Could You Really Make a Deal with the Devil?

[Maria]

I mostly just want answers to my deepest longings and questions. So many spiritual doubts and questions plague my mind every day, and oftentimes my Priest takes forever to answer them or I have trouble accepting his answers. For starters, I still don't get why there is so much evil in the world and why we have to suffer, why the Church has done so much evil in its past if it's supposed to be the pillar and ground of the truth and why God won't talk to me and how I'm supposed to know if Orthodoxy is the true religion or not. I mean, I feel like it's a somewhat noble desire. I don't really care for wealth or power or money. Everyone here seems to be advising me against the thought of even considering getting involved with the Devil, but why not? If God isn't answering me then who else do I have? I feel like I'm at the point where nothing short of a miraculous Divine experience of seeing or hearing God myself and receiving answers could save me. But I don't get anything. I just want the Devil to answer the questions for me that God doesn't seem to be answering. I don't know what I could give him, but I'd give anything for answers.

I mostly just want answers to my deepest longings and questions.

Have you ever read the Confessions of St. Augustine? St. Augustine wrote that our souls will not be at peace until they rest in Christ as Christ is the source of our life and light. He alone will satisfy our deepest longings and answer all our questions.

You must realize that once you have seriously entertained the thought of embracing the devil, you are already in serious danger. Please contact your priest and follow his advice.

Repeat: do not have anything to do with the devil. Even reading about him in fictional works can be deadly for your soul.

[StephenS]

I mostly just want answers to my deepest longings and questions. So many spiritual doubts and questions plague my mind every day, and oftentimes my Priest takes forever to answer them or I have trouble accepting his answers. For starters, I still don't get why there is so much evil in the world and why we have to suffer, why the Church has done so much evil in its past if it's supposed to be the pillar and ground of the truth and why God won't talk to me and how I'm supposed to know if Orthodoxy is the true religion or not. I mean, I feel like it's a somewhat noble desire. I don't really care for wealth or power or money. Everyone here seems to be advising me against the thought of even considering getting involved with the Devil, but why not? If God isn't answering me then who else do I have? I feel like I'm at the point where nothing short of a miraculous Divine experience of seeing or hearing God myself and receiving answers could save me. But I don't get anything. I just want the Devil to answer the questions for me that God doesn't seem to be answering. I don't know what I could give him, but I'd give anything for answers.

With very reason the Devil is known as a deceiver, a liar and who seeks the destruction of men. So why, knowing this would you want to ask such an entity anything? To be deceived or told lies? Such seems folly in the extreme.

A priest I knew well was asked to exorcise a family home much troubled by strange and inexplicable phenomena. He was sceptical at first, thinking the family a little over imaginative and having scared themselves reading books With an occult theme. But at length and with his bishop's blessing this Orthodox priest carried out an exorcism. It left him exhausted and he went home to rest in bed. Quickly despite it being daytime the room darkened and he became cold and found breathing increasingly difficult. He he tried to pray but could not even form words, his breathing now became exceeding difficult and a great weight pressed down upon him. So he began to think the Lord's Prayer. And little by little he was by God's grace released from the vengeful demon's embrace.

Do you James really feel that turning to the Prince of Liars would gain you anything, you could trust nothing you learnt and in playing with fire pay a price beyond imagination. People scorn even the notion of there being demons or the Devil, but he is real and seeks only our destruction. If God seems not to be answering perhaps you are not ready for the answers. Follow the good advice already given and seek the advice and help of a priest and hold to that advice.

Best wishes

[Hieromonk Enoch]

Often times, if people are entertained of serious doubts, and someone was trying contact or make deals with the Devil, they wont see any result. After all, if someone has the Christian teaching in their mind, but, they were unsure of it, why would the Devil necessarily appear, and thus confirm the person in calling upon God? If the Devil and demons were constantly and visibly manifesting themselves all the time, it would be of no use to the demons, as it would convince many to their reality, and thus, many would then realize the truth of Christ. There is the old saying, "The Devil's greatest triumph is to convince men he doesn't exist."

