Thanks, sveng. I am a Christian, although I don't tubthump here (or anywhere, really). But I do hear the line from other Christians I know, and it's like fingernails on a blackboard for me. I know they don't mean that some infernal demon literally appeared, dragged the victim away etc. But maybe it's cultural, some of the people I know really do use this as an excuse to absolve themselves of personal responsibility for whatever unpleasant that happens in their lives. If their house burns down because they left a fire burning unattended - it's satanic influence, not their own carelessness. Such people continue through life making the same mistakes over and over, with a clear conscience that they are right with God. Maybe right with God, but not with me!
Sorry to be such a pain - it really cheeses me off big time. I've had people praying over me (against my better judgement) and then blaming my 'lack of faith' if their prayers fail to eventuate. They can be quite nasty about it in absolving themselves of any need to have any compassion, if they can find someone else to blame for the lack of magical cure. Like God is a magic wishing fairy or something, and they have a special magical connection which, if it fails to eventuate, means that I somehow am not trying hard enough or something.
A sore point for me, I guess. I do know that culturally, there are big differences in some aspects of Christianity as expressed here, vs in the US. I've been exposed to a very wide range and perhaps as I get older, I'm getting a lot more intolerant - I'm turning into a cantankerous old woman!
I also want to clarify for the moderators - I am not trying to turn this into a thread on religion. It's just this one phrase that I feel CAN be used by people trying to justify a blinkered approach to the problems in their lives. I don't care which religions are likely to use this approach - wherever it occurs, it is a problem for me if used that way.
If what Billy Ray meant, however, was that the general air of Hollywood, fame etc is something he considers satanic in a metaphorical sense - I get that. As long as he does see that he also bears some personal responsibility, as do others. Wasn't the place called Hollywood Babylon? Maybe they need to grab Miley by the scruff of the neck and drag her back to Tennessee or wherever. A bit of down to earth, back to nature and reality might do Miley a lot of good. If Hollywood is the problem, pull her out of it for a vacation from it.
Marg