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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 11/14/2005 7:56:33 PM | Honestly, if you take the self destructive corrupted survival of the fittest view out of Sith doctrines, it sounds a whole hell of a lot like Satanism. I don't mean that as an insult, but that is what is sounds like to me.
The CoS is not a religion of followers. A Satanist either resonates with the attributes described in the Satanic Bible, or he ISN'T a Satanist. No one becomes a Satanist, Satanism is not an evangelical religion seeking to gain as many members as possible. The CoS does not seek to change the behavioral patterns of mankind.
A follower does not have to be religious. Anyone who calls themselves a Satanist is following LaVey (hopefully). This does not mean you worship him, it just means you have read and agree with what he has to say to the point where you adopt his philosophy as yours.
The CoS is an organization of likeminded individuals who wish to network for their own goals and the goals of those who feel as they do. There is an objective, it's not just a fan club full of couch potatoes.
This sounds a bit like the Freemasons. Or any other over college age nonreligious noncorporate organization.
There are essays which give certain presentations on the common human condition as well as philosophical perspectives. I would highly recommend the reading of The Devil's Notebook and Satan Speaks, which are both collections of essays by Dr. LaVey. They don't give a full definition of what Satanism is though. He had already written The Satanic Bible for that purpose.
and
Satan was used as an achetype to personify the religion. Satan was the adversary. It is a different way of thinking, a way which is the adversary of those who oppose the denial of certain things based solely upon faith. It is the adversary of those who oppose individuality. It is the adversary of those who oppose progress. It's also a bit of a filter. It filters out those who still have some reservations about completely abandoning herd conformity.
Satanic rituals are nothing different from the average goings on in some catholic traditional ceremony. Christians pray to a God they can't see, which makes them feel better. Satanic rituals are emotional decompression, it involves suspension of disbelief for the fulfillment of certain goals. To someone who hasn't correctly understood the meanings of specific Satanic rituals and practices, of course it seems like nothing more than Christian inversionism. Why should all the elder established religions only be called "religions"? The elders aren't always the wisest, which is another principle presented in the phrase: "quality, not quantity", which part of The Pentagonal Revisionism, a five part outline of the common goals held by the CoS and it's members.
However it is presented under the title of Satanism. This is the part I take issue with. Any time you borrow the antagonist from a religion as the name for your philosophy, it is done so partially to cast stones at that religion. If Satanists actually believed in Satan and were worshipping him, then this would be a different matter, but they only borrow the name because of the effect it would have on the Christians.
I can understand what you are saying about Satan being the adversary, but that adversarial relationship was created mostly due to the choosing of the name. I can also see how you would derive some of the philosophies from an intellectual discourse on Satan's condition in the Bible, but when it comes down to it, the only reason Satan plays a large role is because he was chosen to.
You yourself seem to flipflop on whether you consider it a religion or not yourself. The reason for this is that LaVey was basically taking a purely philosophical concept and naming it after a religious figure, then used religious practices as a focus. From what I have read on the subject Satanism is no more a religion than Taoism is. It is a way of life and a philosophy, but not a true religion.
Selfish? Yes, but that only partly describes it. It's more like "rational self interest". I suppose that's what you meant by "not destructively so." It is NOT an acceptance of the weakness of the flesh. Some people, perhaps even I, could misconstrue what you mean by that particular statement. Satanism is not a support group that makes the weak stronger, it makes the strong stronger. Perhaps if you substituted the word "condition" for "weakness" and "acknowledgement" for "acceptance" and "world" for "flesh", you would be correct. "Flesh" almost connotates the existence of a soul or an afterlife, something the CoS does not agree with. "Weakness" is not accepted. It may be acknowledged and removed or altered into a strength, but it is not accepted. Satanism is about personal stratification, not personal stagnation and accepting your limits.
I suppose those were some poorly chosen words, yes. Self Centered would be a far better choice than selfish. By "weakness of the flesh" I meant to encompass lust, greed, self interest, and things along those lines. Concepts often thought of as the negative aspects of human nature. These concepts are conversely worked within in Satanism instead of repressed. The term "Weakness of the flesh" is a commonly accepted phrase covering those concepts and I did not mean to imply that Satanists considered them weaknesses or think of flesh as distinct from another part of humanity.
