What's Wrong with this Thinking?

Be careful who you trust, the devil was once an angel. Yet no one tells the other side of the story. Everyone disregaurds the opposing side and points to the "bad". This is "bad" that is "good".

I know people will gasp in horror, point at me and say "heretic", turn away to anything I have to say ever, think I'm trying to feed them lies or think I'm trying to "convert" them or whatever. Some may want to burn me at the stake...but let me replay a conversation I had about "the devil" with an actual "devil" worshiper (as you would label him). Let's call him George.

Lucifer, the devil, Satan or whatever label, is God's counterpoint according to George. He says, "Does anyone know why Lucifer and God went to 'war' (as it's put)? Or do you just assume Lucifer wanted power, wanted to rule or this or that?

What if I told you Lucifer and God went to 'war' over humans? The discrepancy was a difference of opinion on what punishment to give humans for disobeying God."

The conversation went something close to this:

Lucifer: Why do they have to suffer? Why can't they be like us?
God: They have free will, I gave them the power of choice. They must now pay for that choice.
Lucifer: Choice? You practically dangled the fruit in front of them! They're human, of course they're going to search where they're forbidden, they're curious creatures. You set them up for failure. You wanted them to fall. You wanted them out...
God: Silence! They will pay for their insolence.
Lucifer: Where will they go? Who will look out for them? They are fragile but the most fascinating creatures--why would you do this? We need to take care of them.
God: You're right. You should go.
Lucifer: Fine! I will!
God: Fine! Go ahead!
<Door Slam>

There is no evil. There is no good. Light and dark don't fight with each other. They are two sides of the same coin. Fear, ignorance, insecurity create a mentality that the world is against you and you must protect yourself. It is much more difficult to stand in the face of this argument and see that trust in yourself is the only trust you have to offer. You have no control over what others say, do, or think. Even if your fate is planned, as some believe, you still have the power to control your reaction.

For the insecure this terrifies them. To bank these emotions they claim invalid, they must place blame, cast out that part of them that might be seen as abnormal. And if your neighbors see you as abnormal and think "bad" of you, they may think your end is how they will quell the fear inside their own minds. The danger is real, fear is a choice. Do not go blindly into the path of light or dark. "Good" and "bad" are but judgements upon what people believe. Your road is not mine. I can not live your road. I would be considered "bad" because I too would ask God for the whole story. I would ask for it to be shown to me the way it played out.

If it played out the way it was exposed to me, I might ask: If you wanted humans to succeed, you would not put temptation in their path. If the goal was to let them learn by way of experience, why the deception of telling them not to "do" a thing knowing they would be tempted? And if we have free choice, why not let us decide if we want to go down that path and when?

I expect my questions would cast me out for my want of answers. Much like "the devil" and that's okay. Some might be saying, but it's hard to control my reaction. Yes, yes it is. Life wouldn't be a continual lesson if things were easy. Lessons--the reason we left Eden--if you believe in such things.

Now if you tell me I worship the devil, I'd have to tell you too bad I don't believe in an all red guy with horns and goat legs. I don't believe in the notion of "good" vs. "evil".

The conversation with George was very interesting. He's not an "evil" person. I'd call him a "humanist" because he's doing everything he can to help save lives--because actually--he's a doctor. He subscribes to the idea that maybe the route the "devil" tries to take us is actually tests of will but also the "devil" searches for the "easy" way -- the less complicated, the less painful. George asks himself everyday, why do my patients have to suffer? Why must they lose every shred of dignity before they finally go into eternal sleep?

I'm pretty sure that would be his one question, if we're granted such knowledge. I believe we are all trying to dance to our own song. Some songs don't mesh well with others and that's okay. I think in the end, when I die--if there is a consciousness, when it comes time to decide which path, I'll be looking for the souls of past pets to guide me. I'm pretty sure several of them will be talking me up where they are and I'd rather go with them.

---