Sir, – Eamonn McCann treats us to an entertaining account of his encounters with spiritual forces operating in the Derry/Donegal nexus of his youth ("Why do we rarely give the Devil his due?", Opinion & Analysis, May 22nd).
Satan’s role in Christian history has its origins in the distant past of the Judaic experience in the 5th and 6th centuries BCE.
Confusion and uncertainty took place when monotheistic believers became aware that some of those who disobeyed, or worse still, ignored the iron rules of God, thrived despite their serious breaches of divine law, without any sanctions being imposed by their just and righteous God who had their unquestioned loyalty.
It was obvious that the belief in one God was being seriously challenged and manifestly God had no answers to assure His faithful followers that promises to protect and reward the righteous and restrain and punish the perpetrators of evil had come to nothing. In short, why did an omnipotent God permit such wrongdoing, or why didn’t He put a stop to it?
The Persian two-god theory called Zoroastrianism was considered. It was an answer to their problem because this theory had two gods to cater for the coexistence of good and evil.
However, commitment to the monotheism of Judaism was strong and thus the Persian two-god answer was not acceptable. A compromise was agreed by the introduction of a quasi-god intent on evil-doing. He would have auxiliary support from his demon angels to confront the forces of good angels led by that trusty soldier of truth, Michael the Archangel. The scene was set for a continuous battle for supremacy of good versus evil and which was taught down the centuries to an unquestioning faithful.
A memory for those of us now over a certain age is going to bed each night terrified by the flames of an eternal Hell of fire and brimstone, and fortified with our rosary beads clasped tightly until a modicum of relief arrived with daylight streaming through our bedroom windows. Thanks to Eamon McCann for his enlightened and tongue-in cheek analysis. – Yours, etc,
CHARLIE DOHERTY
Ailesbury Grove,
Dundrum, Dublin 16.