Using the name of Christianity's boogeyman may work as a filter, but I think you might find it to be a bit too broad based of a filter unless you wish to attract mostly spiteful anti-Christians who will just use the name to reinforce their hatred.
As I said, I agree with a lot of the concepts of Satanism, but the delivery of said concepts I find to be a bit .... for lack of a better word, juvenile.
I hope this clears up some of the vagueness in my previous post. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 11/15/2005 1:33:36 AM | As I said, I agree with a lot of the concepts of Satanism, but the delivery of said concepts I find to be a bit .... for lack of a better word, juvenile.
That was my problem with most practicing Satanists when I was working on a documentary project.I found most to be motivated by bad personal experiences with their home religion.Most had grown up in a strict religion that believed in a vert strict moral code.These folks grew up with a lot of hypocracy such as a parent figure who preached temperance and demanded the kids attend church,but was an abusive alcoholic who didn't practice what he preached.Interviews could be difficult with these folks as conversation always ended back to the "Christianity thrives on hypocracy" issue.I spent time with a family of practicing Satanists,actually the husband was a Druidic Shaman and the wife was a Satanic priestess,the huisband was able to talk more of the beliefs and practices and had more interesting insight than the wife who talked mostly about her growing up in a family of hypocritical Jehovah's Witnesses and the problems her kids were having in school because they wore Satanic jewelry.
I have no problem with the belief systems inherent to the LHP,but it's those that are motivated by bad personal experiences with Christianity that I found to be a bit tiresome and repitious.Those that could actually share some insight into the core beliefs of Satanism were rare jewells to a documentary filmmaker. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 11/15/2005 4:00:37 PM | taurus516:
Oh believe me, I know exactly what you mean. Many who take the name of "Satanist" do come from homes where some form of Judeo-Christian belief system was held as THE law of the household. All they seem to talk about is how much they dislike Christianity. I'm sure from your studies of Satanism that you've learned that it is not for the purpose of being the antithesis of Christianity. Most CoS members I've ever met seldom discuss issues with Christianity. The ones that constantly discuss such things, and who came from Christian parents with a Christian upbringing, are typically reffered to as "first phase Satanists", and are usually younger. With time they will either find that they aren't a Satanist at all, or they simply figure out that it really doesn't matter. Satanists do not constantly complain about things that don't truly effect them. If they do, perhaps they need to re-evaluate themselves. The one's I've known who came from Christian upbringings don't mind their past, indeed they view it as what helped to shape their current way of thinking. I'm curious as to who you talked to who claimed the rank of Priestess within the CoS. Typically Magistra Nadramia handles media relations and correspondance. Typically if you want an official representation of the CoS, you must contact them and they will refer you to a CoS Agent who they authorize to communicate on behalf of the church. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 11/15/2005 4:19:55 PM | I'm curious as to who you talked to who claimed the rank of Priestess within the CoS.
I don't think this woman was representing the CoS,but rather another group,something independent,I forget the name.The focus of the piece I was doing was more lifestyle,the whole family involved in the rituals,that sort of thing moreso than specifics. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 11/15/2005 5:03:29 PM | infornography:
This sounds a bit like the Freemasons. Or any other over college age nonreligious noncorporate organization.
Actually, there are members of the CoS who are also Freemasons. Many are members of several other organizations as well. As long as that organizations base philosophies and goals do not conflict with those of Satanism, the CoS does not prohibit membership in other organizations.
but they only borrow the name because of the effect it would have on the Christians.
That is incorrect, it was not chosen ONLY because it makes Christians squirm. It was chosen because of it's stimulating effect on the Satanist himself. It is used as the focal point of the religion, a central symbol which embodies all of the qualities contained in Satanic philosophy. It is a vital component in the successful execution of Greater Black Magic. If Satanism was to be a heathen religion which opposed the common way of thinking, Dr. LaVey made sure that people understood what kind of unapologetic uncompromising religion it really was.
From what I have read on the subject Satanism is no more a religion than Taoism is. It is a way of life and a philosophy, but not a true religion.
I suppose that all depends upon the individuals definition of the word "religion".
I meant to encompass lust, greed, self interest, and things along those lines. Concepts often thought of as the negative aspects of human nature. These concepts are conversely worked within in Satanism instead of repressed.
