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The following is an excerpt from the chapter:
Anthropomorphism found its way back into Christianity through artistic
depiction of God as a Zeus-like character. Using as much reverse logic
as artistic license it follows that, if God created man in His image,
man must look like God. But it is in the need to demonize all
adversaries and dissenting people or groups that the Christian’s true
nature can be questioned. Picking up on the Jewish concept of Satan as
any obstacle or obstruction, a character gradually emerged creating
duality in what is considered a monotheistic belief. The idea of a
battle between the forces of good and evil being waged on the Earth by
agents of God and Satan is uniquely Christian and has been popularized
in English literature and film to the extent that many regard it as
fundamental to the religion. The devil is portrayed as a dark character,
often bearing resemblance to a goat, whose supporters exhibit one or
more of the seven deadly sins and adopt animal characteristics - more in
keeping with Paganism than the teachings of Jesus Christ. |