Now that the uncertainty has been dealt with-
-Has anyone ever read about satanism? I finished reading the Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey and while it was really educational I find a few startling key points about it kind of hypocritical and it bothers me since hypocrisy is one of the values Satanism is supposed to fight against wholeheartedly. Some of my thoughts were:
1.) Even if Satan is just a representation of nature the way people live, why does it call for people to say, "Hail Satan"? I mean shouldn't people just congratulate themselves or give credit where credit is due to whatever group they are working with (if with more people than themselves)?
2.) If they are still supposed to say "Hail Satan" (and keep in mind that I acknowledge that one of the reasons the religion was formed was to mock christianity) why even give Christianity the negative attention if that form of religion is that bad? Why not just press forward instead of constantly looking over the shoulder? Satanism is about feeling secure about onesself- why would satanists have to jeer about another religion if they were truly confident?
3.) I understand the need for imagery in religion, but why grandstand? I don't understand the need for naked women (and not men) as altars since mother nature had made many other animals(and plants!) that have different genders or at least parts that are gender specific. Why make yourselves look even more outlandish when it is more about what you think and act than the illusions you cast? Why give Christians more bait?
4.) If ritual isn't necessary then why have it at all? I understand that people like some form of pomp and circumstance to assert their beliefs, but if all you believe is based off of fact and will anyways what does the ritual even matter? Every act and every conversation in your entire life turns into a an act of worship if you follow satanism's tenets. Why glorify the need of an organizational community when notably accepting that most followers are soloists? And why stay secretive if you are confident? You don't have to tell anyone but that doesn't necessarily mean you should hide yourself. If you are afraid of stigma then maybe you are not a satanist in the first place?
Not that any of these answers are terribly needed, but how is this religion really any better than the one it competes against?
-K.
1.) Even if Satan is just a representation of nature the way people live, why does it call for people to say, "Hail Satan"? I mean shouldn't people just congratulate themselves or give credit where credit is due to whatever group they are working with (if with more people than themselves)?
2.) If they are still supposed to say "Hail Satan" (and keep in mind that I acknowledge that one of the reasons the religion was formed was to mock christianity) why even give Christianity the negative attention if that form of religion is that bad? Why not just press forward instead of constantly looking over the shoulder? Satanism is about feeling secure about onesself- why would satanists have to jeer about another religion if they were truly confident?
3.) I understand the need for imagery in religion, but why grandstand? I don't understand the need for naked women (and not men) as altars since mother nature had made many other animals(and plants!) that have different genders or at least parts that are gender specific. Why make yourselves look even more outlandish when it is more about what you think and act than the illusions you cast? Why give Christians more bait?
4.) If ritual isn't necessary then why have it at all? I understand that people like some form of pomp and circumstance to assert their beliefs, but if all you believe is based off of fact and will anyways what does the ritual even matter? Every act and every conversation in your entire life turns into a an act of worship if you follow satanism's tenets. Why glorify the need of an organizational community when notably accepting that most followers are soloists? And why stay secretive if you are confident? You don't have to tell anyone but that doesn't necessarily mean you should hide yourself. If you are afraid of stigma then maybe you are not a satanist in the first place?
Not that any of these answers are terribly needed, but how is this religion really any better than the one it competes against?
-K.