Scalia says atheism 'favors the devil's desires'

[reflection]

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/07/scalia-says-satan-is-a-real-person/?hpt=hp_c4

(CNN) - As the Supreme Court begins its new term Monday, the devil is not on the docket – but the Evil One apparently is on the mind of Justice Antonin Scalia.

New York magazine has published a fascinating new interview with Scalia in which the outspoken jurist tackled a number of topics. But none seemed to surprise Scalia's interviewer, Jennifer Senior, more than his views on Satan.

The interview was conducted on September 26, the 27th anniversary of Scalia's swearing-in as a justice on the high court. He is one of a record six Catholic justices on the Supreme Court.

After Scalia and Senior discussed heaven and hell (he believes in them; she doesn't), the justice said in a stage whisper, "I even believe in the devil."

(more at link)

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This may belong in the Religion forum. If so, feel free to lock. But I think this has merit in the realm of GD as well.

[BeyondGeography]

1. A morality lecture from Mr. Citizens United

How nice.

[reflection]

4. I swear.

He's such an amoral piece of shit. I'm mad at myself for wishing the most horrible things upon him. That's not typically my style. But he's a special case. A smug and hateful bastard he is.

[wildbilln864]

2. Scalia is an idiot! n/t

[Greybnk48]

3. Booga booga!

Trying to scare the people who are just uneducated and superstitious enough to be scared by him. What a manipulative, ignorant a**hole he is.

[Capt. Obvious]

5. He also believes in Smurfs

[reflection]

11. I LOLed at the reference.

I wonder how many other people will get it.

[Capt. Obvious]

12. Thank you

Clarence Thomas is Azriel

[reflection]

14. That makes it twice as funny.

[Volaris]

30. haha..the only thing that comes to mind is the following:

"Know that Men call you liar. Know that Men call you Betrayer. KNOW that Men call you DEFILER!..."
Make of that what you will...

[JHB]

6. Funny, everyone in line for the express elevator down says that.

I guess they think they're in the VIP line, and feel entitled so sneer at the rest of us.

[Fumesucker]

7. Pleased to meet you n/t

[msanthrope]

18. I'm puzzled at the nature of your game. nt

[marmar]

8. The Supreme Court majority: Corporate fascists and theocratic whackadoodles......

...... Tell me we aren't f**ked.

[bullwinkle428]

9. The Devil responds to Scalia (in a very Rude way!)

"Down in the fiery pits, the Devil read with deep delight the comments that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia made regarding the existence of Satan, demon, and Hell itself. Asked what he thought about Scalia declaring that not only does he believe in the Devil, but that "What he’s doing now is getting people not to believe in him or in God. He’s much more successful that way," the Devil himself responded:

"Well, lemme first tell ya that I'm a big, big fan of Justice Scalia. I mean, c'mon, how could ya not love the guy? 'Argle-bargle.' That shit's gold. The man said that capital punishment decisions are 'easy.' He hates sodomy so much that he's made it simple for me to figure out how to punish him after he dies."

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/

[el_bryanto]

10. It's an interesting interview

What's interesting is how much Scalia - who is by any measure one of the most important and powerful people in America still shares the victim mentality of many Tea Party Christians. That said the article also points out how tone deaf many reporters are when talking about religion.

There's a section on the Devil when the interviewer comes across as incredulous that Scalia believes in the devil; which really is a pretty basic belief in much of Christianity. It kind of grates on me in both ways - both the reporter not really knowing anything about something that's a big part of the interviewer and then Scalia's wounded pride at the idea that anybody would question the Devil.

Bryant

[PassingFair]

23. I think its a good sign that the interviewer flat out discounts the "existance" of "Satan".

That kind of delusion needs to be dragged out of the pews and looked at.

It diminishes its influence.

[el_bryanto]

32. I don't think that's the place of an interviewer

An interview ideally is to understand your subject and help others understand that subject. While the idea of a Satan might seem laughable to you, there are plenty of Americans who do believe in it. I think a skilled interviewer might well challenge that believe on some deeper ground than "Wait you believe in that?"

Bryant

[PassingFair]

38. She handled it beautifully as far as I'm concerned.

The same way someone would question one's belief in evil leprechauns.

[el_bryanto]

40. What about a belief in God? Same behavior would be ideal or different? nt

[PassingFair]

46. The concept of "God" has been so DE-defined that you can't really compare the two characters.

But everyone knows what "the devil" really looks like.

[el_bryanto]

47. That's not what I believe the devil to look like.

You should read Jack of Fables issue 16 to get a range of interpretations; but I don't know if what the devil looks like is all that significant. Only that there is a spiritual evil in the world along with the spiritual good that God represents.

Bryant

[PassingFair]

48. Well, perhaps you can show me what "the devil" looks like to you. nt

So you think that Scalia meant "spiritual evil" (whatever THAT is) when he said he believes in "Satan"?

[el_bryanto]

49. The term spiritual evil is confusing to you?

I believe Lucifer to be a spiritual being; I don't think he has a real physical form to be seen?

I don't know what Scalia meant; maybe we would know a bit better if the interviewer had been prepared and knowledgeable to ask some good follow up questions instead of just acting incredulous.

Bryant

[PassingFair]

54. Incredible claims should always be met with incredulous responses.

Unless you believe everything you are told.

