Satanism?
Posted on: December 6, 2007 - 12:50pm
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Satanism?
I'm kind of curious what other atheists think about (theistic) satanism, is it worse, just as bad as or not as bad as Christianity (or the other Abrahamitic religions)?
My own opinion is that they are just as bad since they irrationally believe (or pretend to believe just to be "cool", which is even worse) in a supernatural entity and worship it in order to gain advantages of one form or another.
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I agree. I don't know much about Satan worship. But if they actually believe there's an invisible, monsterous deity floating around out there somewhere that can read their thoughts and do magic then they're as looney as the other guys.
Frosty's coming back someday. Will you be ready?
Delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion, is delusion.
Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Mormonism, Satanism, Scientology, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Paganism, Deism, Pantheism... all invoke some kind of magic and that is where my brain kicks in and says, "no".
Satanism is generally misunderstood by many people. Most atheists know that modern non-theistic satanism is more of a moral code and philosophy than anything. I have only met one theist who knows what satanism really is. http://www.modernsatanism.com/satanism.html that provides a little insight on modern satanism. (WARNING: there are some elitest attacks by the author at the bottom of the page on satanism vs. atheism)
As for theistic satanism, yes, it is in my opinion even more ridiculous than xtianity.
Your god's silence speaks loud and clear
You said it right here. There are different forms of 'Satanism', just like Christianity, and any that invoke the supernatural are hogwash.
It is true that many philosophical Satanists, especially those within the infmaous "Church of Satan", are indeed atheists. They do not believe in a metaphysical entity called Satan, nor do they believe in demons, hell, or any other nonsense. It is more a system of living whereby individual strength is exhalted above external spirituality.
Just as a bit of evidence that, despite the fact that it's quite theatrial, Satanism is a fairly serious set of beliefs, check out the podcast of Peter Gilmore on Point of Inquiry:
http://www.pointofinquiry.org/?p=122
In my personal view, the ritualistic side of Church of Satan style Satanism whereby the participant is encouraged to discard intellectual objections to the proceedings, seems stupid. However the moral system that was endorsed in The Satanic Bible is really quite practical, and certainly more admirable than the 10 commandments or whatever other distilled list of do's and don't that you might find.
To answer the OP though, I personally think that the worship of an actual Satan is less harmful than Christianity, if only because it is such an isolated viewpoint that the movement is unlikely to gather any momentum. It is my feeling that religions are only harmful insofar as they effect my right to not feel the same way. Christianity, in America, is enemy #1 by virtue of the fact that it's adherents pump their views directly into your lives in political, recreational, and professtional venues. The idealist side of me wants to say that all such belief systems are equally absurd, and while they are, I really feel that whichever one is the most persistent and pervasive in socity must be labeled the most harmful.
Through the clouds
Through the lies
You'll never see what's never been
At the passing of life and the coming of death
Pass not through it's gates, but into the dark
I respect Satanists' moral code a lot more than I respect those of other religions. They basically believe in indulging their urges and experiencing pleasure responsibly. I don't know why you need a weird spiritual group to allow you to do that, but whatever. At least they aren't trying to make everyone just like them.
Vexen Crabtree's website on Satanism is one of the best http://www.vexen.co.uk/vexen/satanist.html
generally they are fun atheists with a humorous message, ie shock treatment effect against religion.
Atheism Books.
Instead of worshipping an alpha male it's being the alpha male. I'd still have to refute the idea of not wanting to help people by curing the mental disease of theist-ism ,but someone has to do it.
I've actually read "The Satanic Bible" (Anton LeVay) and the first part of it actually seems to be based on the book "Might is Right." Very mackiavellian (no idea how to spell that) Then it starts to go into the spells and its just crazy. Satanic cults are a lot like midevil witch covens. They just don't exist. (Im sure some do, but not even close to the extent people think)
I think satanists view themselves as in control of their own destiny, and they've chosen the "Anti" christian god for a symbol as a form of rebellion.
Dont get me wrong, its all nonsense, but a satanists definition of satanism is MUCH different from a christians view of a satanist.
Edited to add: As an Atheist, I really don't like being lumped in with satanists. Thats half the reason I stayed agnostic so long. It is hard enough to get religous people to just REASON, let alone trying to get them to "Come to the dark side." Regardless of whatever they believe, Satanists don't do us any favors...
... there more than one way to skin a cat, thank goodness for halloween, laughing at the devil, that is good thing .... and shouldn't we "pray" for the one that needs it most , the devil, said mark twain !
love that twain , google his quotes .... hee hee
Atheism Books.
Satanism is just as irrational and stupid as christianity.
People follow satanism when they not only believe in christianity, but feel like "rebelling" so they can feel cool and do the "wrong" thing. If there were no christianity, there'd be no satanism.
"If there were no christianity, there'd be no satanism. "
YUP ! but there is .... so go get em Satan !
Atheism Books.