Among the many perplexing phenomena the internet offers, recent public statements by certain American artists stand out. These individuals, popular in various circles, openly admit to having made a deal with the devil—selling their souls and becoming his servants in exchange for career success, wealth, and fame.
Kanye West, the renowned rap artist, has been recorded on stage amid ovations declaring, “I sold my soul to the devil, that’s a crappy deal.” Katy Perry, once a Christian singer and now a global pop star, revealed, “I kind of sang about what was going on in my life at 15, and that’s how I got introduced to the music industry. I swear I wanted to be like the Amy Grant of music. But it didn’t work out so I sold my soul to the devil.” Then there’s Bob Dylan, the iconic hippie singer-songwriter and advocate for peace and nuclear disarmament in the 1970s. When asked how he has managed to remain in the music industry at his advanced age, Dylan candidly stated that he made a deal in his youth with someone he refers to as “Rain Man”[1] to secure his fate—“to get to where I am now.”[2]
What’s most unsettling is the serious and enigmatic tone of these confessions. In one interview, the reporter asks Dylan about the identity of Rain Man, to which Dylan cryptically replies that he is the “chief commander of this earth and of a world we can’t see.” Dylan goes on to explain that both parties have upheld their side of the bargain, though he does not disclose the exact nature of the terms.
A simple online search reveals that such cases are neither isolated nor driven solely by celebrities’ pursuit of sensationalism. What emerges instead is a pervasive satanic subculture. Numerous videos and documents detail strange and shadowy rituals, advocating for these pacts as pathways to incredible benefits.[3] The requirements and benefits are prominently highlighted, with lists of promises scrawled on papers signed in blood during midnight rituals and invocations conducted in desolate deserts under the supervision of self-proclaimed sorcerers. These promises include wealth, immortality, perfect health, mental clarity, perpetual youth, and universal respect. What is conspicuously absent, however, is any mention of the costs, sacrifices, or deeds involved in securing such rewards. Yet, a quick glance at the dictionary reveals the longstanding and infamous meaning of the phrase “to sell your soul to the devil.” It denotes “to be persuaded to do something, especially something bad, because of the money or other reward you will receive for doing it.”
This clarifies the essence of such a pact: the individual agrees to perform actions deemed evil by most people and to submit to the control of a supernatural force in exchange for certain abilities, powers, and advantages. Italian professor of religious history Alfonso M. Di Nola describes this phenomenon as the unleashing of a demonic energy through supernatural means “that manifest in individuals who willingly submit to possession through ritual; this is the defining characteristic of possession-based religions—those in which the central structure revolves around the state of a human being possessed by an external power.”[4]
Deal with the Devil: The “Faust” Effect
What underlies this confidence in a force widely regarded as negative, at least from a traditional cultural perspective? Hieromonk Seraphim Rose observes that people today are increasingly open and curious about experiences labeled as “spiritual.” This is happening “under the greatly increased influence of occult ideas on the one hand, and on the other hand the waning both of humanistic materialism and of Christian faith. Mankind is coming once more to an acceptance of the possibility of contact with ‘another world’.”[5]
Contemporary theologian and philosopher Nikolaos Matsoukas, in a study on demonology, argues that humanity’s enslavement to the devil “is nothing more than a matter of will—a profoundly serious illness of the will. The afflicted person does not wish to see God or their neighbor before them, but exclusively themselves. This leads to the distortion and inversion of the relationship of love and, consequently, to an endless war of defense and attack.”[6]
The cultural prototype of the infamous pact is found in Goethe’s renowned tragedy, Faust, in which Dr. Faust agrees to let the malevolent spirit Mephistopheles serve him in this world, granting him various worldly gifts, on the condition that their roles will be reversed in the next world for eternity. The pact also involves the offering of human blood as a sacrifice. The bitter conclusion is encapsulated in the dialogue:
Faust: Alas, what am I, if I can
Not reach for mankind’s crown which merely mocks
Our senses’ craving like a star?
Mephisto: You’re in the end—just what you are.[7]
Perhaps a cultural gap has allowed newer generations to forget this tragic lesson from the early 19th century. However, autobiographical accounts from the past century to the present provide vivid testimonies of pacts with dark forces and the effects of such decisions.
Canadian Roger Morneau was shocked to discover the “trend” among some elite compatriots in Montreal and Toronto—highly successful members of society—who worshipped demons to secure all the benefits of worldly life. “He reasoned that, since we were going to hell anyway to burn thorughout eternity, we might as well get aquainted with some of the folks before we arrived.”[8]
In his autobiography, Doug Batchelor recalls his mother, a Hollywood composer, summoning spirits through séances and receiving answers in a supernatural manner.[9]Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a physician, astonished readers with her accounts of dialogues with the spirits of the dead and “spiritual guides” in her book On Death and Dying.[10]
What is a pact with the devil? Deceptive wisdom
From the perspective of either an atheist or a believer, a pact with the devil makes no sense: for the atheist, the devil does not exist; for the believer, the devil is a defeated figure. However, those who take such a pact seriously—whether because they believe it will establish “connections” in hell or because they think eternal servitude in hell is worth a lifetime of earthly prosperity—reveal a profound ignorance or superficiality in their understanding of the immanent and transcendent worlds, of life, and of human destiny. Moreover, without grasping the risks, they sever themselves from the logic of the fundamental opposition between good and evil, God and the devil.
