The concept of a Good God and an Evil Devil has ancient roots. One possible origin point for the present-day Western conception can be traced back to the relationship between the Zoroastrian deities Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu. Ahura Mazda represents good, order, and truth, while Angra Mainyu represents evil, chaos, and falsehood. This dualistic belief system influenced later religions and philosophies, including the development of the concept of God and the Devil in Western theology.
Historically, the Israelites were in exile from 586-538 BCE, and during that time, Cyrus the Great, a Persian and Zoroastrian King, allowed them to return to their homeland in 538 BCE. This event is mentioned in the biblical book of Ezra. It is remarkable to see the syncretic evolution of the Abrahamic faith, which later incorporated Hellenic beliefs under the Hasmoneans.
The concept of Satan has subsequently been conflated with the Angra Mainyu or Devil. The original ha-Satan means "the adversary," stemming from the Egyptian God Seth, the Adversary of Horus.
Satan only appears a few times in the Hebrew Bible as an angel in the service of God. In the book of Job, one of Satan's only appearances in the Hebrew Bible, he appears as the Accuser, a role in which Satan challenges the extent of devotion of God's believers.
Later, post-exile and post-Hellenic, in the Christian New Testament, Satan appears to Christ in the wilderness to test his commitment to faith in God and knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures. This is less evil than the destructive, chaotic forces of Angra Mainyu. The serpent of the Garden of Eden, though not explicitly named as Satan, has taken on that moniker. In this role, Satan imparts knowledge to Adam and Eve, disobeying God and serving a role similar to Odin or Prometheus.
Therefore, in modern culture, especially in evangelical Christian America, there is a conflation of Satan with Evil, which stems from a historical conflation. In reality, Satan means knowledge or can be interpreted as such if we have a deeper understanding of other sources and the primary text of the Bible, as well as its historical context. Satan's role as an accuser and tester of faith can be seen as evil only by those who are unwilling to have their authority questioned or challenged, not only by ordinary people but also by God himself. Satan accuses so that God may be the ultimate judge.
In the tarot card "The Devil," it symbolizes the concept of desire and its potential negative influence. Desire, when unchecked and uncontrolled, can lead to destructive behaviors and outcomes. In the Bhagavad Gita, there are passages that explain desire as the root of all evil. For example, Krishna states in Chapter 3, Verse 37:
"The wise understand that desire is the enemy, the destroyer of knowledge and realization."
This highlights the idea that uncontrolled desires can cloud one's judgment and hinder spiritual growth.
In this interpretation, we can see a parallel between the battle of God and the Devil and the battle within oneself to overcome desires. Just as God battles the Devil, man must battle his own desires to overcome evil. By recognizing and restraining our desires, we can achieve a state of inner harmony and spiritual growth.
To conclude, the tarot card "The Devil" symbolizes the negative influence of unchecked desires. The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes the importance of overcoming desires as the root of all evil. In this interpretation, the battle between God and the Devil can be seen as a metaphor for the battle within oneself to overcome desires and achieve spiritual enlightenment.
Lugh and Balor are two prominent figures in Irish mythology and their relationship is central to the events of the Battle of Mag Tureadh.