Idealistic versus Realistic
Ironic that on the day after my post about nothing I’m stricken by inspiration.
This morning I had an interesting conversation with Heather. We have had this debate on many occasions before, and it seems it’s always ended prematurely before it nears completion. This conversation comprises the age old argument-
The Ten Commandments (idealistic)
01- Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.
02- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
03- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
04- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
05- Honor thy father and thy mother.
06- Thou shalt not kill.
07- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
08- Thou shalt not steal.
09- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.
I fail to understand how any intelligent being could follow these commandments. The manner in which they are written indicate a demand for subservience. We are a visually oriented race, and since the force of God is unseen and unheard, it is inherently obvious that this idea will not work well for us. We require motivation before action, and a written word from an unseen face hardly qualifies.
We were born to think, doubt, love, hate, kill, cheat, steal, lie, covet, and perform all manner of unthinkable iniquity for which we would be condemned to this imaginary inferno called Hell. The only Hell I can imagine is the one that God expects us to live here on this Earth enduring these ridiculous commandments, awash in guilt because we are hard-wired to break the rules and act based on hormone-driven impulse.
The Nine Satanic Statements (realistic)
1. Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence!
2. Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates!
5. Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek!
6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires!
7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all!
8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
9. Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!
These statements should ring true for any self-respecting human (or animal). We are bound within the constraints of society, trapped in a limbo somewhere between Frued’s id, ego and superego. Clearly we cannot do as we please because of consequences that must be in place in order to maintain social order. These are called the laws of man, laws with representation and reason that holds validity in the real world. These are laws that must be respected in order to live with the luxury of freedom.
Contrary to standard misconception, Satanism is not about kinship with the devil. It’s about kinship with oneself. The idea of worshipping a deity inherently suggests dependence and the surrender of free will. It represents a subjugation of personal purpose and shows the need for higher meaning. Biblical doctrine is a program designed to sabotage our enjoyment of life with guilt and shame. The Ten Commandments is a check-list of basic human needs and desires that can not be ignored, even by most “faithful” Christians.
The common social visage that Satanism presents is one of self-worship, egocentricity, and narcissism. While Satanists realize that the self is the center, object, and norm of all experience, they are also fully capable of love in its most pure form, untainted by the impossible ideal of “loving all human-kind”. I believe that you should treat those around you as you would prefer to be treated, but that is by no means indicative of love in any form, especially for those to whom you are not even acquainted.
If you are interested in reading more, this link is an excellent resource for Satanic philosophy, doctrine and information: http://www.dpjs.co.uk/statements.html
In closing (since I have to leave work soon), I should reveal that I am not a Satanist. This is simply my subjective (and incomplete) opinion in regard to this timeless clash. The way I see it, I shouldn’t even have to open my mouth to disprove the validity of Christianity. It simply makes no rational sense in our rational world.
This morning I had an interesting conversation with Heather. We have had this debate on many occasions before, and it seems it’s always ended prematurely before it nears completion. This conversation comprises the age old argument-
The Ten Commandments (idealistic)
01- Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.
02- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
03- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
04- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
05- Honor thy father and thy mother.
06- Thou shalt not kill.
07- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
08- Thou shalt not steal.
09- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.
I fail to understand how any intelligent being could follow these commandments. The manner in which they are written indicate a demand for subservience. We are a visually oriented race, and since the force of God is unseen and unheard, it is inherently obvious that this idea will not work well for us. We require motivation before action, and a written word from an unseen face hardly qualifies.
We were born to think, doubt, love, hate, kill, cheat, steal, lie, covet, and perform all manner of unthinkable iniquity for which we would be condemned to this imaginary inferno called Hell. The only Hell I can imagine is the one that God expects us to live here on this Earth enduring these ridiculous commandments, awash in guilt because we are hard-wired to break the rules and act based on hormone-driven impulse.
The Nine Satanic Statements (realistic)
1. Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence!
2. Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates!
5. Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek!
6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires!
7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all!
8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
9. Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!
These statements should ring true for any self-respecting human (or animal). We are bound within the constraints of society, trapped in a limbo somewhere between Frued’s id, ego and superego. Clearly we cannot do as we please because of consequences that must be in place in order to maintain social order. These are called the laws of man, laws with representation and reason that holds validity in the real world. These are laws that must be respected in order to live with the luxury of freedom.
Contrary to standard misconception, Satanism is not about kinship with the devil. It’s about kinship with oneself. The idea of worshipping a deity inherently suggests dependence and the surrender of free will. It represents a subjugation of personal purpose and shows the need for higher meaning. Biblical doctrine is a program designed to sabotage our enjoyment of life with guilt and shame. The Ten Commandments is a check-list of basic human needs and desires that can not be ignored, even by most “faithful” Christians.
The common social visage that Satanism presents is one of self-worship, egocentricity, and narcissism. While Satanists realize that the self is the center, object, and norm of all experience, they are also fully capable of love in its most pure form, untainted by the impossible ideal of “loving all human-kind”. I believe that you should treat those around you as you would prefer to be treated, but that is by no means indicative of love in any form, especially for those to whom you are not even acquainted.
If you are interested in reading more, this link is an excellent resource for Satanic philosophy, doctrine and information: http://www.dpjs.co.uk/statements.html
In closing (since I have to leave work soon), I should reveal that I am not a Satanist. This is simply my subjective (and incomplete) opinion in regard to this timeless clash. The way I see it, I shouldn’t even have to open my mouth to disprove the validity of Christianity. It simply makes no rational sense in our rational world.