[el_bryanto]

55. I don't believe everything I am told, but I do believe in the Devil

I think many Christians do.

Bryant

[PassingFair]

57. You believe in "spiritual evil" whatever that is.

"The Devil"? Doesn't sound like you believe in anything you can describe with a personal pronoun.

Do you believe that people are possessed by "the devil"?

If so, I am glad that I don't have to deal with you IRL.

[el_bryanto]

61. Well you don't have to deal with me here if you don't want to

I generalized what Christians believe earlier into Spiritual Evil. I do believe that he is a being though - an individual. I believe that God is an individual as well.

I don't generally believe in possession or magic.

I don't understand why this particular view is so offensive.

Bryant

[Blue_Tires]

60. You're no fun...

[Auggie]

13. An interview of this nature is not appropriate for a Supreme Court Justice

[apnu]

15. Really Anton, how do you know? You tight with Old Nick? (nt)

[LeftinOH]

16. The devil doesn't exit. Get the f*ck off the bench, cretin!!

[Ganja Ninja]

17. I use to think the Devil was just pure fantasy ...

and then along came Justice Scalia.

[Orsino]

19. You know the Devil is a real person...

...when Scalia tries to take away his rights.

[hunter]

20. That dude you are following, Justice Scalia, the one you say is "God..."

... I think you'd better take a peak under his robes.

Satan is pretty damned clever with costumes.

[ananda]

21. It's the so-called christians I worry about.

The damage they do in the name of "god," "family values,"
and "pro life" is hellish in my view.

[LadyHawkAZ]

22. Dammit, he's onto us!

How many times have I told you guys, check IDs at the Saturday night orgies!

I bet he even knows we have cookies.

[Arugula Latte]

24. I believe in Satan, too, except I use a different spelling: S-c-a-l-i-a

[Marr]

25. Of course he believes in the Devil. He's gone hunting with him. /nt

[Zorra]

26. So we have a deranged psychotic on SCOTUS. Stolen elections have consequences. nt

[joeybee12]

27. Hey Anton-ninny...most of us have evolved past the Dark Ages....

What a worthless asshat.

[VanillaRhapsody]

28. He's probably Opus Dei

[WCLinolVir]

29. Yes, and he is the devils' advocate, and proud of it. DB. Isn't he clever.

[ck4829]

31. I even believe in the devil... well yeah, you did go duck hunting with him

[Rex]

33. Well then remember to shake his hand when you meet him, Scarface.

No doubt you will be going down...not up.

[longship]

34. Atheists favor that Scalia get stuffed. nt

[Tikki]

35. I know nothing of a devil..

But I have seen real men do really bad things in the name of justice.


Tikki

[The Second Stone]

36. He's a hunting buddy of Dick Cheney

Of course he believes in the Devil, he knows him very well.

[Puzzledtraveller]

37. Just like Foos-ball

and Roy Orbison.

[napkinz]

39. speaking of the devil ---->

[reflection]

42. Who was the DUer

that used to do wonderful photoshops like this all the time? Swamp Rat? Haven't seen him in awhile.

[Demo_Chris]

41. Atheist here. Fuck Scalia. nt

[MindPilot]

43. This makes me think that there SHOULD be a religious test for holding office.

If you are too dumb to be able to separate fantasy from reality, i.e. religious, you are not qualified to hold elected office.

[NuclearDem]

44. Damn it, just leave us alone.

All we ever want to do is enjoy a nice tasty baby burger whilst plotting the overthrow of moral society in favor of an alcohol and drug induced eternal no holds barred fuckspree following the assassination of God and some asshole like Scalia has to go mouthing off.

[Jim Warren]

45. Not much difference then

than a jurist from the inquisition.

[Warren DeMontague]

50. Hey Tony!

[Zambero]

51. Scalia is certainly no atheist

He worships at the altar of $$$$$$$$$

[Manifestor_of_Light]

52. But but but but.....he belongs to the One True Church(TM).

It's the One True Church(TM) because they say so.

Argument from authority.

What's the deal about smurfs??

[justiceischeap]

53. He should retire and become a priest, otherwise his views

on atheism and the devil are (should be) moot points from a Supreme Court justice.

[MNBrewer]

56. Fuck Scalia

[Initech]

58. "The Devil's Desires" would make a great name for a heavy metal band!

[RainDog]

59. speaking metaphorically...

Satan must have been pretty simple, even according to the New Testament, or he wouldn't have led Christ up on a high mountain and offered him the world if he would fall down and worship him. That was a manifestly absurd proposition, because Christ, as the Son of God, already owned the world; and besides, what Satan showed him was only a few rocky acres of Palestine. It is just as if some one should try to buy Rockefeller, the owner of all the Standard Oil Company, with a gallon of kerosene.
- Mark Twain, a Biography

[MisterP]

62. Scalia sure knows what turns the Devil on, doesn't he?

[Vashta Nerada]

63. I can't even take adults seriously when they tell me they believe in the devil.

It's a childish belief that's no different than believing in the Tooth Fairy or leprechauns.

[Jamaal510]

64. RW pseudo-Christians like him are closer to

favoring the devil's desires than most atheists out there. And I say this as a life-long Christian.

[PassingFair]

66. How generous of you.

[Jamaal510]

67. WTF

[davidpdx]

65. May he drop dead in the most painful way possible

He's a disgusting son of a bitch.