| DEVIL:
Devil is a generic term that applies to any number of supernatural creatures
who dwell in the underworld. It can refer to a specific inhabitant of
hell, such as the Christian LUCIFER or SATAN or the Islamic IBLIS, to a
fallen angel, or to a DEMON who tortures the souls of the damned. The
name sometimes is used to refer to wicked men who oppose the will of God.
It originates from the Greek diabolos and the Latin diabolus, meaning "to
throw across," a term associated with the fall of Lucifer, a
blasphemous angel who is thrown out of heaven and into the abyss of hell.
Devils can take many different shapes, but
the traditional image is that of a spiritual predator. Poets and
painters have used dogs, snakes, goats, lions, and wolves to portray these
infernal creatures. Numerous religions teach that devils are mutant
creatures with a variety of animal characteristics, embodying the horror
that results from rejecting the will of God. They are frequently shown
as having horns, pointy tales, and razor-sharp teeth.
Countless texts attribute devils with the
power to change their form in hopes of tempting humans. These crafty
shape-shifters could appear as kindly scholars, beautiful women, or even
holy clerics. In the New Testament, Satan takes appealing form to try
to tempt Christ in the desert without realizing that he is dealing with the
son of God. Stravinsky's opera L'HISTOIRE D'UN SOLDAT (A Soldier's
Story) depicts the devil as a seemingly harmless elderly man prowling the
byways for naive travelers. And in the made-for-television movie
INVITATION TO HELL, the lord of the damned is played by voluptuous soap
opera vixen Susan Lucci. In each instance, the devil carefully
conceals his true identity - and appearance - until completing his
diabolical mission.
Devils are featured in innumerable myths,
plays, songs, artwork, ANIMATED CARTOONS, COMIC BOOKS, and feature films.
(o)
Resource List - entry taken verbatim from the
original source:
(o) "The Encyclopedia of Hell."
Miriam Van Scott. St. Martin's Press. ©1998
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