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Why is the subject of satanism so hushed up here? From what I know of them, they're pretty much like anyone else. They love their kids and they pay their taxes and are willing to follow the laws of the land, so why the urge to act as if they don't exist? Satanism is an officially recognized religion in the USA.
They don't sacrifice babies and most of 'em don't believe in Satan as being a real entity...more like an attitude toward life. Where's the harm in having an intelligent discussion about them here?
All you said is true, especially as the official "Church of Satan" and I would think ad hoc Satanists are concerned (by that I mean self-styled LaVeyan Satanists). Of course there are always the teen-angst types who love all the spooky trappings and may actually believe in the devil, but that, of course makes them believers in god by proxy doesn't it? Then there are always the Temple of Set people who are somewhere between the LaVeyans and the teen-angst people.
I think the problem with Satanism in America (LaVeyan, that is) and people's unwillingness to discuss it or avoid it is because of perceptions. Some of those perceptions are due to media, some by different Christian churches and some by Satanists themselves. Let's face it, in the US, there is a Christian influence, if not down right tradition. It doesn't mean that all people are practicing Christians, but they have had a heavy dose of it at one time or another. That is always in our minds whether we want it or not. Movies that feature Satanists are spooky...everytime. I can't think of a single movie that had a guy who was, say, an accountant, went home, threw the football with his kid, kissed his wife and just happened to be a Satanist, but didn't practice "black arts". Ya know?
Satanism has a certain stigma to it, even among those who don't believe in such a thing as Satan or god. As I mention earlier, perceptions are at the heart of it. Many of still remember the 1980s and the "Satanic Ritual Abuse" scare, which was later debunked of course. Despite the FBI making it clear that no such thing ever happened, that is still in people's minds. The see a person who is a Satanist as being some weirdo miscreant who is sacrificing puppies and kittens, drinking blood and deflowing virgins all in the name of the Dark Lord (and I don't mean Darth Vader). Many Christian churches made a big public spectacle of the whole thing and still talk about it today, convinced of a huge cover-up by the govenrment to protect the vast number of imagined Satanic covens out there, because after all the government is controlled by 33rd degree Masons, the Illmuniati and the Trilateral Commision, which are all satanists in their eyes.
Many Satanists themselves do not help themselves because many of them like to wear the black clothes and pentagrams and all the silver jewelry and say spooky things. Of course, 90% of all that is intended to annoy and upset Christians, but when people who have no idea what the CoS is all about, they revert to media and church imagery of them. The teen-angst guys don't help either.
What I have always wondered about Satanists is if they are just atheists (which I believe them when they say that BTW), other than the need to irritate Christians, why all the symbolism, bibles, rituals and theater?
Just curious.
Last edited by Fullback32; 02-03-2010 at 01:45 PM..
Agreed. Those "Satanists" who don't actually worship Satan need to pick a different label. It's too much to expect offended religious people to dig deeper.
Some good points so far. Moderator cut: deleted due to comment pertaining to moderator actions Fullback as far as the funny clothes go, that's hardly the sole purview of satanists. Catholics, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, and many christian sects all wear funny clothes too.
Chango the screw it mentality doesn't really seem to be quite accurate...my understanding is that it's more of a do what you like but temper it with common sense and logic thrown in.
Some good points so far. Moderator cut: orphaned Fullback as far as the funny clothes go, that's hardly the sole purview of satanists. Catholics, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, and many christian sects all wear funny clothes too.
Chango the screw it mentality doesn't really seem to be quite accurate...my understanding is that it's more of a do what you like but temper it with common sense and logic thrown in.
Oh, very true about the clothes! And certainly all Satanists do not wear things that say very loudly, "Look at me I'm a Satanist." But for those that do, this goes back to the perceptions I talked about. If we see people dressed like that, we can't help but think of the movies and the whole spooky concept comes back to us. When we see a Jewish person wearing a Yamulka, we don't think...Ooooo, spooky and scary.
As to what you said to Chango, that's how I understand it too. Because "stupidity" is one of the Satanic sins, to act in an anarchist manner would be counter to LaVeyan principles.
I think satanism is stupid and is usually just an excuse by someone who finds the concept to be intriguing because they get to wear a costume and act spooky. In other words, I don't see it as a serious subject worthy of much discussion. I've seen some of the nitwit satanists on tv with their black outfits and candles burning in the background on documentaries in which they describe their supposedly mysterious lifestyle. Of course they never laugh about anything or even smile very much because they're trying to play the role of someone who wields unseen powers and other scary stuff.
Every time I hear (or read) LaVey I keep picturing a 2 year old having a tantrum, stamping his feet saying "no! no! no!" I guess it's because most of the Satanists I know in real life are just rebelling against religion and trying for a bit of shock value. I don't know any Luciferians (those that think Satan is real), but I expect I would picture them the same way, except that they are also Christians.
But Montanaguy how is that any more stupid than any other religion with mysterious trappings or funny clothes or odd adherents? I mean really, take a look at mormonism for instance with ots magic underwear and secret handshakes. Or the Catholic church with their mysterious capital city and strange rituals. There is silly strangeness in all of them, and most others too.
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