We frequently hear it said that the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century achieved so much in the direction of enlightenment, in the casting off of superstitions which had gathered around the Christian church, in the elevation of the masses, in the betterment of mankind. Yet Martin Luther, its founder and chief agitator, is shown to have been most intolerant towards those who would not subscribed to every view he held, every doctrine he propagated. Be this, however, as it may, is it true that he and his associates, or even his successors, wholly freed the church from beliefs lowering in character, derogatory to true religion, offensive to a belief in the Omnipotence and Almightiness of God? We can present no more striking illustration to the contrary than the fear of the Devil, who is represented as a superhuman being who influences mankind for evil; who has equal power, and is constantly warring, with God. And yet, we find that in Luther’s age this belief was prevalent to such an extent that the Faust legend arose, about which we are given the following information:
“The Faust legend itself is remarkable, not only on its own account, but also as being the latest important specimen of a myth arising and gaining general credence in distinctly historical, although unscientific, times. The age itself, comprising the period of the reformation (1517-1555) during which Faust lived, was one in which belief in the reality of the Devil and his emissaries as actual persons manifesting themselves in bodily shape, prevailed in what seems to us now a quite incredible manner.”
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Author: The Jewish Exponent
Keywords: Faust, Faustian, Faust Legend, Satan, Jewish satan, Devil, Jewish devil, Myth, Demons, Lucifer, Baalzebub, Martin Luther, Luther, Yetzer hara, Yetzer ha ra, Yetser hara, Yetser ha ra, Evil inclination, Evil One, Rebel angel, Rebellious angel, Fallen angel
Bible reference(s): 1 Chronicles 21:1, Job 1:6, Job 1:7, Job 1:8, Job 1:9, Job 1:12, Job 2:1, Job 2:2, Job 2:3, Job 2:4, Job 2:6, Job 2:7, Zechariah 3:1, Zechariah 3:2, Matthew 4:1, Matthew 4:5, Matthew 4:8, Matthew 4:10, Matthew 4:11, Matthew 12:26, Matthew 13:39, Matthew 16:23, Matthew 25:41, Mark 1:13, Mark 3:23, Mark 3:26, Mark 4:15, Mark 8:33, Luke 4:2, Luke 4:3, Luke 4:5, Luke 4:13, Luke 8:12, Luke 10:18, Luke 11:18, Luke 13:16, Luke 22:3, Luke 22:31, John 8:44, John 13:2, John 13:27, Acts 5:3, Acts 10:38, Acts 13:10, Acts 26:18, Romans 16:20, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Ephesians 4:27, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Thessalonians 2:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 1 Timothy 1:20, 1 Timothy 3:6, 1 Timothy 3:7, 1 Timothy 5:15, 2 Timothy 2:26, Hebrews 2:14, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8, 1 John 3:8, 1 John 3:10, Revelation 2:9, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:13, Revelation 2:24, Revelation 3:9, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 12:12, Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:7, Revelation 20:10
Source: Editorial #5, The Jewish Exponent, Dec. 23, 1887, pg. 7.
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