Billy Ray Cyrus: Passing the buck to Satan



Satan  (from Paradise Lost)

In light of his recent family difficulties, Billy Ray Cyrus is aching.  That is perfectly understandable.  What is less comprehensible is the conclusion he has drawn from it all.

According to AolNews.com, when Billy Ray is not busy blaming “Hannah Montana” for his problems, he is instead blaming Satan.

Perhaps Satan is somewhat behind this family’s breakup.  The telltale sign might be Billy Ray’s tendency to put all the blame for it outside of himself.  After all, dealing in delusions is what Satan does best.  Perhaps the most destructive of all human delusions is the tendency to favor external blame over internal responsibility.

According to Wikipedia, the original Hebrew term “ha-Satan” meant either “the accuser” or “the adversary.”  “Satan” was therefore not originally the name of a being, but rather the description of a being.  In the Book of Job, “ha-Satan” takes on the added role of “the tester” of human faith in God.  Within that saga, even Yahweh is influenced by Satan to join in the testing of Job.  This version of Satan somewhat resembles the trickster archetype from other traditions, such as the Norse Loki and the Native American Coyote.

Christianity’s “Devil” emerged from this “ha-Satan” history.  The word “Devil” came from the Septuagint

translation of the Hebrew term “ha-Satan” into the Greek term “Diabolos” (“slanderer” or “accuser”).  Satan then became more of a name than a description.  He also was then looked upon as a fallen angel who

commanded a host of other fallen angels (demons).  This fallen group allegedly goes around tempting humans to indulge in sin and evil.  One surefire way they accomplish this is by spreading lies.

Claiming that “the Devil make me do it” may – in fact - be the biggest lie of all.  This sidestepping of personal responsibility insures that whatever it is the Devil is being blamed for will continue for a (not-so) good long time.

Resources

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/15/billy-ray-cyrus-blames-hannah-montana-and-satan-for-family-pro/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trickster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost

Copyright February 25, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved