Devil Q&A
Q: Would you say that all thoughts that unexpectedly pop into our heads out of nowhere are from angels or demons?
No. We all know that small encounters – even subconscious ones like smells, similar environments, etc. – can trigger thoughts and memories connected to them. We also know that man is capable of evil without the devil’s tempting.
The main point is that we are gifted with a spiritual nature which gives us a connection to the spiritual domain, and the fallen angels are part of that.
Q: How immediate are the consequences for someone who communicates with Satan?
Were they immediate with Eve? No, it was delayed long enough for Adam to get there and for him to decide to join her. If the effect of listening to Satan was immediate, would that have been strategically wise? No. Therefore, if we invite Satan in, the results might not be noticed at first but you can bet that an unloving fortress is being built.
Q: What was Satan’s name?
Lucifer – in the beginning, the greatest of the archangels.
Satan – adversary, oppose, accuser
Devil – same root as diabolical. Literally, slanderer, to assault one’s character. See satan.
Demon – an evil spirit; from daemon, an evil deity
Q: How did Satan fall? Was it ego?
I don’t know if angels have “egos” per se like humans but, in any event, nothing definite can be known about how Lucifer and the other angels (one-third) fell or the exact nature of any probationary period they may have been given.
That said, there are theological conjectures. Most hold that the Divine Incarnation was revealed to them and they saw that a nature lower than their own was to be united to the Trinity through God the Son, and that all the hierarchy of heaven will bow in adoration before the majesty of the Incarnate Word, which then occasioned the pride of Lucifer.
Q: Do you believe any regret resides within Satan or his fallen angels?
No. First, it was their desire and decision to separate from God. God granted their wish. Second, what would cause them to change?
Only the presence of God, which they no longer had.
Q: Does God hate Satan?
No. God created Lucifer good and Lucifer chose against God. God hates no one. God is love.
Q: Why was the devil given access to humans?
Unfortunately, God doesn’t provide a Q&A about all these things like I do, at least not at this time. But I think the answer is that we were given access to the Spiritual Domain and fallen angels are part of that.
As to why the Devil was allowed in our lives after the Fall, we did that. It was our first parents who invited Satan in. That was one of the key components of the Fall. Perhaps Satan thought he had earned a complete victory over humans, but he only got a partial victory since God had another plan to bail us out. But again, this was our doing, our freedom, that invited Satan in.
Just to highlight the effect of this in our world, how does Jesus refer to him? Jesus call him the “prince of this world” (John 14:30). Then, on the eve of His Passion, he says: “Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John, 12:31).
Q: What is the spiritual logic behind the fallen angels not getting a 2nd chance, like we did?
As mentioned above, nothing can be known about any “probationary period”; but if one was given, it was very short. As Aquinas points out, the intelligence of the angels is so superior to ours that they didn’t need time to mull things over. We might also remember that we all have thoughts and temptations going on in our minds before the act of sin, so there is no doubt that the angels gave their full, enormous IQs to the matter beforehand.
From the angels’ point of view, what wasn’t strange was that their decision was final. That’s how things were with spiritual beings. What was strange to them was that humans got another chance. They never heard of such a thing. How could this happen? How would it happen? If we were like every other conscious, sentient, spiritual being, our decision would have been it, one and done.
Q: Who remembers what happened?
God kicked them out of this perfect place called Eden. If you recall, God said we had to leave “lest we eat from the Tree of Life.” What was the Tree of Life? It was Eternal life.
Metaphorically, if we had eaten from the Tree of Life, we would have been like the fallen angels. Instead, God gave us this mortal life to find our way back to Him.
Q: One final question: Of what value is Satan to God?
Value implies an added benefit. However, we cannot add to God's perfection. If we could, it would mean God could improve. If God could change at all, that would mean He wasn't perfect. "Perfect" can go no further. It cannot be any more or less.
One could then ask, do none of us have value to God? If you mean, does God need us, the answer is perfection needs nothing.
Value is a human condition because we aren't perfect. Everything we do in life is trying to add value to it, right? If anything is a recognition of our own imperfection, that's it.
So then we ask: if none of us can benefit God in any way, why create us? Why create anything?
The only answer is pure love. Pure love is pure giving with nothing sought in return.
We exist because of God and more specifically, because God is love.
Now you know why John in his Gospel talks incessantly about love. Once he realized this, he couldn’t stop talking about it.
Love is mysterious. There is much depth to understanding it, not to speak of experiencing it. One of the first complications we learn about love is that it requires freedom. Love cannot be forced.
That complicates things because the next question is: What should be done if someone uses their freedom to not love? Should they be destroyed?
Probably not.
Our human spiritual existence – like the good and bad angels – is part of an eternal realm. Should God annihilate those who choose not to love Him? Or should he respect the freedom He gave them and grant them their will?
Back to the question: What value is Satan to God? The answer is, again, nothing, because nothing adds value to God.
A better question might be: What is the value of Satan’s existence? The value of Satan’s existence is his freedom; for without the choice of evil (against love), there would be no choice at all, and no freedom.
Perhaps you are still wondering if God should tolerate Satan’s existence.
Should God annihilate Satan because he exercised his freedom? Wouldn’t that be reneging on the freedom He gave Lucifer in the first place.
“Hey Lucifer, here is your freedom, but if you choose wrongly, I will destroy you.” That’s not right, is it?
The same applies to humans. It’s why we will continue to exist in the absence of God’s presence (called hell): God is honoring our choice vs destroying us for making that choice.
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