Hi All, new member here but long time podcast listener. Also, I did see the forum rules post regarding using the advanced search but I could not find a way to make it work on mobile – so my apologies if this thread already exists.
I am curious about the evolution of the Christian antagonist character. For example, from what I’ve researched online, Lucifer (light bringer) predates Christianity by a lot and is part of a pair of deities, the other being called Noxifer (night bringer), and both represent the planet Venus since it can be seen on the horizon in the mornings and evenings, and thus represents cycles of rebirth, etc. How did this well-respected and prevalent deity become the Christian antagonist? There are plenty of other more devious deities to choose from. Maybe Lucifer (and/or Noxifer) could use a fresh look!
As a practicing Pagan who has a deep interest in Christianity and Christo-pagan spirituality, I want to learn more about how Christianity changed how existing deities were viewed. Many modern Pagans connect to a range of deities (and some believe they are supernatural beings, some believe they are egregores, some believe they are energy, etc). I’m not asking the question to create a reconstructionist approach to ancient religion, just to learn more about how Lucifer was seen socially, religiously, and how that changed over time. NOTE: This has nothing to do with Satan-worship! Pagans generally venerate nature and natural forces that pre-date Christianity.
Thanks all!
Christopher welcome.
I think you would enjoy scholar Archie T Wright’s books.
** you do not have permission to see this link **
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And here’s another good one:
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The biography of the Evil One is long and storied.
Christopher.spurling said
I’m not asking the question to create a reconstructionist approach to ancient religion, just to learn more about how Lucifer was seen socially, religiously, and how that changed over time. NOTE: This has nothing to do with Satan-worship! Pagans generally venerate nature and natural forces that pre-date Christianity.
Thanks all!
I am curious about the evolution of the Christian antagonist character.
This is very interesting story: roman-catholics are trying to convince us he was once protagonist. I accidentally learned about that period trying to figure out arianism, and whether or not Arius was condemned rightly. In my own blog I deal with that question:
But you don’t have to follow me, 1 quick search, and voilà:
Saint Lucifer (Bishop of Cagliari, Sardinia) was originally a devoted champion of Athanasius, the Bishop of Alexandria. Lucifer bravely represented Pope Liberius at the Council of Milan (355), where he vehemently defended Athanasius against pro-Arian bishops and Emperor Constantius II, leading to his own exile. [** you do not have permission to see this link **]
Another research would bring us to Andrew of caesarea who claimed analyzing the book of revelation that is perfectly okay to use the same term LUCIFER for JESUS AND SAINTS, AND ALSO FOR THE DEVIL
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- For Jesus: In Revelation 22:16, Jesus explicitly proclaims, “I am the bright morning star.” In both Greek (Phosphoros) and Latin (Lucifer), this signifies that Christ is the ultimate bringer of spiritual light who shatters the darkness of sin and signals the dawn of eternal life. [** you do not have permission to see this link **]
- For the Saints: In Revelation 2:28, Jesus promises the faithful overcomers that he will give them “the morning star.” Analysts like Andrew noted that saints share this title because they reflect Christ’s light, shining like stars in the dark world through their holiness. [** you do not have permission to see this link **]
- For the Devil: The association comes from Isaiah 14:12 (“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star…”). Exegetes applied this to Satan to describe his original, pre-fall status. He was created as a magnificent, glorious light-bearing angel before his pride caused him to fall into darkness. [** you do not have permission to see this link **]
- The translation shift in the Latin Vulgate Bible, where lucifer is used in both the Old and New Testaments.
- Other apocalyptic symbols in ** you do not have permission to see this link **.
- How the King James Version later isolated the word “Lucifer” exclusively for Satan. [** you do not have permission to see this link **]
I am personally, in accordance with Antiochian school of theology VS Alexandrian, rejecting The Book of Revelation, and I am using these informations against it; but if you needed an alibi for luciferians, let it be, LOL.
BDEhrman
FreedomBen
evgendob
Robert
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