Copyright © 2006 By Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.
Catechism Of The Catholic Church Reprinted With Permission.
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Judaism, Christianity, and many other belief systems have always (more or less)
accepted the general principle that Adam and Eve were the first humans and that
they were, in fact, real people and the parents of all who would ever live.
The Bible tells us, by their pride, disobedience and infidelity, the first humans
sinned against God (Eve started the whole thing, but Adam was held responsible).
For Catholics, this has always been a clearly defined doctrine,
because without a specific and very personal soul by the name of
Adam, who was endowed by God with free will; the important
concept of original sin could not exist.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read:
407 The doctrine of original sin, closely connected with that of redemption by
Christ, provides lucid discernment of man's situation and activity in the world.
By our first parents' sin, the devil has acquired a certain domination over man,
even though man remains free. Original sin entails "captivity under the power of
him who thenceforth had the power of death, that is, the devil". Ignorance of the
fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in
the areas of education, politics, social and morals.
All of this brings us to the final player in this story of human misery and intrigue …
Satan. Lucifer. The Destroyer. The Prince of Darkness. The Devil. Baalzebub. The
"King of Tyre". The Evil One. Take your pick. They're all one and the same being,
the leader of the fallen angels, a real, personal entity dedicated solely to the
overthrow of God and to the death and ultimate enslavement of all God's children.
Again, citing the Catechism of the Catholic
Church:
391 Behind the disobedient choice of our
first parents lurks a seductive voice,
opposed to God, which makes them fall
into death out of envy. Scripture and the
Church's Tradition see in this being a fallen
angel, called "Satan" or the "devil". The
Church teaches that Satan was at first a
good angel, made by God: "The devil and
the other demons were indeed created
naturally good by God, but they became
evil by their own doing."
395 The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature,
powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot
prevent the building up of God's reign. Although Satan may act in the world out
of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may
cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical
nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence
which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history.
It is a great mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we
know that in everything God works for good with those who love him."
Satan Tempting Jesus
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