Ryan Gorman

February 6, 2018

The History of Satan

3500 BC – Zoroaster personifies the “bad god” as Ar-Rahman. Also conceives the idea of hell

3000 BC- Satan first mentioned in the Old Testament. Does God’s dirty work

333 BC -Alexander the Great conquers the Persian Empire, impresses the idea of hades upon the general
population. They also bring the story that becomes Satan being cast out of heaven by God

50 BC -Gehenna in Jerusalem becomes Hell

100 AD - New Testament is written, contains many references to Satan. He is the power behind the
Roman Empire. Satan is referenced as 666, which was probably a direct reference to Emperor Nero

306 AD -Constantine converts to Christianity, bishops now claim that anyone who opposes them is
working for the devil.

386 AD -Augustine invents the idea of succubi and demons that perform lewd acts on pious people

450 AD – First Christian heretics executed. Satan also adopts the characteristics of pan to discredit him

Middle Ages – Gnostic Christians believe the evil god created the physical world

1209-Pope Innocent the third conducts a crusade against the Cathars because they take the idea of
Satan too far, and they do not recognize the central church

1227-The Inquisition is commissioned by pope Gregory the ninth, and anyone who questions the
inquisition is in league with Satan

1252- Christians suspected of heresy can now be tortured

1307- King Philip brings heresy charges against the Knights Templar. They were largely destroyed on
Friday the 13th of October of 1307

1320- Pope John orders the inquisition to target witchcraft and exorcism. Between 60,000 and 300,000
people die in this campaign

1324 – Alice Katella is one of the first people to be accused by the inquisition of witchcraft. She escapes,
but her servant is burned at the stake

1486 – Malleus Maleficarum is published to aid the inquisitors. It defined every aspect of witchcraft and
the witch

1509 –Protestant reformation occurs. Both sides use Malleus Maleficarum to accuse the other of
witchcraft

1597-Demonology is written by King James. It says that witches are the greatest threat to any sovereign
state, and must be eliminated. He uses the threat Satan to keep his throne

1688- Mary Glover is the first person in the new world accused of witchcraft and executed

1691 – The Salem witch trials occur. 36 people are killed on charges of witchcraft. Later, the Salem jury
blamed Satan for the wrongful convictions they made
Ryan Gorman
February 6, 2018

19th Century-The age of democracy ushers in a new devil that is a tragic figure, battling against the cruel
and overbearing god.

20th Century – Satan becomes a marketing tool, nothing more than a mischievous imp

1966- The church of Satan is founded by Anton LeVey in San Francisco. This Satan is the idea of
nonconformity, as none of the members actually believe in a physical devil

1967 – Rosemary’s baby is an unexpected hit, chronicles a lady and her neighbors that help Satan father
a child

1973 – The exorcist is the Christian counter film to rosemary’s baby. Satan is defeated in it

1980s - Satanic panic. Christian groups allege en masse that Satanists are taking children and abusing
them and using them for ritual sacrifice. Every allegation was unsubstantiated

9/11/2001 – The axis of evil, and the forces of Satan conduct the 9/11 attacks. The US government
launches a war on terror