From the Nine Satanic Statements
#8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
You are absolutely correct. Why deny yourself ability to be gratified? Satanists view such behavior as masochistic and self destructive. Many mistake this as saying, "Have all the unprotected sex you can possibly have, do all the drugs you want, as long as you are happy". WRONG. We all know how the Holy Bible can be taken out of context, so can the Satanic Bible. At another point, it is clearly stated: "Indulgence, not COMPULSION". The Satanist should use his intellgence to discern whether or not his actions are ultimately beneficial or ultimately detremental.
Using the name of Christianity's boogeyman may work as a filter, but I think you might find it to be a bit too broad based of a filter unless you wish to attract mostly spiteful anti-Christians who will just use the name to reinforce their hatred.
You are correct. But then again, that's why you have a questionaire to fill out before the CoS will consider your request for active membership status. They do all they can to ensure that the applicant is serious and fully understands the concepts within The Satanic Bible. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 11/15/2005 5:22:39 PM | Count,
I found this defination for Left Hand Path
The term 'Left-Hand Path' has become an umbrella term of self-designation used by certain contemporary ritual magicians and is usually taken to incorporate practitioners of Thelemic magick (beginning with Aleister Crowley), Tantrik magick, and Chaos Magick (inspired by both Crowley and the magickal techniques devised by the occult artist Austin O. Spare, 1886-1956). The notion of the Left-Hand Path is derived from the Tantric term vama-marga ('left-path'), i.e., the Left-Hand Path in Tantrism. [...] Its usage represents a deliberate attempt by Left-Hand Path magicians to transcend the outmoded and value-laden dichotomy of 'black' versus 'white' magic [...] because it is held to reflect the 'moronic oversimplicity of the Judeo-Xtian distinction between good and evil'"
"Pagan Pathways" essay on "Left-Hand Path Ritual Magick" by Richard Sutcliffe1
Page 110.
Other then that, I haven't explored Satanism to any extent so can not really comment on that. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 11/16/2005 10:14:28 AM | However, in the early '70's a so-called Christian comedian named Mike Warnke started this whole Satanism scare which was all over the Christian community and he was earning over one million dollars a year in his "ministry" (see thread entitled "False Teaching in the Evangelical Community").
Warnke started the ball rolling but it was a book put out by Dr.Louis Pazder who wrote a book titled "Michele Remembers"where under hypnosis,his patient claimed to remember horific details about Satanic ritual abuse at the hands of her family.No one was alive to dispute her claims and Pazder believed them to be genuine.He lost much of his credibility when he ended up marrying his patient.
The psychaitric community has always been divided over whether or not patients who told stories of satanic ritual abuse were telling the truth or suffereing false memory syndrome. | |
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longte
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Joined: 10/18/2004
Msg: 33 | |
| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 11/16/2005 5:57:59 PM | I have been involved here in Australia with several cases of Ritual Satanic Abuse
Whereas Sexual Child Abuse goes right across the range, in that people from any part of Society may be involved, Ritual Satanic Abuse seems much more common in the so called Upper Levels of Society
The Satanic Part of it may be just a front, and the practitioners not actually in the various Churches of Satan
But the cover-up power they possess is frightening
The protection they are given is also very scary
Too many witnesses die accidentally or simple disappear
Every case that is presented is ridiculed very strongly
False Memory Syndrome can happen
But therapists know to tape everything from day one now
Yet even so their testimony is ignored
The way the abuse is organised, and inflicted in such a way, as to make the Victim also a Participant, is horrible
The end result is not pretty
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 11/30/2006 9:04:48 PM | I have deeply studied the satanic bible
I do believe ritual abuse happens, and that it is wrong | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 12/1/2006 7:41:09 AM |
I have been involved here in Australia with several cases of Ritual Satanic Abuse
Is there documented physical evidence that such exists?It's like snuff films,people talk about it and believe they exist,but real evidence just isn't there.Authorities are pretty convinced that it's at least 98% urband legend.
In these cases you speak about,has anyone been arrested,charged and/or convicted?Back in the '80's there were wild claims of "altar babies",children being concieved,carried to term and delivered for the purpose of human sacrifice.Horrific tales of babies being cut up and sacrificed on altars and then burned in portable crematoriums went rampant in the 80's.The trouble with tales like that,is that in this day and time,such crimes would be next to impossible to commit and not leave detectable evidence.Fornesic science has come a long way.
