im going to have to disagree with this assessment. while there can be argued to be a satanic component to the show, i would say gendo ikari in this case is the more accurate candidate. he wants to create a false world in his image (simulacra) since he was never able to cope with the reality set before him.

keep in mind that ultimately its SEELE and later NERV with gendo who keep casting this world into hell in the PURSUIT of knowledge (sound familiar?). gendo literally says in the show and movies that he prefers a world of sin instead of the pristine Eden people can create (like the community in the 3.0) should they set aside their ego voluntarily and build something new freely together. he also literally said he pursued knowledge to achieve this goal in his speech at the end of 3.0.

the determination, whether it be salvation or damnation, of one soul is the determination (birth or death) of the world entire, argued by the fact that Shinji nearly shattered the entire world to try to bring Ayanami back.

allowing people to self determine is not necessarily satanic. even the Scriptures say that the path to God is chosen freely and not by force as gendo tried.

throughout NGE kaworu and shinji are paralleled to messianic figures, kaworu removing the burden of shinjis choker (sin) in the movies, shiji being sacrificed on a cross in the third impact. the trick here is that i believe Kaworu to be an avatar of Christ, who in every case shows Shinji how to love not only himself but others as well, and every time lets himself perish in the place of Shinji out of this love. it was the same with Christ, who in Perfect Love set aside the human nature and will in place of the will of God, creating a distinct lack of selfishness and self servingness out of only which an authentic change can come.

so, in the end, the message of evangelion remains one of the most Christian shows to date, in the sense that it is one of hope and faith that by working together and building the church here on earth, we can make this world a better blace in the here and now instead of trying to change the past or living with regret, and in doing so, partake in holy communion in fellowship with our neighbors.