- cross-posted to:
- shitposting@lemmygrad.ml
- cross-posted to:
- shitposting@lemmygrad.ml
I have an acquaintance that went to seminary that proposed an additional alternative take (I am not a theologian, not am I a follower of abrahamic religions nor any organized religion so, I'll probably butcher this and/or omit relevant details - also, it's probably more than a mire blasphemous).
Based upon descriptions of both Satan/Lucifer and Jesus of Nazerath, titles they are given, and symbolism in describing their relation to three Abrahamic god, they could be the same character. This take completely alters the plot arc of the Christian bible. Turning it into something like this:
Old Testament (Origin story)
- Lucifer, long favored, becomes jealous and resentful of humans taking away his attention, like an older sibling when a new baby arrives.
- Lucifer acts out and crosses a line, resulting in not just reprimand but, the worst punishment available. With Hell not existing in Judaism, the closest equivalent is effectively being cast out, shunned, and separated from his god.
- Lucifer is pissed. He throws a tantrum, taking it out on the humans that he sees as to blame for his misfortune. He spends the rest of the Old Testament tormenting humanity or getting ignored to go into lineages and depressing poetry.
Old Testament Epilogue (Omitted from Official Texts)
- Lucifer works through some of his daddy issues. He accepts that he's been a bit of a shit and mourns for his father that he misses dearly.
New Testament Prologue (Also Omitted from Official Texts)
- Lucifer, who had given up all hope, meets up with his old friend Gabriel. Gabriel feels sorrow for his old friend's torment. Together, they come up with a desperate plan to get their father's attention.
New Testament (The Redemption Arc)
- It's go time. Possibly in an attempt to clandestinely gain access to Heaven and even a moment of his father's attention, Lucifer gives up the greatest thing that he has, his immortality, becoming human, with help from Gabriel.
- Lucifer is found out. He gets some of the attention that he craved but it is made clear that it finite and that this human life is the last that he will ever have.
- As a human, Lucifer, now Jesus of Nazerath sees first hand what he had wrought upon humanity but not just that, but also the beauty of humanity and why his father loves them so.
- Lucifer-Jesus proceeds to dedicate his life to the service of humanity. Helping those that he can in his journeys. Despite all of this, he remains forsaken.
- Lucifer-Jesus is overcome with guilt and grief, not just for what he has done but that he can never fully make up for all of the pain and suffering that he has caused. Not in his eyes nor those of his father.
- Lucifer-Jesus decides to invoke the old ways of sacrifice, but in place of a lamb, he offers up himself. Not asking for forgiveness for himself but in hopes that his father will listen and relieve the suffering that he, Lucifer-Jesus, had inflicted upon humanity.
- With this final, selfless sacrifice, Lucifer-Jesus' father accepts that he has been punished enough and paid off his debt to humanity. Lucifer is finally welcomed him home.
- Some, likely politically-motivated, stuff gets tacked on to the end, using the end of the world as a metaphor for the fall of an empire.