The FBI and other agencies have investigated these claims for years and have concluded that it's urband legend.This is not to say that certain crimes don't happen under the aegis of "Satanism" or "Black Magick"(such as the case of the mass murders in Matamoris,Mexico back in the late '80's),but nothing that would account for the horrific tales that were told. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 12/1/2006 8:04:37 AM |
Remeber the old saying that if it walks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it probably is a duck, no matter what else you decide to call it
This would then mean you would suggest for individuals not to be weary of people knocking on their door in an officers uniform with a variant in the colour of stripe on their pants (as each city has it’s on signifying colour, and you can’t get them in the same colour at any costume shop). Or the same of firemen, or those reports I’ve seen on the news suggesting that people are scamming individuals by using a fake electrical company? Blindly trust them. Or how about the priests who abuse little boys…they are priests, but that is not what the religion stands for. So what of that?
If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it might very well be a damn good actor.
Ok, so for my own part, there are those who would disguise themselves on any stance to do horrible things to other people. This has nothing to do with Satanism. Ritual Abuse can be performed by anyone. A case study of a psychologist who wore a white coat and told his stepdaughter he was a general practitioner and was merely examining her at home instead of in a clinic… this girl believed nothing had been done wrong to her until her late 30’s. So yeah, ritual abuse is hard to fix. But it’s got nothing to do with whether one believes in Satanism.
An individual who takes care of themselves and does their best not to be stepped on by others, is not selfish. Just because a person says they are taking care of themselves first, does not make them selfish. Selfish would be a person who ONLY takes care of themselves, and not others. Selfish is the wannabe Christian parents who ignore and neglect their kids because they simply don’t want to talk about what is going on in the real world.
Notice the term wannabe – mainly because I know a real Christian would not do that. Just as a REAL Satanist would not do that.
People use religion as a mask for negativity on a regular basis…I don’t know why some people find that so hard to grasp. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 7/13/2007 6:30:46 PM | Actually the Baphomet Sigil is in the public domain and it always has been. And Peter Gilmore knows this and if he ever tries to take this to court, Paul Valentine of the Worldwide Church of Satanic Liberation and the Temple of Set will challenge them because they have the evidence that the Baphomet sigil has been public domain since the late 19th century.
They can screech and holler and threaten to sue all they want but the only reason that First Church of Satan folded under pressure and settled out of court was because they don't have the financial resources that Michael Aquino and Paul Valentine have access to. Paul flat out told Gilmore that if he wants to sue him over a public domain symbol to bring it on. Strangely CoS has declined the invitation.
And during the Satanic Panic it was the Temple of Set and the Worldwide Church of Satanic Liberation that stepped up to the plate and started to fight back by suing these idiots who were alleging human sacrifice and Ritual Abuse for slander and defamation of character and libel. And where were LaVey and Gilmore. on the sidelines twiddling their thumbs.
The point is that It was Paul Valentine and Michael Aquino who had to fight to educate people about real Satanism while Anton LaVey was living a Howard Hughes-like reclusive lifestyle. Not once did the Church of Satan step forward and join the fight. One more reason why Aquino and Valentine get along great. Both of these men have no respect for the Church of Satan because LaVey and Gilmore basically stabbed them in the back and hung them out to dry during the Satanic Panic.
So in the future do your research before making such bald headed statements. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 7/15/2007 12:59:57 AM | The tenents of LaVey style satanism has been pretty well covered. There is a difference between that and old school satanism though, the kind where people actually believe in the devil and worship it. It's existed from near the begining of christianity (possibly there was a jewish varient that goes back even farther, I just don't know), and really flowered in medieval times.
During that period, many of the clergy didn't have a "calling", they were forced to join by circumstances or under durress. Obviously under those situations you'd have some disgruntled and rebellious members, so they became satanists, practiced the black mass and all that stuff. The clergy weren't the only satanists, but their participation added a bit of "officialness" to the preceedings.