There is no reason to try and contact the Devil or demons, as it will result in nothing good.

Christ, hearken and have mercy upon Thy servants!

In Christ,

Fr. Enoch

[jgress]

I mostly just want answers to my deepest longings and questions. So many spiritual doubts and questions plague my mind every day, and oftentimes my Priest takes forever to answer them or I have trouble accepting his answers. For starters, I still don't get why there is so much evil in the world and why we have to suffer, why the Church has done so much evil in its past if it's supposed to be the pillar and ground of the truth and why God won't talk to me and how I'm supposed to know if Orthodoxy is the true religion or not. I mean, I feel like it's a somewhat noble desire. I don't really care for wealth or power or money. Everyone here seems to be advising me against the thought of even considering getting involved with the Devil, but why not? If God isn't answering me then who else do I have? I feel like I'm at the point where nothing short of a miraculous Divine experience of seeing or hearing God myself and receiving answers could save me. But I don't get anything. I just want the Devil to answer the questions for me that God doesn't seem to be answering. I don't know what I could give him, but I'd give anything for answers.

It's good you want to know the Truth. I agree with V Moss that being saved is basically about love for the Truth, which has two aspects: seeking the truth about God, i.e. the (True) Orthodox faith, and acknowledging the truth about yourself, i.e. confessing and repenting of your sins.

You are always going to have doubts, however. Even after you commit yourself to the Church, you are going to have questions and uncertainties. The thing is not to let your questions and uncertainties lead you away from the faith. You have to trust that the Church is right, even if you don't understand everything yet.

Faith is a gift from God, a gift that He gives to those who earnestly seek Him, i.e. those who love the Truth, as I pointed out before. So it's actually something you receive, and act on, BEFORE you know all the answers, and indeed you will never know all the answers, at least not in this life.

Evil in the world is caused by sin. You can't blame God for it. You can't even blame Him for allowing it, since why should He not allow it, if He didn't cause it in the first place? Sin is our responsibility alone. If you want to prevent evil in the world, stop sinning.

The Church is the Body of Christ, and is blameless. You are still thinking of the "Church" as merely an organization or human institution, but that is not what the Church truly is. The Church is an organism. Think of how we are not defined by certain of our physiological structures, such as our skeletal or cardio-vascular systems, but by our complete person, body and soul. Thus, whatever evils you see committed by Christians can't be blamed on the Church.

If you do deals with the Devil, you will end up his servant in Hell. Do you want to go to Hell? I didn't think so.

[joasia]

Christ is Risen!

James,

Read the New Testament every day. Aside from the daily Scriptures, start from the Gospel of Matthew and read through to the Epistle of Jude. And then go back and start from Matthew again. Let it sink into your heart. These are real live events. Even Jesus Christ faced that evil one. (Matt. 4:1-11)

Orthodoxy isn't an idea that appeals to some and not to others. It is a living faith that continued on from the time of the Apostles and is carefully preserved to this day. Read the lives of saints and their writings. Then you will get a deeper understanding of what Orthodoxy is.

Don't expect divine experiences. But, God does work through divine intervention. Looks to me like you got your prayers answered from the posts above.

[soldier]

I still don't get why there is so much evil in the world and why we have to suffer.

The Bible explains these things. Have you ever read it?

Modern philosophers are agreed that the existence of evil does not present any problems for Christianity. In fact, the existence of evil is evidence for God, not against him. You would have to prove that God does not have any morally sufficient reasons to allow evil to exist. This world is not the best world. It is the best of all possible worlds contaminated with sin.

[soldier]

William Lane Craig discusses the problem of evil in several of his debates on Youtube.

Here's one video:

Also, On Youtube, Norman Geisler addresses this issue.

I know these men are not Orthodox, but they are good philosophers.