Devil's Advocate

Detail of the Devil from Hans Memling's Triptych of Earthly Vanity and Divine Salvation (c. 1485)

Nowadays, the phrase "playing devil's advocate" describes a situation where someone, given a certain point of view, takes a position they do not necessarily agree with (or simply an alternative position from the accepted norm), for the sake of debate. For example, let's say that I believe that mankind is causing climate change, but for the sake of debate and opening up the conversation in a group of like-minded people I decide to be the devil's advocate and challenge some of the group's view.

Doing this can open up the thought further using valid reasoning that both disagree with the subject at hand and yet proves their own viewpoint as valid. This is one of the most popular present-day English idioms used to express the concept of arguing against something without actually being committed to that contrary view.

But being the devil’s advocate was a real job until late in the 20th century. When the Catholic church wanted to canonize a saint, an official acted as the devil’s advocate by questioning the candidate’s saintliness and arguing against their supposed miracles. If the potential saint could hold up to the intense criticism, the church knew they officially deserved the title. The advocatus diaboli (Latin for Devil's advocate) was this official position within the Catholic Church. Now more commonly referred to in the church as the Promoter of the Faith, this person is still part of the process that the Vatican has for declaring someone a saint (canonization).

Knowing that the devil is very good at arguing and very persuasive, this office was created by Pope Clement XI in 1708. The position was abolished by Pope John Paul II in 1983 as part of streamlining the whole canonization process.

Promotor Fidei (Promoter of the Faith) is still an official of the Roman Congregation of Rites at the Vatican but is sometimes commonly referred to, somewhat jokingly, as the devil's advocate. Presenting opposing views is still allowed. For instance, Christopher Hitchens was brought in to testify when Mother Teresa was being beatified in 2002.