The modern CoS has no connection to these people, but they still exist. Often in the form of rebellious teens who outgrow it, but some don't. I don't think there's nearly as many clergy involved, since generally they only join the holy orders by choice these days. I do think there's the occasional satanic sacrifice, but not in the numbers that the media makes it seem like. I don't think these crimes have any real connection to the CoS, but by independant old school satanists. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 7/16/2007 10:34:00 AM |
And during the Satanic Panic it was the Temple of Set and the Worldwide Church of Satanic Liberation that stepped up to the plate and started to fight back by suing these idiots who were alleging human sacrifice and Ritual Abuse for slander and defamation of character and libel. And where were LaVey and Gilmore. on the sidelines twiddling their thumbs.
Back in 1988-89 Zeena LaVey made a few TV appearances along with Micheal Aquino and Paul Valentine,up until she had a falling out with her father in 1990.Rex Diablos Church made a few also,but then dropped out as the hype started to dwindle.I suspect much had to do with the fact that Anton and the CoS had real problems to work on then ,that outweighed the importance of fighting SRA hype.The Black House was going into foreclosure due to back taxes,much of Anton's claims about himself and his past achievements were coming into question (see "LaVey:Legend vs.Reality",google it.Interesting site complied mainly by Zeena and Aquino) as well as his failing health which led to his demise in 1997.The CoS is,was and will pretty much remain a small mom and pop organization. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 7/16/2007 10:58:58 AM | taurus, I know for fact that there followers of LaVey. I do not care for black magick. Satanism is not an urban myth. Satanism is a spirituality and a practice. There are satanic rituals. There are fewer who follow satanism as written by LaVey than those who follow the Goddess and God.
There are many false satanists and there are those who do practice black magick. I actually ended a relationship with someone because he was in the dark shadow.
Now I will explain the word "satan". In Genesis of the Old Testament, the word "satan" is used. It is the hebrew word for a snake with legs (a reptile). It is not until the New Testament that this hebrew word was turned into a name for the devil. In the Old Testament, there is no devil. Many religions believe that there is no devil. The devil or satan was created by christianity.
Satanism is just a word. However, there are followers of LaVey who practice black magick. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 7/16/2007 11:04:44 AM |
How many folks know what this is all about? I learned all about it in a class i took in college.
How many have read The Satanic Bible and are familiar with Anton LaVey or any of the others like Micheal Aquino of the Temple of Set who came after?
I have read parts of it.
What is your take on it? it reminds me of the 80's. ME! ME! ME! The only difference is the yuppies wore expensive clothes while the satanists were all black.
Do you believe that Satanic Ritual Abuse is real or an urband myth?
just about as real me seeing social security in my lifetime. I saw the video they pass around to the police departments. Most of the evidence (or lack there-of) is of random street graffiti, playing DnD, or rantings by children carefully crafted by skillful unlicenesed-therapists.
I have been playing DnD for over 5 or so years and I have yet to be contacted or recruited by Satanic worshipers to further my dealings with the dark underworld. Even my kids play and the only abuse they suffer from is being made to clean their bedrooms, an abuse every kid is made to suffer.
Honestly, anyone who took a single class on child development could tell you that, you can manipulate a child into believing that he/she was molested by: aliens, Jesus, Santa Claus, dust bunnies or Satan worshipers. statements from children are a bad joke at best given the proper line of questioning. although, children arnt the only ones who can have their memories restructured by this simple method.
the church of satin doesnt believe in animal sacrifice. its one of their tenents not to harm animals. most of the creeds they have are a joke to piss off the christians. they typically dont worship any god and would rather empower themselves rather then an invisible man or demon. Many of the tenents I personally agree with, though Im not a member of the CoS. You should rebel against the status quo, and think for yourself, unlike the lambs who follow the herd mentality.
In the 70's or 80's member of the CoS split to form the Temple of Set. they, unlike the CoS, believed in worhsiping a deity. the devil, as he takes many forms, has been in every piece of folklore since the beginning of time. the devil or Set is consistant in every piece of religous history, unlike a certain hippie type prophet. thus that is why they worship Set or the Devil...because of consitancy. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 4/21/2008 9:21:58 PM | "Satanism isn't evil, nor is it the belief in the Devil.
Satanism is the belief in Chaos. Chaos is simple, it is the principle that ANYTHING can happen, at ANY time at ANY place without cause or reason. That's why its Chaos.