Crediting the one traditionally seen as the ultimate loser in the good versus evil dichotomy as a future victor, protector, or even the sole supernatural authority is reminiscent of the naivety of indigenous peoples who once traded gold and pearls for European glass beads. This is even more striking given that pact-makers are explicitly warned: “I presume you have no reverence for Christ in your life—am I right? The reason I ask is that we can’t have anyone there who has any loyalty to the Christian God, as it could be disastrous.”[11]
The possibility of redemption
If such a “catastrophe” could be caused by a God whom pact-makers perceive as non-existent or weaker than the devil, then the God/devil dichotomy becomes inescapable. Returning to basic logic raises questions: why would it be necessary to explicitly renounce someone believed to be powerless or imaginary? Could it be that this power unveils a completely different perspective, consistent with the Bible’s promises: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32)? Could it be that this truth proclaims the greatest power of all: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:19)?
In one of the films[12] featuring testimonies of those who claim to have made pacts with the devil, a protagonist—a rock musician—admits to making a grave mistake 20 years prior, attributing it to his youth and lack of confidence in his ability to succeed on his own. At the same time, he displays a palpable sense of fatalism, resigning himself to his fate without considering the possibility of turning back. He seems unaware of what the other side—the side of believers—proclaims: that the nature of the Christian God is rooted in love and forgiveness, offering liberation and salvation to any pact-maker who humbly seeks help.
The Lives of the Saints recounts the real-life story of the martyr Cyprian, a once-powerful sorcerer in Antioch, Syria, during the early days of Christianity. He converted to Christianity after witnessing the far greater power of good and the divine protection enjoyed by the children of the Christian God, compared to the tricks and illusions offered by the devil. As the account states: “But the Lord, who does not desire the death of a sinner, in His boundless goodness sought out this lost man and saved him from the depths of hell’s abyss, revealing that no sin can overcome His love for humanity.”[13]
When choosing between two opposing sides, it would seem reasonable to do so with full knowledge of both camps—especially the one you intend to oppose—rather than ignoring it entirely. From the perspective of a satanic pact, the boundary between the two camps might appear impassable. However, Christian testimonies suggest otherwise. Cyprian crossed that boundary, though it required a direct confrontation with the devil, to whom he had pledged himself. The devil attacked and wounded him, but Cyprian ultimately sought divine help and was saved.
Similarly, Roger Morneau recounts his own final confrontation with the offended spirit that had been visiting him: “’I have decided to turn my life over to Christ Jesus.’ ‘Stop mentioning that name’ the spirit exploded […] ‘As for you and spirit friends, in reality you’re a bunch of cheats. You offer me gold if I will forfeit eternal life. Forget it. […] I want you to know that I have placed myself in the care of the Christ of Calvary and that I prepared to walk under the shadow of death as long as He goes with me. Now I command you in His name to depart from me and come no more.’”[14]
The true price of the soul
In the final analysis, the satanic model proves to be a losing proposition, offering no hope beyond this world and no liberation in a future, eternal life. Moreover, those who enter into such pacts are not treated with leniency or respect; punishments and torment are far from excluded. By contrast, the divine model allows even the smallest seed of faith—no larger than a mustard seed—to flourish, rescuing the captive soul from the depths of darkness. Even the faintest aspiration toward goodness or salvation is sufficient, but the choice ultimately rests with the individual. A small trace of trust is all it takes to cross the boundary, with the realisation that between God and the devil, no cooperation or eternal pact exists: “…the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me” (John 14:30).
It is notable that Christ refers to the devil as a prince—not a rightful ruler, but an impostor who has temporarily usurped authority over this world. However, regarding the world to come and eternity, this temporary usurper faces only judgment, not a shared dominion in hell: “ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; …and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned” (John 16:8-11).
Those who enter into pacts with the devil often mistake displays of supernatural power as evidence of truth, legitimacy, and honesty in the pact. However, the opposing perspective warns that while the devil may exhibit a degree of power in this world, he is fundamentally a deceiver, an adversary (Satan), a cunning liar who is called “the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Regarding the true value of the human soul, the devil’s deception lies in obscuring the fact that its worth cannot be measured solely within the confines of this world. The other side of the scale—the one used to weigh its true value—exists “beyond.” And beyond, there is only one price, already paid; one measure, divine and not human or demonic—the grace of salvation through the sacrifice of Christ: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).