Recently I bought a copy of the Satanic Bible, I figured I have the, "real," bible and other religious doctrines, why not add to the fodder, I mean collection. It acknowledges that everything in it, as far as spiritualism goes, is fabricated by the founder of the church of Satan, Anton LaVey. Because he admitted to having no spiritual epiphany, this book is placed in the Occult section of Barns and Noble rather than Religion. I say Satanism is just as, if not more, valid than Christianity because it acknowledges all the rules, rituals and stories are man made. Thoughts anyone?
It should definetly be in Religion but you know the fundies. Protests galore.
As I understand it, there are 2 forms of Satanism.
1)Worshipping Satan. Duh. This is sort of doing everything BibleGod doesn't want you to do and vice versa (Black Mass). I think this says that Satanism would not exist w/out Christianity. Woo based on Woo. This should be in Religion.
2)Seeking pleasure. Not for the sin of it, but for the enjoyment of it. This should be in the philosophy section.
My opinion is open to be ripped to shreds.
This would be the more accurate description of what the LaVey Satanism is about. I suppose it could be in philosophy, I mean Buddhism and Taoism are usually located under those sections and this isn’t that different, from a non-idealistic stand point. But my point stands that it does not belong in the same section as , “Famous Hauntings,” and, “How to Tune Your Psychic Powers.”
I fully agree w/ your point. You asked for any thoughts and I thought maybe philospohy section should be a possiblity, though Religion and philosophy can easily be the same section to many.
I have a copy of a BBC special on Anton lying around. If I recall, even though he claimed he was a satanist and, "The evilest man alive," he tried to conjure up an egyptian or sumerian god. As far as I understand, Satan was not egyp or sumer. The ritual takes 3 weeks or so. He didn't finish. Maybe satanism for him was just a desire to rebel.
Sorry for the tangent.
The "official" Church of Satanism uses Satan as a symbolic entity and not something that is real or held up for worship.
Are we talking about that book which says it is natural to get angry from time to time so you should revel in your hatred of people?
ChristineR
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Satanism is a form of Christianity. It just doesn't make any sense unless you happen to take the Christian God and rituals (especially Catholic rituals) seriously.
Worshipping Set or somebody like that might qualify as a religion, but nobody has taken Set seriously for about 4000 years. These people are all about arguing with Christians.
The difference between "religion" and "occult" is not really clear, but I'd have to vote "occult." This is essentially an attempt to use sneaky, secret (occult) techniques to outsmart Christians and their deity.
Worshipping Set or somebody like that might qualify as a religion, but nobody has taken Set seriously for about 4000 years. These people are all about arguing with Christians.
The difference between "religion" and "occult" is not really clear, but I'd have to vote "occult." This is essentially an attempt to use sneaky, secret (occult) techniques to outsmart Christians and their deity.
Godlessbastard, at godlessbastard.com, put up a video of a nutball professing to actually worship the unholy trinity. http://www.godlessbastard.com/MeetTheBastard.html scroll down to "My Site, My Rules". Maybe there is an offshoot off Satanism that worships Satan?
Or more likely they are completely separate bunch of people who just happened to pick the same name. [Edited to add: this was poorly worded since I "bunch of people" probably implies too much organisation on the side of Satan worshippers.]
There have been Christians who believe that there are people who actively worship Satan for hundreds of years. The standard belief is that Satan can give material success in this life in exchange of the worshipper's soul in the afterlife. So I don't find it surprising that some people who are raised in a society where this belief is common decide to try it in the real life when they face hardships.
Miss Whiplash
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Actually, there is an off-shoot of LaVey's Satanism called The Temple of Set. It was founded in 1975 by Michael Aquino. At one time the man claimed to have conjured up the god Set in a ritual.
(Sorry, can't post links yet!)
Can we see the evidence?
Again though, the point I was making is that Anton LaVey admits in the satanic Bible that all the rules and rituals were created by man, it's on this admission that I claim it’s more honest that any other religion. It does not claim divinely inspiration, it acknowledges man as its creator.
Piscivore
Smelling fishy
Discordianism is the most honest religion, with the least honest members. Or the other way around, sometimes.
ChristineR
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There's also the fact that many "Satanists" are actually atheists and are just trying to irritate Christians. LeVey may have been one of these. Then what you have is someone acknowledging not the magical power of the Christian ritual, but rather the social power. By publicly mocking the ritual you gain social standing. That doesn't strictly qualify as either occult or religion.
Jimbo07
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Hail Eris! Hail yes!
Anti_Hypeman
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I checked out the church of satan site. You pay a one time fee of 200 to join. They make no promises and offer nothing in return besides a ID card. So I say it is more honest than any form of christianity or islam. Its way cheaper and you know what you are getting for your money.
Their site is at www.xeper.org. About a decade ago I saw a book about these weirdos at a used book store. I wish I bought it.
It most certainly is not. It's the antithesis of Christianity.
Thus, for you, it's another fable.
For Christians, it's spiritual war.
And you? You aren't "all about arguing with Christians"?
Religion:
Occult:
There's a difference.
Tried before. Failed before.
Old hat, like children trying to justify shoplifting.
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