Because satan hates god for casting him out so he wants to torment gods "creation" and god is willing to allow it if his "creation" wants to deny him anyway. It's an awesome tale of ancient intrigue in simple torpidity.

It is about a good policeman, a bad policeman and the naughty Satan on whom you can blame everything if you do what the policemen say and go with their version. 

And who said a soul has no intrinsic value? It is the holy grail, the philosopher's stone, your own inner god and the element, which makes the difference between a mere intelligent person and a genius. What we see is downplaying of a value of something, which is a typical trade tactic to make you sell your soul cheaply.

The souls have no intrinsic value to the beings fighting over them (according to the holy books). What its value is to me has not been ascertained as I do not know if I have one. Are you equating the soul to inspiration?

In many fairy tales, various supernatural beings fight for people's souls or buy them for some earthy goods, but they won't tell you what is it all good for. Isn't that suspicious? Typically, the main hero decides to keep on his soul, no matter how good deal the infernal powers give him. And neither he dies and goes to heaven. I see this as a symbol valuing the seemingly useless property of self-identity and integrity more than material benefits. Very spiritual.

Human personality is fragmented. Freud called the fragments id, ego and superego. People commonly identify with ego, they watch as the superego battles with id, and then go with the winner. The experience of soul is so unlike these parts of your personality, that it is felt like another entity inside your mind. And yet, it feels like an impersonal, loving entity, not an alien presence. I believe that's why Christians say Jesus or god loves them. It is really hard to believe, that this is a part of their personality making contact. The soul contact is a profound influence on one's life, though the initial effects are unpredictable. 

Of course, this is an extremely broad topic. Majority of people do not need their soul at all, not to lead a satisfying life. It is a superior personal part, much more advanced than me or you. And a diffcult one to work with. You're right, the soul provides an inspiration, depending on your personal style. But depending on how much you cooperate, it gives much more, but may demand work as well and take things away.

 

The problem with organized religion is, that one size is supposed to fit all. People can benefit from organized religion, but only for a time, then it hinders them. People must be allowed to change and grow out of things. For example, some Christians used their religion to draw an inner strength and guidance from the soul. But that rarely helps them to doubt the scripture. 

Religion is very similar to a protection through limitation. By limiting themselves, accomodating to a limited religious order, people go through sort of a spiritual nursery school. But they get afraid of everything else. A true spiritual life is sometimes diffcult, dangerous and maybe terrifying, simply because it is a complicated thing that can go wrong. In a simple congregation there's nothing much to go wrong. I'd like to see Christians realize, how little their worldview is and how limited they keep themselves. I met at least one preacher who realized this. Sadly, I was probably the only one present who understood the sermon.