[bartholomew]

A parable is also a metaphor but we don't seem to mind Jesus using this method to impart a truth. "Satan" is no more than the personification of the separation which exists in the lower planes of creation, especially the physical, ethereal and lower astral. At the low end of the spectrum of separation is the Darkness personified by Satan. At the higher end is the Light personified by God. We humans understand concepts like this one when the metaphor of a person is devised. So.... Satan now becomes an Angel who fell from grace. We can understand this because we can draw parallels to our own lives. It is the same with our insistence on calling the great creative force the "Father" or Jesus as the "Son of God". All these titles are conveniences which satisfy our need for familiarity. Behind all the stories are great truths but shall we use obscure esoteric terms when speaking to the everyman? No. What does it matter?

When Jesus went into the desert just before he began his open ministry he is said to have been tempted by Satan. This, too, is a metaphor. What really happened was that Jesus fought with his lower, separated human nature. He was fearful. Should he abandon his mission or not? in the end he accepted his fate. When he came forth he was still Jesus the man but now he was also the ordained representative of the Christ on Earth. Jesus was now the annointed one. But is this event easier for ordinary people to understand when it is simplified into "Jesus was tempted by Satan"? Yes. This is the reason stories are so often used to impart truths.

Originally Posted by 1337_d00d

I was thinking of how it is that Satan was walking among the angels and stood before God yet "no man can see God and live". Was he truly cast out when Christ was crucified or are those simply images of how certain thoughts will stand before consciousness and are ultimately disposed of as the individual transforms, transcends, or whatever word you wanna use.