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%DEVIL'S AGENDA ALIENATION SEPARATION MISUNDERSTAND+940620
    %CONFLICT EXCOMMUNICATION JUDGMENT CONDEMNATION+940620
 %TEMPTATION REBEL LEGALISTIC PROHIBITION PRESCRIBE+940620
 %DISOBEDIENCE REBELLION UNDISCIPLINED DISORDER SIN 940620

Traditionally  people  who talk the most about  the  devil
view the devil as an agent of rebellion against good laws,
prohibitions,   prescriptions and injunctions;   an  agent
tempting us to do what we should not do.  This view of the
devil  is rooted in legalists'  view of the nature of  God
and   salvation.    Salvation  is  to  be  earned  through
obedience.  Damnation is the result of disobedience.   The
devil  is  the personification of great powers  to  tempt,
lead  or  guide us away from obedience and salvation;  and
towards disobedience and damnation.

    There  is another possible view of the devil;  as  the
personification     of    all   that   leads  us   towards
alienation,  separation,    misunderstanding,   ignorance,
conflict,     excommunication,         dis-fellowshipping,
condemnation   and banishment.   The devil may lead us  to
commit ourselves to disintegrative:  ideals,   values  and
conceptions of the nature of God.    The devil may lead us
into  self-righteousness,   arrogance,    pretentiousness,
collusive  games of  mutual  self  deception,    addictive
religiosity,    false   piety,   and  codependent   martyr
complexes.

    See  "The Screwtape Letters"  by C.  S.  Lewis for  an
entertaining  set of illustrations of how the devil  might
work.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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