Disuading that Chaos exists, is basically saying that the world shouldn't exist, because Chaos principles are all around us. Structure from Chaos, Order from Structure."
you're right Satanism isn't evil, but Satanism does NOT follow chaos becuase Satanism is a life loving religion. We can NOT do anything to another against their will, we can't force someone to be a sacrifice or anything like that because it's against the religion. I'm a Satanist I strongly follow Satanism and YES most of us believe in the Gods of Hell to their demonic state because Satanists "INVOKE" them. Look at the "Invocation to Satan" and you'll see, if you can't see this after that then you're pretty dumb. Also check out: the 11 Satanic rules of Earth, the 9 Satanic Statements, and the Satanic sins. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 4/21/2008 9:39:17 PM | Bah. In my opinion - and gladly I'm not alone in that -it's boring, slightly "musical" (as they say in Britain) melodramatic spiritual pap for the feeble of brain who try to hard to impress and less hard to actually work on self-development. As was pointed out on the other thread on Satanism (of the many other redundant one's)
You know what the most tiresome thing about LaVeyan Satanism is?
Most of the work of the great big "pant-load" known as Anton LaVey is plagiarized from others...the man was a lying, plagiarizing, wife-beating, animal-harming thief, and his life was, quite frankly, mostly one that was of no great moment.
Ayn Rand, Ragnar RedBeard, Aleister Crowley and John Dee, all unacknowledged or outright ripped off...and that's only in the Satanic Bible... read the rest of the stories at the link above and smell the BS. Astounding.
Too emo indeed.
http://www.luckymojo.com/esoteric/religion/satanism/ref.laveylegends.txt
LEGEND: ASL wrote the _Satanic Bible_, his principal work, to fulfill his congregation's need for a scriptural guide. REALITY: _The Satanic Bible_ was conceived as a commercial vehicle by paperback publisher Avon Books. Avon approached ASL for some kind of Satanic work to cash in on the Satanism & witchcraft fad of the late 1960s. Pressed for material to meet Avon's deadline, ASL resorted to plagiarism, assembling extracts from an obscure 1896 tract - _Might is Right_ by Ragnar Redbeard into a "Book of Satan" for the _SB_, and claiming its authorship by himself. [Ironically these _MiR_ passages are the ones most frequently quoted by ASL disciples.] Another third of the SB consists of John Dee's "Enochian Keys", taken directly but again without attribution from Aleister Crowley's _Equinox_. The _SB_'s "Nine Satanic Statements", one of the Church of Satan's central doctrines, is a paraphrase, again unacknowledged, of passages from Ayn Rand's _Atlas Shrugged_. The last words in the _SB_ - "Yankee Rose" - have been puzzled over for years by readers. "YR" is actually the name of an old popular tune in ASL's nightclub repertoire. SOURCES: ASL, _The Satanic Bible_; Ragnar Redbeard, _Might is Right_, Port Townsend: Loompanics (reprint), 1896; Ayn Rand, _Atlas Shrugged_ (Galt's speech, ca. pages #936-993); "Yankee Rose" by Sidney Holden & Abe Frankl (Irving Berlin Music, 1926). | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 4/22/2008 8:33:24 AM | Hopefully my minor experience will be of help for you all.
About 5 years ago, a friend introduced me to LaVeyan Satanism.
I was intrigued. I bought the Satanic Bible, read it, and tried some of the rituals, but I found that nothing in it was not already known by me in some way or another.
It was an arrogant attempt at being a wise-ass with followers, in my opinion.
I know people who are Satanists, and all I can say is give them a wide berth.
One of the tenets of Satanism is "if another person does not stop irritating you, destroy them".
At the same time, they are openly elitist, and follow many ideals that are ironically similar to those of neo-conservatives, as well as more than a few "liberals".
Satanism has its good points, and it did teach me lessons. The biggest one was that sexuality is appropriate in any form as long as it's practiced appropriately. Usually that means in private, and with an artificial replacement for an unacceptable fetish (such as a child or dead body). But it still has allowed me to be more accepting.
In the end, I learned more from my eventual dislike of Satanism than I did from my original intrigue.
If I met someone who openly professed to being a satanist on the street without being asked, I would immediately know they were full of it. Satanists are too smart to give themselves away to a public that hates them.
Anyway, that's my experience and opinion on the matter. I hope it illuminates the issue rather than raising more questions.
