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I think I hit the nail on the head. Because of Calvin (sorry) and his total depravity, you see pagans as (duh) totally depraved. That means that their myths are dibolical attempts to pervert the Truth.
By recognizing a flawed but not wretched nature of man, we relize that pagans can catch glimpses of the Truth. It is not to pervert the Truth on purpose, but a true lack of understanding caused by not being subject to Divine Revelation.

That sort of sounds kind of like modern pop psychology. It's not their fault that they're bad. They just don't know the truth yet.

I think that satan definitly wants to pervert the truth and has been from the beginning, using whatever and whoever he can...on purpose.

One of the basic tenants of repentence is that we finally recognize that we *are* wretched creatures who have have been following our own, or satans, wishes and desires, and not Gods...on purpose.

And by "flawed", I hope you're not implying that God screwed up and created something he didn't mean to create.

One of the basic tenants of repentence is that we finally recognize that we *are* wretched creatures who have have been following our own, or satans, wishes and desires, and not Gods...on purpose.

That we are incapable of desiring anything that is good, right?

Sorry, I'm not buying it. I believe in free will.

And by "flawed", I hope you're not implying that God screwed up and created something he didn't mean to create.

No, I contrast "flawed" with "wretched." "Damaged" with "broken." "Partially depraved" with "totally depraved." Calvinists believe that nothing that man can choose is ever good, that every instinct is to the bad. I don't believe that.