Hi David Henson

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Jonathan Brink
Provoketive Magazine

You posted the following comment:
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I don't think this is an issue only for the U.S., particularly as the majority of Christians are no longer Americans or even Anglos. And Pentecostalism is the fastest-growing segment of Christianity worldwide and this belief in a dualistic Satan is quite popular.

Further, I would say that *any* Christian would not admit they believe in two deities. What I am arguing is that Christianity, based on how it has theologically created the figure of Satan, implicitly does. Christianity does express Satan as a fallen angel, based on one enigmatic, if not problematic text, if I'm not mistaken. What I am saying that Christian belief in a literal Satan functions and imbues Satan with qualities that in any objective observer would say resembles a god and would argue against Christian claims to monotheism. 

Any Christian belief in a literal Satan in which Satan is an eternal, supernatural being  who tries to woo humanity to its side, just as God does, is fundamentally at odds with claims to monotheism. Because a supernatural, eternal being seem to be qualities one would reserve for a god, particularly one that is evil and at odds with the good God. 

Further, the popularity and historic use of Satan reveals there is more to this figure than meets the eye. Elaine Pagels' book Origins of Satan is particularly engaging on this subject.

Now we can use Lucifer and the tale of Satan falling from heaven as a metaphorical myth for human hubris. I'm fine with that. The problem is when we transpose the meaning of that tale for a literal reality.