The Devil is the name given to a supernatural entity, who, in most Western religions, is the central embodiment of evil. This entity is commonly referred to by a variety of other names, including Satan, Asmodai, Beelzebub, Lucifer and/or Mephistopheles. In classic demonology, however, each of these alternate names refers to a specific supernatural entity, and there is significant disagreement as to whether any of these specific entities is actually evil. The English word devil derives from the Middle English devel, from Old English dēofol, from Latin Diábolus, from Late Greek Diabolos, meaning, slanderer, from diaballein, to slander: dia-, across + ballein, to hurl. The term devil can refer to a greater demon in the hierarchy of Hell. In other languages devil may be derived from the same Indo-European root word for deva, which roughly translates as "angel". However, a "deva" or "diva" is not a devil. Some scholars believe that the notion of a central supernatural embodiment of evil, as well as the notion of angels, first arose in Western monotheism when Judaism came into contact with the Persian religion of Zoroastrianism. Much like classical monotheism, Zoroastrianism has one supreme God, and an evil spirit who chose to be evil, locked in a cosmic struggle where both are more or less evenly matched, though from the beginning Ahura Mazda's triumph is foretold; making Zoroastrianism an ethical dualism. Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord"), also later known as Ormazd in Middle Persian, is the God of light, or Truth, and Angra Mainyu ("Evil Spirit"), also later known as Ahriman in Middle Persian, is the primeval Spirit of darkness, or the Lie. In a final battle between the forces of good and evil, human souls will be judged in a fiery ordeal of molten metal where the good will pass through as if it were warm milk and those who chose evil will be purified and all will be reunited in the new perfected world. Accordingly, humans are urged to align themselves with Ormazd and his Yazatas ("angels") and to shun His adversary who is the ruler of darkness and his demons, so that they may facilitate the final renovation (Frashō-kereti). Christianity views Satan as an angel cast from heaven by God, for being prideful, deceitful, and the tempter: all strikingly similar to the story of Ahriman.
God most commonly refers to the deity worshipped by followers of monotheistic and monolatrist religions, whom they believe to be the creator and ruler of the universe. Theologians have ascribed a variety of attributes to God like omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, perfect goodness, divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence. God has also been conceived as being incorporeal, a personal being, the source of all moral obligation, and the "greatest conceivable existent". These attributes were all supported to varying degrees by the early Jewish, Christian and Muslim theologian philosophers, including Augustine of Hippo, Al-Ghazali and Maimonides. Many notable medieval philosophers developed arguments for the existence of God, attempting to wrestle with the apparent contradictions implied by many of these attributes. Philosophers have developed many arguments for and against the existence of God.
Comparison chart
 | Devil | God |
|---|---|---|
| Islam | Devil is referred to as Iblis or Shaitan, with the power to cast evil suggestions into the heart of men | The word Islam means "submission", or the total surrender of oneself to Allah (God); Muslims believe that God revealed the Quran. |
| Defined as | An Evil spirit. | God is a metaphysical entity |
| Mainly found in | Most religions | Monotheistic and monolatrist religions |
| Judaism | Satan, Adversary, Tempter, Baal, Beelzebub, The wicked one, The Evil one, the evil spirit, Father of lies, The archfiend, Belial, Diabolos, Old Serpent, Dragon, Lucifer, Angra Mainyu, Ahriman, Mara, Iblis, HaSatin, anti-Christ, Beast etc. | G-D of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Adonai, HaShem. |
| Embodiment of | Evil | Grace |
| Most noted recruits or disciples | Judas Iscariot, Aleister Crowley, Anton Levay, The Pharaoh, Ahab and Jezebel, Herod the Great, Herodias, etc., | The Blessed Virgin Mary, Joseph, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, John the Baptist, Zarathustra, Muhammad, Guru Nanak Dev, Francis & Clare of Assisi, Joan of Arc, Mainmonides, Rumi, Gandhi, Mother Teresa of Calcutta. |
| Other names | Satan, Adversary, Tempter, Baal, Beelzebub, The wicked one, The Evil one, the evil spirit, Father of lies, The archfiend, Belial, Diabolos, Old Serpent, Dragon, Lucifer, Angra Mainyu, Ahriman, Mara, Iblis, HaSatin, anti-Christ, Beast | Almighty Father, Holy Spirit, Ahura Mazda, Ēl, Yahweh, Lord, Jehovah, Jesus, Holy Trinity, HaShem, Allah, Brahma, Krishna, The Supreme Be Khuda, Zhu, Bhagwan, Brahman, Trimurti, Ganesh, Vishnu, Shiva, akal purkh, Malik, Tirthankar, Buddha, Ti'en, et |
| Zoroastrianism | Zoroastrianism identifies the Devil as the god of Evil, and is called 'Angra Mainyu,' or 'Ahriman.' | Ahura Mazda, the God of all that is Good. |
| Life Span | Created By God, but, rebelled against Him. | Immortal: No beginning and no end. |
| Buddhism | A Devil-like figure in Buddhism is Mara | Buddhism is usually regarded as a religion without an Absolute Creator God, who created the universe ex nihilo (from nothing), and whom one should worship and be devoted to |
| Christianity | Christianity understands the devil as a corrupted or fallen angel. The devil's ultimate goal is to corrupt humankind. | Christianity teaches that God is Father, Son(Jesus) and Holy Spirit. |
| Occupations | Deceiving the faithful, while they are still on Earth. | Managing the ever-expanding cosmos, and micromanaging the morality of human actions, also preforming miracles, and swaying the outcomes of human games of chance and sport matches, inspiring visions, and helping artists win awards |
| Bestows upon humanity | Curses. | Blessings. |
| Personal Attributes | Malevolence. | Benevolence. |
| Nature | Evil. | Either all good or all bad, though some are dualistic |
| Symbol | A goat or a snake. | Countless symbologies denote divinity including the celtic cross, the all-seeing eye, the sun-face |
| Identified through | his own cunning. | his creation and his works |
| Physical attributes | Usually horns on his head and/or a tail; sometimes as a snake or serpent. | omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence |
| Permanent Residence | Hell. | Heaven. |
| Hinduism | An Evil spirit. | Hindus believe that Ishvara is only One and the actual number of auspicious qualities of God, are countless |
| Academic Orientation | Deceiver. | All-knowing |
| Health Implications | In perpetual Torment, resulting from his rebellion against Almighty God. | N/A |
Heaven 
Greek Gods 
Christ
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