Can the devil read our mind?greenspun.com : LUSENET : Catholic : One Thread |
Can the devil read our mind?TQ,
-- james (james_how1@YAHOO.com), September 01, 2004
The only one who has completely free access to our minds and who always knows exactly what we are thinking is God. Devils as well as angels and saints do have the ability to communicate mentally. For example, if we say a mental prayer to a particular saint or to our guardian angel, they can "hear" us. Also, that is probably how they communicate with one another, and how God communicates with them. However, they can "read our minds" only to the extent that we open our minds to them. Offering up such a mental prayer is one way of opening our minds to them. Dwelling on evil is a way of opening our minds to the devil and inviting his influence on our thoughts. But our ordinary daily thoughts are not accessible by anyone but God.
-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), September 01, 2004.
No but he can sit in the background and see what you do and what you are into.The devil knows your weakness by watching. For instance if you watch x rated garbage on your computer or tv, then don't think he won't know how to tempt you.
The best way to keep the devil away is by Confession and receiving the Holy Eucharist. A good Confession is like a exorcism.
-- - (David@excite.com), September 01, 2004.
I'm thinking that since only God is all-knowing and all-powerful, the devil cannot tempt more than one person at one time. The devil is powerful and may influence his poison in many ways through his lies and temptations, but he is also greatly limited in his power. He is not even close to our Lord's all-encompassing love and grace.
-- brian (brian@brian.com), September 02, 2004.
Very true Brian, but he also has many helpers( minions) to work his evil and tempt us all over the world."8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (I Pet. 5).
-- - (David@excite.com), September 03, 2004.
It is true that only God is all-knowing and all-powerful. However, the devil, like God and the angels and saints, exists in a realm where there is no time. He is outside of time. Therefore he can tempt many people in a way that appears from our temporal perspective to be "at the same time", but actually has no relationship to time from his perspective.This is similar to the question "how can Mary hear and comprehend all the millions of prayers that are spoken to her throughout the world 'all at the same time'"? Again, such prayers are offered "all at the same time" from our perspective, but she doesn't hear them "all at the same time" - nor does she hear some of them before or after others - she simply hears them, irrelevant of any temporal concepts like "before", "after" or "at the same time".
-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), September 04, 2004.
Paul M is quite right, don't assume that the supernatural is bound by the same laws that the natural world is...further, NEVER underestimate the power of satan. while he is fighting a battle he can't win, he is also the embodiment of evil and can do much to those who simply dismiss evil as a non-force in the world.
-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), September 04, 2004.
Where in scripture does it say that the Devil cannot read your mind? This topic came up in my Sunday School class last week and everybody there said they thought the Devil could read minds. Can he or can't he? What is the proof scripture?
-- David Holshouser (dpaul@swetland.net), October 19, 2004.
David, there is not a “proof scripture” for everything that is true. That wacky idea was invented in the 16th century, and even most protestants don’t seriously believe it. Nor is the truth or falsehood of a belief decided by a vote of your Sunday School classmates. The Church was given the truth by Jesus Christ during His earthly life and by the Holy Spirit. Much later, the Church wrote the New Testament and compiled the Bible as an expression of the faith it had already had for centuries. But the Bible doesn’t contain all truth, and nowhere in the Bible itself does this claim occur. Keep looking on this site and I pray that you come to the fullness of the Christian faith.
-- Steve (55555@aol.com), October 19, 2004.
Well that's a good question David. Let's see: In John we are told that Satan "entered" Judas at the Last Supper. Now inasmuch as Satan is a spirit and thus can't "enter" the body per se, (with no body himself, he has no extension, no "space" or location), he could only have entered Judas' will and mind which are spiritual (non- corporeal).In Acts of the Apostles (please everyone, go read them!), we see what Peter tells Ananias (Ch 5) "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land. While it remained unsold was it not stil lunder your control?"
This passage clearly shows that Peter believes that Satan can fill a man's "heart" - the passage also absolutely NUKES the idea bandied about that the early Christians were communists! They still had private property! But the key was, if they offered to sell it all to give to the poor, then they were held to their word!
So there you go, two lessons from the scripture for the price of one.
Peace
PS bonus answer... when Catholics are confirmed we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now the Church believes that the Spirit brings 7 gifts to our souls - called "the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit".
Now these gifts are "faculties" or powers for the soul to do various works. When you stand up you show that you have the faculty of motor skills - even when you're not standing you still retain the faculty to stand. Just so with the gifts of the spirit - not using them doesn't mean they don't exist.
Thus Confirmed Catholics are given the gift of knowledge, wisdom and counsel. Knowledge of God's revelation, wisdom in how to apply it in their own lives and counsel in how to help others see the truth!
These are faculties... just like standing, it requires effort, practice, and exercise. You get better at it by doing it. The more you listen to the Word (at Mass) and read it and what other great Christians have said about it (like the Popes, saints, Church fathers) the better you will know it and thus understand it for your own good and others' good.
Peace of Christ be with you.
-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), October 20, 2004.
Though I agree with Steve there's no guarantee of proof text for all truths, the scriptures still offer us understanding through seemingly ordinary statements if we read and place them in proper context.The devil tempted Jesus as man, for instance. Right off he said, ''If you are the son of God,'' and the passage tells us the devil was suspicious of Christ's real identity, yet had to discover what the truth was. In fact it was through the temptation he expected to know. He couldn't find anything out ''reading'' the mind of Our Lord.
In our own situation, he will not know either, exactly how we feel; except if we declare something by our conduct. He watches the sinner and tempts him/her in much the same ways he did Christ in the gospel. Until we give in the devil can only judge by our actions. He doesn't have other ways of looking into a human soul. He can't even know the thoughts of a possessed soul. That soul is merely captive by circumstance. Possessed individuals are not necessarily at fault because of it.
We shouldn't give to the devil any extraordinary attribute or brilliance, we just acknowledge his personification of evil. Temptation to sin is absolutely the only arms he can use against faithful Christians. When Jesus warned of the ''one who has power to cast you into hell,'' he meant the Just Judge; God. Satan can't cast us into hell. He can cause us to sin, that's all.
-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), October 20, 2004.
Agreed, Eugene. But Satan can’t “cause” us to sin. He can only TEMPT us to sin. My own decision to sin is alone what causes me to sin. Sorry to be picky, I only mention it because many others try to shrug off their responsibility for their sin by saying "the devil MADE me do it".
-- Steve (55555@aol.com), October 20, 2004.
"... all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give to every one of you according to your works." (Revelation 2:23)God here identifies Himself as "the one" who can look inside a person, and see their emotions, feelings, private thoughts.
"... who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? And so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 2:11)
-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), October 20, 2004.
In a word, Steve: Yes.The subject was whether we have to worry; Christians in this life. About the devil having a way of reading our minds. The devil would love to CAUSE something, anything. We are always open to a temptation; but he can't read our minds or actively cause damnation for sinners. Sinners are all created with free will. Yet, because of Adam's sin we live this life unsensible of the devil's temptations. And he knows it.
-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), October 21, 2004.