Is Satan a useful religious concept?

[Specforces]

I don't really think so. I think we outgrew our simplistic need for Satan a long fucking time ago. Satan is just a scapegoat for the aspects of mankind we don't want to deal with. We don't ascribe the good we do to the direct influence of God, so why say Satan makes us do evil? My religious beliefs do affect my behavior, but I do good deeds because I enjoy doing them, not because God is forcing my hand.

Even if there were a Satan, does it make sense to believe in him? Of what consequence is it? Let's say I go out and murder someone because of the influence of Satan. Is the court going to buy it? No. Does it release me from culpability in the religious sense? No. Are most people going to believe that Satan made me do it? No.

Truly taking Satan seriously will drive you up the wall if you're religious. You have to doubt your own thoughts, emotions, and experiences. What if I think my church is on the wrong path? Is it really on the wrong path, or is it on the right path and Satan is just trying to drive me away from it? What if I have a mystical experience that doesn't fit within the expectations of my beliefs? Is it God showing me the truth, or is it Satan trying to deceive me?

Then you've got the people that abuse the name of Satan for money. Bob Larsen, for instance. Bob is always on the radio saying Satan is trying to destroy his ministry and he needs money. Bob, the reason you need money is the fact that you live in a million dollar house and you spend money like it's going out of style.

It seems to me if there was a Satan believing in him would be the same as inviting him into your life. It would be better to disbelieve and take responsibility for your own actions, which is bound to be far more fruitful than blaming your shortcomings on an invisible boogey-man.