Is the “Devil you know” truly better than “the Devil you don’t know?”

15 Comments

  3. You would never know the unknown Devil until it strikes, Chirs.
    The core of the question is do you prefer the Devil you already know to betray you or would you prefer to be betrayed by an unknown Devil?

  4. I’d say the known Devil is better than the unknown. Since we have the ability to adapt, we can adjust to combat the known entity.
    The unknown is always more frightening than the known.
    Here’s an unknown Devil: August 22.

    What is the significance of Aug. 22?
    This year, Aug. 22 corresponds, in the Islamic calendar, to the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year 1427. This, by tradition, is the night when many Muslims commemorate the night flight of the prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, first to “the farthest mosque,” usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and back (c.f., Koran XVII.1).
    This might well be deemed an appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world.
    It is far from certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possibility in mind.

    Will it be the end of the world, or just my brother’s birthday?

  5. Hi Chris! I saw that awful reportage of Aug. 22 as the Islamic “end of the world” doomsday date for the Middle East.
    A friend of mine is a good and loyal Mormon. He told me has no interest in other religions other than Mormonism. When I asked him about Islam and the other world religions and their effect on the entire world and in getting to know their agendas he told me he was not interested in them “because they have no influence” in his life.
    When I asked him about the Devil you know is better than the Devil you don’t know and learning how all Devils think and move, he told me he “had no interest in Devils” and I was surprised by that response.

  6. Hi David,
    That’s a very interesting response. It shows that Mormanism is different than Christianity in respect to the Devil.
    Actually, the Devil in the Old Testament is sometimes a prosecutorial figure who brings charges against people, see the Book of Job. At other times, he’s the one with all of the goodies that lead to destruction, i.e. the Devil tempted Adam and Eve and also tried to tempt Christ.
    Could the Devil just be anything that causes us to struggle?

  7. Hey Chris!
    Mormonism is a curious religion. There are several heavy historical marks against the humanity of that religion, but the common Mormon refuses to speak about those indiscretions. It’s fascinating. They will refer you to the LDS website to get an answer. They officially “have no opinion” on the matter.
    I find that kind of shielding from the world disappointing and surprising. If we are to understand each other, we need to see the world from perspectives that are not our own. We need to see the world through the eyes of our enemies if we ever hope to heal any discrepancies on the merits of living we share, and hold, against each other.
    The Devil, I wager, is an invention of the Good to bring together semi-believers over to the side of the Good and that fear-mongering works really well as evidenced over the last 2,000 years of human history.

  8. It’s too bad that religion has often marketed itself on the “scare ’em” model, instead of the “love” model that is more in line with what Christ taught.
    But, if we didn’t have the Devil, we’d probably be worse than we are.

  9. Chris —
    I agree with your analysis of modern religion. Love is always the best and most profitable path.
    The Devil is an interest concept — but it is too often used to condemn innocent people.

  11. That’s very interesting, Dave, I guess the point I’m going for today is more on the personal aspect of Devils. In your personal life — in the smaller magnification of dealing with Evil — how do you respond to the choice?

  12. In dealing with a Devil, it’s better to resist the temptation and ignore its offerings, whether it be Georges or some other attractive or not so attractive lure.
    We have that power and it’s often a good plan to exercise the choice to not engage.

  14. I’ll take the devil I don’t know for 500.00 Dave!
    The devil you know is predictable and more liable to try to “fork” you more often. We tend to know the “devil we know” is there but tend to to turn a blind eye. Keep the devil out in front of you where it can be managed.
    The devil you don’t know strikes less frequently and generally attacks only when our guard is down. This is usually an amplified “devil we know” that we did not engage.
    I don’t agree with Chris, in which we should “excersise the choice to not engage.” When we choose not to engage the devil we know, we open the door to for the “devil we don’t know” to enter, and that has a tendency to be more catostrophic.
    Stay engaged at all times. Keep the “devil you know”
    in front of you where you can manage it/him/her and keeps the “devil you don’t know” from rearing it’s ugly little face.

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