I am more afraid of those who are terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.
-St. Teresa of Avila

“The devil is after me.”
“It’s the devil.”
“The devil is the reason…”

While I will save the post for another day about the demons we must face, including the dormant ones inside of us we refuse to acknowledge, I find issue with those who blame the devil for all their woes.

To abdicate all responsibility to a misunderstood entity is really giving power towards it and clearing your own guilt in the process. It also enables a learned helplessness where your capacity to create change in your own life, and the lives of others, is diminished.

Instead of being someone who helps, you become someone who blames.

“Men who fear demons see demons everywhere.”
-Brom, The Child Thief

This, in turn, puts you into a paranoid state that forces others to tiptoe their way around you, lest they get caught in your crossfire (literally, in some cases).

In some mystic teachings, the purpose of the devil (which can also be translated as evil inclination or the adversary) is to force your life on a better path by throwing (or pushing) you towards on a worse one. We see this play out as we become more successful in life and the temptations that escalate along with it are presented.

Looking at the story of Jesus Christ, before he began the road of his ministry, he was personally tempted by the devil for forty days. Then the devil goes away after Jesus rebukes his offers.

While there are passages that speak about him casting out demons, my favourite story is the one where the crowd present a women who has committed adultery and must be stoned to death. Jesus simply writes in the sand and tells them whoever hasn’t sinned may cast the first stone.

There’s no mention of godly powers, demons or the devil. Simply – guilt.

It’s a story to keep in mind next time we want to blame demons for all our issues.