stuart Chase

How many people actually believe in the existence of Satan? I'm not talking about the funny little fella on your shoulder, or the cartoonish image of a goateed dude with pointy ears and a red cape. Nor am I referring to a general sense of persona or a metaphysical awareness that there may be unseen forces of evil that interact with the physical world. I'm talking about a literal, substantive, definite person. Just to clarify- "person", and "substantive" do not refer to a physical being, but an actually existing spiritual being.

How about that Satan? I've heard varying statistics, but overwhelmingly- even among Bible toting evangelical Christians- people don't believe in that Satan any more than they believe in the Easter bunny. I am in a small minority of folks who maintain his literal existence. So, what I'm going to try to do here is present an argument in attempt to "prove" the existence of Satan. I certainly cannot produce a case of "certainty", but I think I've got enough to establish probability for the existence of Satan.

Postulation 1: the nature of existence

I think we can all agree to some extent that there are experiences and elements of the physical world that cannot be understood or explained in purely physical terms. The lowest common denominator, if you will, is this awareness. Regardless of our definitions and perspectives of truth and reality, we attribute two categories: the forces of good and the forces of evil. Again, what one defines as a "force" or what one defines as "good" and "evil" aren't important. They exist.

They are also unique: what is characteristic of one is not characteristic of the other. Neither can be present in the same place at the same time and in the same form. A force of evil can appear to be good, just as a force of good can seem like it isn't. They are, by their very natures, in conflict with one another. Have they always existed, or do they come from somewhere/something? Since there is a constant motion, or flow, if you will, throughout the collective human experience of these forces, I would say they have a source. Also, by the fact we can distinguish between them, I would say there is some kind of standard by which they can be distinguished.

Postulation 2: the nature of mankind

Is mankind inherently good, or inherently evil? Is s/he the source of good and evil? What can we observe? S/he is capable of demonstrating thoughts and actions that can be qualified as good or evil. But, s/he seems to be able to possess characteristics of both good and evil, even within the same person. But, wait, they can't do that. Consider these two scenarios: 1) a synapse firing, producing an evil thought cannot be the same synapse firing which produces a good thought 2) in killing someone in order to save someone else's life, you have committed evil in one form by taking a life, and good in another form by saving a life.

Mankind seems to have a mechanism for deciding which actions and thoughts are good or evil. Not only that, but in one situation, s/he demonstrates one action, while in a similar situation at another time, s/he demonstrates a different action. Why? It seems the forces within her/him are competing for selection. Even more observable is that there are also external forces which can influence her/his thoughts and actions. S/he seems to be aware that certain thoughts and actions produce certain results. However, despite somewhat predictable consequences, mankind persists in possessing and demonstrating destructive thoughts and actions.

Postulation 3: the nature of the supernatural

Since mankind has this amazing capacity for good and evil, perhaps good and evil exist independent of mankind. Furthermore, since elements in the natural, physical world also possess attributes of both to varying degrees and at various times, good and evil exist independent of the physical world. They cannot be seen, they cannot be destroyed b y physical entities, nor created by physical entities. Since they exist independently of the natural world, good and evil have a source which is not natural. It must be supernatural.

As good is completely distinct from evil, so it must have a source that is equally distinct from the source of evil. The sources are just as unseen as the forces which originate from them. Perhaps good and evil are entities in and of themselves, without a source. "Good" and "evil" are merely static states of existence. To have flow, directionality, or interaction in the physical world, force must be enacted upon them. Some thing must propel them, divert them, and bring them to culmination. Do these forces operate by chance, or do they possess intentionality?

Attempt at a unified theory

Intentionality implies consciousness, which in turn, implies "being-ness". A non-physical being enacts force upon the static entities of good and evil as influences upon the consciousness of mankind. Since good and evil are completely distinct, a being which enacts force upon the static entity of evil would not also enact force upon the static entity of good, and vice versa. The forces of good, by virtue of its very nature, are in conflict with the forces of evil. Two distinct types of forces propel good and evil through existence.

As stated before, despite predictable outcomes for thoughts and actions (the fact that there are many possible unpredictable outcomes is a predictable outcome), mankind persists in being destructive. Individually, we make the same mistakes, don't we? We must be influenced by some thing that is stronger than our mind, heart, logic, and desire can overcome. If this being is committed to enacting force upon evil in order to influence us to demonstrate thoughts and actions which are evil, wouldn't it be wise for it to remain subversive, and unseen?

How does it feel when our peers influence us to do things we know are 'wrong'? We don't like them very much, do we? Eventually (rather-hopefully) we get wise to their schemes of destructiveness and cease the relationship. It is incumbent upon this non-physical being to never engage in a relationship, much less personally interact, with a human being. It cannot pop in to say, "Hi. My name is Lucifer. I love it when you make mistakes. I know you're having doubts about cheating on your wife. I'm here to convince you to just do it." A conversation, an acknowledgement, would give that man a chance to pause and to weigh his decision.

So what?

To influence so many good, honest humans onto pathways of destructiveness, this being must be powerful, adept, and hidden- a subversive guerilla gorilla. Is there an actual, literal being, however invisible, that consciously strives for our individual and collective destruction? Is there a realm, if you will, beyond what our eyes can see and our minds comprehend? Are there forces which influence our thoughts and actions, beyond our desire and rationale? Do we have a choice to believe in Satan and God? Or is choice itself merely an illusion? What might the consequences be of having chosen to disbelieve some thing that may just prove probable? Now about that whisper in your ear...