Satanism a question

Well, some philosophies disagree...like nihilism, existentialism, etc.

[Minyaliel]

Originally Posted by happy_dude

Forming your own beliefs makes you an individual, not a Satanist. A Satanist is someone who believes in themselves and worships themselves as a god. Having unique beliefs do not fall into this definition.

Actually, happy_dude, there's more to it than that. You might want to read up on http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/dvera/b...What-Is-S.html. As for the different types of Satanist beliefs, there are two main divisions and several subdivisions; you have the Modern (usually atheistic) Satanists and then there's the Theistic/ "Traditional" ones who actually do worship Satan. Best place to look up theistic Satanism is here: http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/dvera/varieties/index.html. For Modern Satanism, I guess you're better off picking up The Satanic Bible to get the drift of what they believe; it is essentially self- worship and controlled egoism.

I mean, sure, being a free- thinker doesn't automatically make you a Satanist. But it's not impossible being both, and actually encouraged in the theistic communities. Never take anything for granted.

[happy_dude]

Hmm, I treat Satanists and Devil-worshippers as completely seperate religions.

I know the Church of Satan's theories and litany relatively well.

[Minyaliel]

They're not really separate, only different in the same way you have different kinds of christian congregations; there's a visible difference between, say, an orthodox catholic church and one lead by the charismatic baptists; this is the same also in Satanism. =)

[PinstripesAndPithHelmets]

Where's the "Satan" in Satanism? Is Satan actually worshipped, or is he simply some manner of cartoon mascot for self-interest and over-indulgence?

[Cyntrox]

It depends on the type of satanism, as stated some posts above.

[Jarl]

I used to be a laveyan Satanist... until I realized every Satanist I came across was a delusional elitist and all "I'm so dark" fake attitude bullshit with pentagrams all over their MySpace profiles and millions of rants about how much they hate "Xtains \m/"... they spend more time bashing Christians than Christians have ever bashed Satanism...

To PinstripesAndPithHelmets: In LAveyan Satanism Satan is used a symbol, like a mirror, pretty much the opposite of god, and most know how much Satanists love to blaspheming without creativity... plus the inverted pentagram is just a poke at the Wiccan religion and their (as a Satanist would put it from parroting The Satanic Bible) "hypocritical white magic". Satan is pretty much just a mascot. They get kicks out of peoples shocked reactions to the name and look of their religion... they love it.

[Jarl]

Though, there is another well known type of Satanism that actually does worship Satan as an entity, that kind is called Luciferianism

[Jarl]

Oh the best website to look at for info is www.dpjs.co.uk it has countless essays that aren't quite as bias as what I said, then again I'm not trying to sell you anything.

[PinstripesAndPithHelmets]

Thanks for the information, Jarl.

[MollyMac]

A group I studied mythology and religion with called the "Luciferianists" Icharial because of the tangents between Lucifer and Icharus. ALthough not exactly the opposite of Christianity in most respects, it is a religion based on pride, not humility; and self over community.

As to whether that is a good thing or a bad thing? Who knows. The fact is that the difference between what is good and what is evil is rarely known until the end, anyway.

Originally Posted by Jarl

I used to be a laveyan Satanist... until I realized every Satanist I came across was a delusional elitist and all "I'm so dark" fake attitude bullshit with pentagrams all over their MySpace profiles and millions of rants about how much they hate "Xtains \m/"... they spend more time bashing Christians than Christians have ever bashed Satanism...

To PinstripesAndPithHelmets: In LAveyan Satanism Satan is used a symbol, like a mirror, pretty much the opposite of god, and most know how much Satanists love to blaspheming without creativity... plus the inverted pentagram is just a poke at the Wiccan religion and their (as a Satanist would put it from parroting The Satanic Bible) "hypocritical white magic". Satan is pretty much just a mascot. They get kicks out of peoples shocked reactions to the name and look of their religion... they love it.

