Thanks to both of you for the provoking article as well as the insightful comment. 

I think Austin hints us in the right direction when he points to the role of the holy spirit as a counter-balance to Satan. God allows us to be free and burdens us with the gift of freedom. Satan doesn't have power over us untill we allow it, while God is almighty but is certainly not the type of deity that intervenes when we make mistakes. Satan actually represents us humans if and when we try to be like God. Satan, the devil, and whatever name we have for the dark powers seems to me like a a real force, perhaps even a real spectre, but is certainly not a deity -- even though it would seem to many Non-Christians due to the laissez-faire way some of us Christians use Satan as an excuse for their lack of self-discipline and insight into Jesus' teachings.