The Meaning of The Devil (Diablo)

The English word “devil” derives from the Greek diábolos (“the one who divides”). Diabolic is the term in contemporary English. The Greek verb dia-bollein literally means to tear apart. The antonym to the diabolic is the “symbolic”, which comes from sym-bollein (to put together or unite). American existentialist psychologist Rollo May writes:

“The symbolic is that which draws together, ties, integrates the individual in himself and with his group; the diabolic, in contrast, is that which disintegrates and tears apart.”

When a community forms, it can be a source of brotherly love, to “love thy neighbour as thyself”. The Devil, on the other hand, scatters and produces discord. The scattering is a sign of the darker power, whether it be the division of communities, families, or culture. Hence, “divide and conquer”,

[Eternalised]

The symbolic is the antidote to the diabolic.

[AnthonySmith-grpf]

Because god forbid someone should think for themselves, ask questions and challenge authority....

[GPDusty]

Its fascinating how analogies in the bible start to make sense when you toss out the literal concepts and replace them with the concepts of the human mind/essence/ego. That 'devil' they speak of inhabits every single human entity as so does the 'god' being our pure spirits. But most people have completely lost themselves to the devil. I would not be surprised if the whole story of christ is simply figurative and he never even died in a historical event.

And i just had this epiphany yesterday, but this video confirmed it for me. Bible was seriously mistranslated from Greek. But they still managed to convey so much, knowing its gonna get lost in translation n evolution of tongues.

[TWIZZTHEWHIZKID]

The Adversary... he has 1, 000 different names.

[AmandaZ-ftow]

With Gratitude! ! !❤⚜️❤
Blessed Be! ! !❤🙏❤

[stalinium]

But not always. The community often forms around collective violent against a scapegoat (we feel united against a common enemy). The devil forms communities just as easily it undoes them.

[tommeakin]

I looked this up and read that "διάβολος" more or less means "slanderer". Literally, the δια- means (“through”) +‎ βάλλω (“I throw/put”)

I believe you got "one who divides" because "δια-" can also be used to mean "to send different ways, send to and fro" - but I don't know if that's the emphasis of "διάβολος".

I don't know enough about Greek to know what the cleanest translation is, but I worry this could be one of those, "I'll take it in a way that works for me" cases. You do seem to get "symbolic" right, but you maybe setting up a false antonym.

Btw "diabolical" is just a fancier, more clearly Greek-Romance (therefore higher status in "English") way of saying "devilish". It's pretty much the same word, but "devilish" has been English-ed; sullying it's social status in our eyes

[Hyderagean]

The only things that you can take with you after you die are your memories in the connections that you made in this life. Nothing physical transfers. Nothing material transfers. Only metaphysical, only soul, only quantum. Remember that, and you'll be fine.

[angelocicognini]

San Giovanni Maria Vianney, prega per noi! Parole verissime!!!

[daphneglasurus]

Those symbols don’t quite hold the same meaning when you analyze the Bible objectively. God is the symbol that claims to unite people, sure, but the devil is most certainly the symbol that represents free will and self determination. Through this interpretation, the symbolic unites the many and disintegrates the individual and the diabolic unites the Self and dismisses the communion of man.

[GraceDay-jtwy]

This IS literally my husband and he is cloaking as me..literally mirroring everything I do but taking the credit for the good things, and twisting mine to look as if my work is his. His work is less intelligent compared to mine and very sloppy. He has destroyed my happiness and attempts daily to tear my life apart. He is hiring people as outside forces to hurt me and has my life in fear..fear of being killed etc. This is with the help of his mother, mine as well from the dead sadly. This is literally. Scary and he's the only person I thought I had. I'm scared

[stanleyholmes]

Without division, there would be no culture or family or anything else. Distinction allows to choose to do things selectively.

[melissabadaoui]

"No one is a believer unless they loves for the others what they love for themselves" Prophet Muhammad

[euphoricstillness]

Who divides the most? Besides religion and politics. With Christianity, who divides more? Or better, whose followers divide more? I'm not religious. I am spiritual and see and understand the parts and the points of the parts. I'd explain the yin yang as reference but...why?

[DTSkywatch]

Sounds like the internet would be the perfect tool of the devil

[NelsonTorres-ew]

Live/evil
Devil/lived
The English language was made to be read from left to right... You'll find there's something wrong there

[uncannydeduction]

Okay, the reason why you are saying what I'm saying is because Rollo May died on my birthday. Not a chance noone else but myself said this.

[DiceDecides]

Ultimately he divides us from God, that's his main goal.

[illougal_invader]

Nope it comes from de vel meaning the skin

[JuliannFlavin]

Hmmm, aka,
Joseph Biden /Kamala Harris ?
Yeah sounds about right