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Are Satanists serious?

Scot C. Trypal

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Scot C. Trypal
Joined
Mar 10, 2004
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708
In keeping with the holiday:

So, a while back I skimmed through the Satanic Bible (someone claiming to be a Satanist annoyed me and I reflexively wanted to pick apart his text). My admittedly cursory impression of the book was basically Ayn Rand on acid. But the details of their philosophy are not really what I’m interested in here.

The author (I forget his hell-bound name) seemed to dismiss the supernatural as hogwash, but then the book contains magic rituals and so on (I remember some odd explanation to the effect of “humans need to believe something” was given). If anyone is more familiar with the topic, I was wondering how most Satanists view the supernatural, particularly how they see their role in Biblical theology. Are they hoping for a more temperate home in a Christian Hell, to overpower the un-overpowerable, or do they truly just do the supernatural rituals for “something to believe in” and see Satanism as a philosophical stance with no true supernatural or theology?

Or are they just confused teens with too much eye makeup?
 
I've encountered a few real Satanists (not the disgruntled teen-type), and I have learned one thing: They will never tell non-Satanists the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

To them, it is perfectly alright to lie as much as they see fit.

BTW: The author is Anton Szandor LaVey.
 
c4ts said:
Sounds just about like any other religion to me.
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The difference is that it is not embedded in the "religion" (I don't consider Satanism a religion, btw). Satanists have deceit as a way of life.
 
From what I can tell, "Satanists" are just atheist libertarians that chose a name specifically to piss off christians. That would be "modern" satanists, of course. There are apparently also "traditional" satanists who are more of the "worship satan, the fallen angel" types.

IMHO, both are to be avoided.
 
JSFolk said:
From what I can tell, "Satanists" are just atheist libertarians that chose a name specifically to piss off christians. That would be "modern" satanists, of course. There are apparently also "traditional" satanists who are more of the "worship satan, the fallen angel" types.

IMHO, both are to be avoided.
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I was listening to a christian lady on the radio speaking about halloween etc. Im sorry forgot her name Im terrible for that

But anyway she was saying along what you just said that the founder of the Satanist church does not believe in satan and only called it that to annoy christians as you said. In fact they dont believe in the supernatural at all.

And then theres your other satanists like you said.


As for the kids with too much eye makeup my take on that is; Kids have always shocked their parents its what they are good at. But what do you do when your parents are baby boomers? who went to Woodstock ran naked, smoked drugs lived in a van, wore long hair, slept with the better part of the population.

Its quite a challange to find something your parents are shocked at, right ;)
 
JSFolk said:
From what I can tell, "Satanists" are just atheist libertarians that chose a name specifically to piss off christians. That would be "modern" satanists, of course. There are apparently also "traditional" satanists who are more of the "worship satan, the fallen angel" types.
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IMNSHO, you are very wrong about satanists being just atheist libertarians. They are far more than that.

I am not saying that they are a force to be reckoned with - but I am saying that they should be monitored.

JSFolk said:
IMHO, both are to be avoided.
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........hmmmmmmm......no. Their actions and opinions should be recorded, first and foremost. :)
 
phildonnia said:
What about Discordians? They can't possibly be serious.
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If a Discordian speaks seriously, does he really make a sound? The answer is grapes.
 
Many years ago, I read a book which was an overview of various "neo-pagan" beliefs.
They had a chapter on Anton Sandor LaVey, the founder of this contemporary brand of Satanism. According to the book, the thing started out strictly tounge-in-cheek, then LaVey got sort of caught up in his own mini-celebrity. They used to book him for Halloween-week talk shows and such. Don't know if he's still alive or not.
 
If you read Aleister Crowley he is very tongue in cheek. Yet many people appeared to take him seriously.
 
Robin said:
If you read Aleister Crowley he is very tongue in cheek. Yet many people appeared to take him seriously.
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Just a thought;

I have not read him but an observation on tongue in cheek could be just another non threatening subtle way to get your point across through humour.
 
I have a Satanic Bible around here somewhere, but can't seem to finnd it at the moment. But from what I remember:

If you read it, Lavey says that he chooses the name 'Satan' because in Hebrew, it was originally translated as 'the opposer'. He had actually worked in a number of jobs, including carnie and crime scene photgrapher. When working as a carnie, he would see guys go to church, confess, be forgiven, etc., then they would head straight back to the carnival, and get drunk and see the strippers. He felt that this was hypocritical, to say the least. the main reason that he gives for rituals (iirc), is that humans need rituals as part of their life. In Satanism, you are your own god, and only you can decide your own morality, but you shouldn't impose it on others, or express it in way to hurt others (ie. if you're not monogamous, that's fine, but if you're not monogamous, and in a relationship with someone who thinks you're monogamous, then that's wrong). The cardinal sin is stupidity, and you are your own god. Also the point is made that confession is useless: if you're honestly sorry, you'll try to make amends, and not do it again, no need to go whining to a third party about it if you're just going to go out and commit the same 'sin' again.

I should take a look and find my copy. I read it when I was in jr high or thereabouts, and it actually made me think a lot about morality and such.
 
Now I’m more confused. :)

CFLarsen,
The difference is that it is not embedded in the "religion" (I don't consider Satanism a religion, btw). Satanists have deceit as a way of life.
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Not a religion in the sense that their Satanism doesn’t fit the dictionary definition of “the service and worship of God or the supernatural”? Or are you saying they are more of a cult, or philosophy than religion?

I guess what I’m getting at is, of those Satanists you’ve encountered, do you think they believe in the supernatural, a God, a Devil, and so on. Do they make supernatural claims, and do they believe them, or does their deceit make it impossible to say?

If some do have supernatural beliefs and a theology, though you seem to say a straight answer would be impossible, I’d simply like to know what they are and how exactly they relate to Christianity.

From what I can tell, "Satanists" are just atheist libertarians that chose a name specifically to piss off christians. That would be "modern" satanists, of course. There are apparently also "traditional" satanists who are more of the "worship satan, the fallen angel" types.
Click to expand...

See now, this was my impression of Satanists while reading that “Bible”, similar also to what Jas expressed.

But after mulling it over for a while, I’m not too clear on it. Sure, there are some cogent points about hypocrisy and personal responsibility, but I just do not get, for example, the inclusion of ritual and evocation of ancient gods. I don’t understand “I don’t believe in it’s efficacy but humans need ritual”; particularly this sort of magic pagan-esk stuff, which many humans I know seem to do just fine without.

CFLarsen boosts my uncertainty with this ominous-ness:

IMNSHO, you are very wrong about satanists being just atheist libertarians. They are far more than that.

I am not saying that they are a force to be reckoned with - but I am saying that they should be monitored.
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I have to wonder what makes them more than atheist libertarians and what activities they do that are in need of monitoring?

It’s probably that to ask what Satanists believe is a lot like asking what Christians believe. You have your Mormons, Catholics, and liberal Episcopalians who may only see their church as a philosophical stance sans the supernatural. But I’d still like to know what the faithful believers in a supernatural Satanism believe and claim (assuming they aren’t all just confused surly teens out to rebel).
 
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