In our post-Christian civilization, fewer and fewer westerners still believe that the devil actually exists. From the tone of this May 10th article it appears that the Washington Post is among the skeptics, and finds it interesting that Pope Francis would affirm this transcendent truth; A modern pope gets old school on the Devil ~

Since its foundation, the church has taught the existence of the Devil. But in recent decades, progressive priests and bishops, particularly in the United States and Western Europe, have tended to couch Satan in more allegorical terms. Evil became less the wicked plan of the master of hell than the nasty byproduct of humanity’s free will. Even Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a lofty German theologian, often painted evil with a broad brush.
 
Enter the plain-talking first pope from Latin America, where mystical views of Satan still hold sway in broad areas of the region. During his time as cardinal of Buenos Aires before rising to the papacy, Francis was known for stark warnings against “the tempter” and “the father of lies.” Now, his focus on the Devil is raising eyebrows even within the normally unquestioning walls of Vatican City.

Today’s universal “Church of Nice” includes many of those in the Catholic faith, even -yes- within the Vatican itself. Reluctant to risk offending parishioners, this post-modern version of the faith diligently avoids mentioning any unpleasant realities. These liberal pseudo-Christians believe that any mention of fire, brimstone and the prince of darkness would simply be too off-putting. As the post explains it ~

But by focusing on old-school interpretations of the Devil, some progressive theologians complain, the pope is undermining his reputation as a leader who in so many other ways appears to be more in step with modern society than his predecessor.
 
(Um, hello? Were early Christians in step with Roman society?)
 
“He is opening the door to superstition,” said Vito Mancuso, a Catholic theologian and writer. 😯

Was Jesus Christ opening the door to superstition?!

“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” ~ Luke 10:18-19

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” ~ John 8:44-45

 
Satan of course, is all too happy to let people think he doesn’t exist ~ “The devil is content if people don’t believe in him” says top Exorcist in revealing interview.

“The sad truth is that there are many bishops and priests in our church who do not really believe in the Devil,” said the Rev. Gabriele Amorth, the 89-year-old priest who is perhaps the closest thing the church has to a Hollywood-style exorcist. “I believe Pope Francis is speaking to them. Because when you don’t believe, the Devil wins.”

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Related:
Deliver us from Evil
 
Exorcism conference underway in Rome
 
Even Harvard University had a flash of sanity and decided it was better not to yield to temptation last weekend ~ Planned satanic mass at Harvard canceled
 
Rick Santorum spoke at Ave Maria University in 2008 about the devil’s evil influence on America. Scoff at your own risk…

Listen to full 30 minutes and you’ll find that his overall message is very encouraging.