Stormbeard
March 30th, 2007, 06:05 PM
Satanism is a household name. It's dropped left right and centre to mean a wealth of different things. But what does it mean?
Well, the same way that a lot of belief systems fall under 'Christian' (ie Western Catholicism, Protestantism, Anabaptism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Baptist, Methodism, Evangelicalism, Fundamentalism, Unitarian, Christadelphian, the list goes on and on) there are a number of belief systems which would happily sit under the Satanic umberella. These range from the actual worship of an actual horned demon type (Theistic Satanism) to a life-philosophy which is Atheistic in nature. Also to be drawn under the Satanic banner would be the rediscovery of an ancient but misunderstood religion, Setianism (which as I understand it links Satan with the Egyptian god of the desert, Set) but I cannot speak at length on Setian faith, for I do not know much of it. I'm sure there are others keen to fill us in however.
Anton Szandor LaVey, arguably the best known Satanist of recent years, founded the Church of Satan in 1966. He wrote The Satanic Bible (1969) and other works which remain highly influential (and admittably controversial) among Satanists. LaVey rejects the Black Mass (though does record it for theatrical sake) or a literal belief in Satan, instead considering Satan as the human instinct within ourselves, which is what LaVeyan Satanism celebrates; the human instinct. Instead he supports a view of human beings as animals and rejects many social structures that he believes inhibit human instincts.
And now onto Aleister Crowley, "The Great Beast 666."
Crowley was a ritualistic magician, and not a Satanist by faith, however his severe distaste for Christianity and his ventures into the occult have been jumbled together into his fame as a "Satanist". He was a notorious sinner, always giving into his human nature for his own satisfaction. This is oft why he's associated with Satanism. Brother just liked to party hard.
Many things are wrongly attributed to Satanism. Child molesting, vandalism, bad metal lyrics, violent crime, cruelty to animals. It's always been very sensationalist of the media to make a puppet enemy of 'the occult'. Satanism is commonly a part in that. Very rarely are the criminals involved Satanists at all. Charles Manson was a Theistic Satanist, and a very disturbed individual. Satanism is very keen to wash it's hands of him.
Satanism is about strength of self. Any fool who uses it's encouragement of human nature as an excuse to commit acts of unhuman barbarity is no Satanist. The term 'Satanist' itself exists because the Church (arguably to increase devotion and commitment to the Church) felt it necessary to create a villain and rival to the Christian faith. This is what is meant in the 9 Satanic Statements (CoS) by 'Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!'
Well, the same way that a lot of belief systems fall under 'Christian' (ie Western Catholicism, Protestantism, Anabaptism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Baptist, Methodism, Evangelicalism, Fundamentalism, Unitarian, Christadelphian, the list goes on and on) there are a number of belief systems which would happily sit under the Satanic umberella. These range from the actual worship of an actual horned demon type (Theistic Satanism) to a life-philosophy which is Atheistic in nature. Also to be drawn under the Satanic banner would be the rediscovery of an ancient but misunderstood religion, Setianism (which as I understand it links Satan with the Egyptian god of the desert, Set) but I cannot speak at length on Setian faith, for I do not know much of it. I'm sure there are others keen to fill us in however.
Anton Szandor LaVey, arguably the best known Satanist of recent years, founded the Church of Satan in 1966. He wrote The Satanic Bible (1969) and other works which remain highly influential (and admittably controversial) among Satanists. LaVey rejects the Black Mass (though does record it for theatrical sake) or a literal belief in Satan, instead considering Satan as the human instinct within ourselves, which is what LaVeyan Satanism celebrates; the human instinct. Instead he supports a view of human beings as animals and rejects many social structures that he believes inhibit human instincts.
And now onto Aleister Crowley, "The Great Beast 666."
Crowley was a ritualistic magician, and not a Satanist by faith, however his severe distaste for Christianity and his ventures into the occult have been jumbled together into his fame as a "Satanist". He was a notorious sinner, always giving into his human nature for his own satisfaction. This is oft why he's associated with Satanism. Brother just liked to party hard.
Many things are wrongly attributed to Satanism. Child molesting, vandalism, bad metal lyrics, violent crime, cruelty to animals. It's always been very sensationalist of the media to make a puppet enemy of 'the occult'. Satanism is commonly a part in that. Very rarely are the criminals involved Satanists at all. Charles Manson was a Theistic Satanist, and a very disturbed individual. Satanism is very keen to wash it's hands of him.
Satanism is about strength of self. Any fool who uses it's encouragement of human nature as an excuse to commit acts of unhuman barbarity is no Satanist. The term 'Satanist' itself exists because the Church (arguably to increase devotion and commitment to the Church) felt it necessary to create a villain and rival to the Christian faith. This is what is meant in the 9 Satanic Statements (CoS) by 'Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!'