Playing Devil's Advocate - 7/19/2010

I never understood why it is that religion cast aspersion on the Arch-Angel Lucifer. Of course every fiction needs a bad guy, a negative force to battle with and triumph over in the end, but the angel Lucifer, whether taken as a literal or figurative presence in theology, is far more interesting to me than he is malevolent. He may be defiant, but he's a Helluva lot of fun, and in the Koran, he was actually the most cherished of God's Angels, sent to Hell not because he challenged Authority, but because he refused to love mankind as much as he loved God. He objected to the Father, saying he couldn't possibly love God's creations as much as he loved God Himself, and thus he was sent down from Heaven as punishment...banished to earth until he can learn to love man equally to the Creator. Yeah, the Bible kinda has it's own interpretation of Lucifer, one that's a lot less interesting in my opinion....and J.R.R. Tolkien (of the Lord of the Rings fame) probably created the best origin mythology of any religion in his novel "The Silmarillion", even if it was only a fictional allegory of various religions. In it, he wrote that Middle Earth and all of creation was willed into being by Illuvatar and his Maia (God and angels) through a heavenly song that's been going on since the dawn of time. However, Melkor (his version of Satan) had a different melody in mind than the one the angels sung, and thus interjected his own composition into the choir. This chaotic disruption of the symphony resulted in the creation of the earth, and of all of it's children. So basically, Satan was OUR creator in Tolkien's universe. Which is very much in line with Gnostic Christianity, which posits that we were created not by Source, but by the Demiurge, a crazy, God-gone-mad that made us in his image (which would explain a lot about us), and who refuses to acknowledge that he is not the true Source of all Life in the Universe (even though He came from Source just as everything ULTIMATELY did). He's the God of the Old Testament, the God of Wrath, Jehovah, Odin, Ra, Zeus, etc ........and those religions that twist and distort the message of love and unity serve both Yaldabaoth and his archons (demons), who attempt to control us through fear, subjugation, and separation. But let's say that Satan isn't merely an idea, or a negative energy that influences worldly events or keeps us in a perpetual state of suffering. Let's claim he's an actual entity in the universe, a physical being who has a personality and an agenda. Well, what do we know of him? From fiction, he seems scary, ruthless, angry, hate-filled, and incredibly one-dimensional. It's embarrassing to think that South Park is almost the only work of fiction that has given the devil layers of personality. That big red homosexual bitch just wants to be loved, ya'll! But seriously, can you think of another work of fiction where Satan is even remotely intriguing? I'm actually asking, if you know of something, please inform me...cause from most accounts, that poor guy is given a grave disservice in almost everything I've ever seen or read, except maybe Al Pacino's interpretation of him in the Devil's Advocate. There he at least had some PERSONALITY, and his anger seemed somewhat justified. But If he actually exists, than you KNOW that he's gotta be incredibly interesting! He's a hedonist, sure, a glutton for earthly pleasures and fleeting physical sensations, but C'MON! That's absolutely understandable, and I for one AGREE with that mentality! That's why we're alive, isn't it? To enjoy life? To embrace the things of this world that make us feel good, to indulge in all of the joys and wonders of this world, be it sex, chocolate, sugar, fat, alcohol, drugs, rock and roll, worldly possessions, whatever. Whatever floats your boat, it's all good because in the end it all came from God...so enjoy it! That's exactly what he does, and he's vilified for it...and when we enjoy the same things, we're labelled as sinners; depraved, unholy, and vile. I don't get it. If you wanna reject the things of this world and be a monk on some mountain top somewhere, then more power to you....but I honestly don't think that's what life's about. Now, I'm not saying you'll find MEANING in the aforementioned pleasures, but they're a part of this world, and I truly think we should enjoy every gift God has given us so long as it doesn't hurt anyone else (including animals, as I believe they are sentient). You can choose to look at this world as a battle for your eternal soul, and every choice as a test for whether you choose light or darkness, or you can change your mind about all of it and stop labelling things. There is no good or evil! There is only power, and those too weak to seek it. Oh no, that was a Voldemort quote sneaking in there. Seriously though, It's all just experiences, and it is about power in that you have the power to change your perception of things, to view the world however you'd like. And today, I choose to look at Lucifer not as a demonic being hell-bent on sending my soul to....hell.....but rather as an angel who enjoys the piss outta life, and is grossly, and tragically, misunderstood.

"This feeling....inside me, finally found my love...I've finally broke free. No longer....torn in two. I'd take my own life before losing you."