Amen. I used to be a Satanist too, but I realized they were all elitists who lived in their mom's basement. It was really stupid. No one with a real life, or a real elitist would bother to be a Satanist...at least openly.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Not to say elitism is bad.
It's only bad when that elitism is arbitrary and without justification.
I could see most of you with good enough justifications for being elitists.
I don't think I have met a (serious) satanist that has no justification for being elitist.
But satanism doesn't deify only these people. It deifies anyone that wants to call himself a satanist.
I do praise satanism for placing themselves on a higher pedestal than the rest of humanity, but the instant people begin to like satanism as a form of cool "you're special" blanket, it will go under faster than ground zero did.

[happy_dude]

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

I do praise satanism for placing themselves on a higher pedestal than the rest of humanity, but the instant people begin to like satanism as a form of cool "you're special" blanket, it will go under faster than ground zero did.

You praise arrogance and self righteousness?

[raggedyanne]

I think it's more realizing that you are special. Not "I Am the Master of Cool", but that there is something within you that makes you that much more important than the ones who are trying to drag you down. That's my viewpoint anyway.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Originally Posted by happy_dude

You praise arrogance and self righteousness?

If your definitions of those two words do not entail a superiority complex and narrow-mindedness, then yes.

[Kraven de Sade]

I used to study Satanism, so correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Satanism (Laveyenism, at least) deify all people?

It deified them in an almost "THIS IS YOUR LIFE ITS TEH BEST FOR U" way.

[Minyaliel]

Not all Satanists are like that, though... You're generalizing, which is not a good thing imho because, well, there are people who do act like that and then there are people who don't. You make it sound like all Satanists (or more specifically, the Laveyanists) are stupid¸ arrogrant bastards.

The LaVey doctrine basically says to be a stupid, arrogant bastard. Did you study the CoS as well as I did? I read the Satanic bible and everything, and that thing is a pile of bullshit. It's all shock-factor. It's like it was written by a five year old.

[Minyaliel]

I know, I've read a lot about the CoS, it's founder, and yes, I have read the Satanic Bible (and the "Satanic Rituals" and the "Satanic Witch" and a huge pile of articles written by him and other priests and high priests of the CoS). I agree with you, the Satanic Bible (and everything else he ever wrote) stinks. Most of it is plagiarized and simplified from other authors' work, which annoys me to no end - the originals at least make sense, even though I rarely find myself agreeing to them.

[Jarl]

Originally Posted by Minyaliel

Not all Satanists are like that, though... You're generalizing, which is not a good thing imho because, well, there are people who do act like that and then there are people who don't. You make it sound like all Satanists (or more specifically, the Laveyanists) are stupid¸ arrogrant bastards.

If this is directed at me then, I was generalizing and it wasn't particularly just at LaVeyan Satanists, In general, all organized religion no matter how seemingly sense making is incredibly flawed, just in the blinding self importance of each religion alone. Every follower of every religion, is basically the same int eh aspect of "My religion is the best".

However, there are the few from each group or are not the typical follower of that religion. and I acknowledge that.

[Cyntrox]

Originally Posted by Jarl

Every follower of every religion, is basically the same int eh aspect of "My religion is the best".

If someone didn't think their religion was best, they wouldn't follow it, not would they?

[Drake Dun]

Originally Posted by Cyntrox

If someone didn't think their religion was best, they wouldn't follow it, not would they?

Ah, see, there is the problem at the heart of modern "religion", which actually is not terribly religious.

I spent a good chunk of last night reading about Satanism, thanks to the link originally provided by Bloopie. There was this magical jolt of adrenaline, and that kicked ass. I did feel a wall or two coming down. I'm hanging on to the memory of it.

OTOH it was difficult to take seriously in the big picture sense. We're talking about a group of people who drone on about how superior, rebellious, and free they are, and in the next breath tell you never to do anything illegal. Next they dust off their own "Satanic Rules of the Earth" which include, among other chain-bursting libations, "Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food" and "Thou shalt not steal", only worded differently.

Drake

[PinstripesAndPithHelmets]

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

If your definitions of those two words do not entail a superiority complex and narrow-mindedness, then yes.

How can you be self-righteous and arrogant without a superiority complex?