Death.

Death is the basis of black magic and Satanism.

It is the "death to God" referred to by St. Paul.

St Paul said, "the wages of sin is death."  Romans 6:23 (NRSV)

And, "the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil."  Hebrews 2:14 (NRSV)

So the devil tempts us to sin and then imposes death upon us.

This is Paul's thesis.

And those who have sold their souls to the devil do the devil's work.

That is: temptation and damnation.

This is what modern rock bands and others do: tempt us to sin and then damn us to hell.

But the basis of it is the power of death.

However, there is no devil in reality and no death.

This is a theory invented to explain our experience.

So all their attempts to get us into hell are in vain.

But that is not to say that it does nothing.

Their curses and sabotage still affect us.

It causes suffering, depression, and suicide.

We drink their poison and blame ourselves.

But God will forgive us.

And grant us eternal life.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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