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Demon vs Satan - What's the difference?

demon | satan |

As nouns the difference between demon and satan

is that demon is an evil spirit while Satan is a demon follower of Satan (principal evil spirit); a fallen angel.

As a proper noun Satan is

the supreme evil spirit in the Abrahamic religions, who tempts humanity and rules Hell; the Devil.

demon

English

(wikipedia demon)

Alternative forms

* daemon, (typically only used today for the sense of 'a Greek or Roman godling' ) * daimon (''typically only used in the sense of 'inner spirit' or 'personal guardian')

Noun

(en noun)
  • An evil spirit.
  • A fallen angel or Satanic divinity; a false god.
  • One’s inner spirit or genius, a daimon.
  • (Greek mythology, Roman mythology) A genius, a lar, the protective spirit or godling of a place, household, or individual.
  • A foible; a flaw in a person’s character.
    • The demon of stupidity haunts me whenever I open my mouth.
  • Someone of remarkable or diabolical energy or ability.
    • He’s a demon at the card tables.
  • (figurative) Anything with malevolent effects.
    • the demon drink

    Usage notes

    The original Greek and Roman meanings often employ synonyms or the variant spellings daimon' or ' daemon to differentiate them from the more common ecclesiastical sense.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Related terms

    * demonic * demonize * demoness

    See also

    * imp * succubus * vampire * angel * hell * possession * possessed * dragon * werewolf * devil * larva ----

    satan

    English

    (wikipedia Satan)

    Alternative forms

    * satan (especially the common noun sense)

    Proper noun

    (en proper noun)
  • (religion) The supreme evil spirit in the Abrahamic religions, who tempts humanity and rules Hell; the Devil.
  • * 1997 , Martin Schuldiner, Puritan Casuistry'', Martin Schuldiner (editor), ''The Tayloring Shop: Essays on the Poetry of in Honor of Thomas M. and Virginia L. Davis , page 125,
    • Having been captured by the forces of Christ, the souls are now atacked for the first time by their former captain in “Satans' Rage at them in their Conversion.? '''Satan'''?s basic line of attack is to accuse the souls of being unreliable converts. Just as the souls turned from '''Satan''' to Christ, so too they will turn back again when it suits them, says ' Satan .
  • * 1998 , Wendy Griswold, 8: The Devil, social change, and Jacobean theatre'', Philip Smith (editor), ''The New American Cultural Sociology , page 127,
    • The conventional role of Satan in English mystery plays was the Trickster archetype adapted for a theatre that was both popular and religious but constrained by traditional Christian theology.
    The Satan of the mystery plays was a Trickster, but a dignified one.
  • * 2005 , , Healing the Shame That Binds You , page 2,
    • Biblical scholars tell us that the idea of a purely evil being like the Devil or Satan''' was a late development in the Bible. In the book of Job, '''Satan was the heavenly district attorney whose job it was to test the faith of those who, like Job, were specially blessed.
    During the Persian conquest of the Israelites, the Satan''' of Job became fused with the Zoroastrian dualistic theology adopted by the Persians, where two opposing forces, one of good, Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Creator deity, was in a constant battle with Ahriman, the absolute god of evil. This polarized dualism was present in the theology of the Essenes and took hold in Christianity where God and his Son Jesus were in constant battle with the highest fallen angel, '''Satan , for human souls. This dualism persists today only in fundamentalist religions (Muslim terrorists, the Taliban, the extreme Christian Right and a major part of evangelical Christianity).
    Many LaVeyans reject the notion that Satan is bad.
  • (religion, Theistic Satanism) The same figure, regarded as a deity to be revered and worshipped.
    • I have revered Satan ever since I became a Satanist .
  • A person or animal regarded as particularly malignant, detestable or evil;

    • Synonyms

    (supreme evil spirit of Abrahamic religions) the Adversary, Beelzebub, the Devil, Diabolus, the Dragon, Iblis, Lucifer, Mephistopheles, Old Nick, Old Scratch, the Old Serpent, the Prince of Demons

    Related terms

    * Satanism, Satanist, LaVeyan Satanist, Luciferian

    Derived terms

    * Great Satan * LaVeyan Satanism

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (countable) A demon follower of Satan (principal evil spirit); a fallen angel.
  • * 1992 , Clinton E. Arnold, Powers of Darkness: Principalities & Powers in Paul?s Letters , page 67,
    • This literature refers to a major figurehead of evil called “Satan,” the leader of a group of angels also referred to as “Satans'.” These ' Satans accuse people and lead them astray.
  • * 2007 , Abdullah Yusuf Ali (translator), M. A. H. Eliyasee (Roman script transliteration), Osman Taha (Arabic script), The Qur?an , II, 102,[in other editions, 96] page 15,
    • They followed what the Satans' recited over Solomon?s Kingdom. Solomon did not disbelieve but ' Satans disbelieved, teaching men, magic, and such things as came down at Babylon to the angels H?r?t and M?r?t.

    See also

    * Abaddon * Apollyon * cosmocrat * Kroni

    External links

    * Smith?s Bible Dictionary - Satan * Easton?s Bible Dictionary - Satan

    Anagrams

    * ----