The Devil Is Against Objective Truth, Not Against Morality
Editorial verification status: This atom is extracted from an explanatory audiovisual source, and has now been linked to the closest books within Shahrur’s project at the book level. For precise academic citation, consult the original book and the original episode together.
Formulation of the claim
Shahrur maintains that the devil is not only the opposite of morality, but is against objective truths and correct awareness—that is, against illusion and falsehood.
Explanation
He distinguishes between “error” and “illusion”: error may concern part of an action, whereas illusion is an entirely false mental state. He says that the devil works to draw people into illusion, such as portraying God in a distorted form or constructing social and economic delusions. In this way, the devil is shifted from a simple supernatural being to a mechanism of epistemic deception. This is a central point in his interpretation of falsehood.
Its place in the episode’s argument
This atom reveals the role of the devil in the overall argument: not merely a moral fault, but a distortion of consciousness and truth.
Scope of the claim
It does not say that the devil has nothing to do with morality at all, but rather that his deeper function is the production of illusion.
Brief citation
“The devil’s job… is to make you fall into illusion… in relation to objective truth.”
Related links
- Shahrur - polytheism
- Shahrur - the Qur’an
- Atom: illusion is falsehood