~ David | |
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NERO1
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Joined: 3/8/2008
Msg: 46 | |
| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 4/22/2008 12:22:45 PM | QUOTE: How many folks know what this is all about?How many have read The Satanic Bible and are familiar with Anton LaVey or any of the others like Micheal Aquino of the Temple of Set who came after?What is your take on it?
Do you believe that Satanic Ritual Abuse is real or an urband myth?
>>>> OP, I had gotten interested in that back when I was in early h.s. yrs when it was popular for its '15 minutes' (late 80's, very early 90's). I read the S.Bible at that point and I don't think I really understood it at that time, to be honest -- too young, basically. Plus having been raised Catholic as a kid I was just afraid of it, and I thought it was all just evil for evil's sake, so to speak  .
But then when I got older , maybe around 23, or 24 (so about a decade later) , I went back and reread it, along with some of LaVey's other writings, and I understood it much much better. The thing is, in a certain sense, it could almost be more of a self-help book......barring the whole "occultish" aspect of it and the borrowings from anywhere ranging from Crowley (sex magic, basically) to Islam (for instance, that LaVey had "dipped his razor in the waters of Zamzam" before he shaved his head ).
Basically it teaches you about loving life and indulging in life (but not becoming a slave to such indulgence -- like an addict for instance). Ridding yourself of BS "Judeo-Christian" guilt (which I agree is a good idea, personally). Don't be so willing to be peoples' doormat, etc, quit getting kicked and just taking it. Stand up for yourself (within the bounds of the law or appropriate to the situation of course). "Ritualize" , if necessary, certain totally normal and valid feelings out of your system, etc etc. Why do it from this whole "Satan" perspective? No idea really. To sell books, and attract interest , in a sort of cheesy "carny" style?? Because it seemed fun and interesting at the time??? I just don't know. I pretty much liked it though, at that time (early to mid-20's, as I said), and I had already gone away from the religion I was raised in as a kid. I eventually ended up with a tattoo on my left shoulder blade that says "YANKEE ROSE" around the number 666. Anyone who's read the S.Bible will know where "Yankee Rose" is in the book.
In all honesty though, as I said, it could have been more like a self-help book, or for that matter any more "mainstream" occult book leaving out all of the evil / Satan elements. Some of LaVey's other writings are filled with neat and outre little facts and stories, anecdotes (whether true or not who knows), and are probably worth at least reading once if at all interested. I still have some of those, and browse through them from time-to-time; they are kind of fun.
Aquino and the Temple of Set is a different matter; they believe in a literal evil anti-god figure which they feel they are literally worshipping and addressing homage to. Though LaVey's books usually got most of the "credit" whenever some stoner killed an animal (or perhaps person) and happened to own a copy, IMO I would say Aquino and the ToS were (are?) more truly potentially ......let's say more potentially attractive to really weird and possibly dangerous people. LaVey's writings actually target(ed) a more elite, well-accomplished crowd , who could take the time to try and understand what he was actually saying, more so than just wanting to address prayers to a literal Satan as though this were the Middle Ages back in Europe ...
As for the ritual abuse.....IMO, total garbage........junk, rumors, defamation, etc. A little kid, as we have seen, has FAR more chance of getting raped by his local parish priest than he does by his local LaVeyan Satanist group....Not a chance any legit LaVeyan would do this. Total witch-hunt mentality that developed around all this.
All that having been said, I do think nowadays that LaVey was probably (mostly) a carny/charlatan-type, and he fabricated most of his own "dark legend", but he still got himself noticed (if only briefly) and wrote a few very interesting and noteworthy , and enduring, things while he was at it. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 9/12/2009 7:44:19 AM | Why is it the Left Hand Path?
I'm a lefty. But I'm the opposite of a Satanist.
I find this a huge oppression of lefties everywhere. It's handism.
Sorry, but these people are just trying to sound clever. But really, they're just picking on us lefties. | |
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| Satanism and the Left Hand Path
Posted: 9/12/2009 6:17:51 PM | Scorpio, maybe some people think left-handed folks are evil mirror people who came through the looking glass to take over this world. If I can keep joking about it, nobody will suspect its truth.
Mwa ha haaaa. Bwa ha.
Bwa ha ha mwa haaaaa.
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