Why do Christians insist on equating atheism and Satanism?

Question

Satanism is a belief, not a non-belief, which means it has more in common with Christianity than atheism.

Atheists view it as critically as they do other kinds of theism. In short, it is equally nonsensical to us.

Answer 1

You can't win with theists. If you say you're an atheist, they try to cram you into some other faith box. If you say you're an agnostic, they take that to mean you're willing to listen to their sale's pitches. If you say you're a Deist, they think that means 'Christian'.

I like to use the word 'rationalist' instead. Most of them have no idea what it means, but it sounds nonthreatening to them.

Answer 2

It isn't Christians that are doing it, it is the Satanists themselves. Read some of the past answers and you'll see examples of this.

Many Satanists say they don't believe in God or Satan, but that they worship themselves. That would make it hedonism, and in effect, atheism, since atheists basically do the same thing. Many Satanists will tell you they are atheists if you ask them. Satan they will tell you is merely a symbol of the "dark side of nature", symbolizing, lust, greed, etc. Some believe in magic, and some at least claim not to.

The view of most Christians (amd the generally public) is that Satanists worship Satan. And there are some Satanists who do believe Satan is a literal entity. The Temple of Set is might be one example. After the publication of the Satanic Bible, many Satanists began to realize the magic spells didn't work, and then tried started to say "Well, it's really a philosophy. It's humanism, yeah, that's the ticket!" But the Satanic Bible gives details for 3 spells, for revenge, sex, and getting Satan's compassion (!) It is quite specific about timing of rituals, instruments to be used, clothing, etc. It seems from this, LaVey was implying results could be achieved through magic. There is a chapter in the Satanic Bible called "On The Choice of Human Sacrifice" which Satanists claim means a victim is to be killed by a curse, not by actually murdering them. But therein lies a problem for the Satanists who don't believe in magic, because then how can they kill their victims with a curse?

You might want to ask "Why don't Satanists become Ayn Rand athiests and forget the wierd label and mystical nonsense? No one will ever take them seriously if they call themselves Satanists." But then they wouldn't have the shock value of being a Satanist that simply being an athiest wouldn't bring! No one's scared of athiests. Satanists occasionally do make the headlines for nefarious acts, however: http://usminc.org/crime.html Plus being a Satanist allows them to feel persecuted for a cause(the "Satanic Panic" media scare), much the Wiccans do about the "Burning Times". It's also a way to escape boredom.

The real question is why would anyone want to be a Satanist anyway? Anton LaVey couldn't make it work for him. He was a man who beat his wife, pimped out female followers, lied about all his accomplishments, practiced cannibalism on at least one occasion, and died bankrupt. He wasn't a philosopher/role model or a sorcerer.

Answer 3

That's a loaded question.

A better way to ask it would be: "Why do SOME Christians insist on equating atheism with Satanism."

As an atheist who views things critically, you should have known that not all Christians consider atheism and Satanism equivalent.

As an Agnostic, I consider atheism to be equivalent to any other belief which is based on an article of faith. In your case, you have essentially declared that there is no god - something you could not possibly know one way or the other. Therefore, you must have "faith" that there is no god, since knowing that there is no god is impossible.

Knowing that there IS a god is equally impossible. That's why I'm an Agnostic.

Answer 4

I don't know what Christians you are talking to but I have never known any that equate atheism equal to satanism.

Christ did say you are either for me or against me. But that doesn't mean that an atheist is the same as a satanist. It does mean they are both against him though.

Answer 5

Cuz we are not too bright (God loves even us who are not too bright) and becuz our leaders are too busy tellin us what we want to hear instead of important stuff like how to witness to different types of people. Then there is the possiblity that if one is an athiest one might actually be falling for a lie of Satan and thus unwittingly be following Satan and thus actually be a Satanist and becuz of pride getting in the way and thinking that thinking actually makes a difference in what actually is have been used.
But what do I know??

Answer 6

freeinquiry1965,
I believe that to the Atheist, whom we see a lot more of here than Satanists, are equally misguided by the same persuasion as Satanists. Satan seeks whom he may devour and decieves the whole world.

Yet in order to come across to the Atheist coherantly, I must set aside that connection for the moment, and address the issue of the Atheist.

Answer 7

speaking as the two a 0.33 social gathering and a Christian, I understand each and every physique's believes and don't choose them with lack of expertise and hate. As a Christian, i've got faith that each and every physique is entitled to their very own ideals, and as long as no person believes issues in accordance with what persons do with out having your guy or woman opinion, conforming, willingly being in a cult, etc.. i don't think of you should ask this question waiting for a single individual to represent the completed Christian community, which involves over a million billion human beings international to furnish honestly the answer. There are severe modifications in ideals between Christian religions and denominations, and merely as Jew and Buddhists have diverse perspectives on issues, so do Christians. not a single one is alike. i'm particular some human beings have sparkling solutions for you, yet understand that not each and every Christian thinks the comparable way as the different. I do in spite of the undeniable fact that, have subject concerns with Athiests, or Satanists (as i might with the different faith or lack thereof) with human beings criticizing me for my faith. So if a Satanist have been to criticize me and an Athiest does not, i might dislike the he Satanist greater, and vice versa. yet that's not via fact they don't have faith what I do. i think of that ought to be hypocritical to dislike Athiests or Satanists yet be high quality with persons of diverse religions. via fact they are actually not the genuine comparable as you the two, in keeping with risk to not that severe, yet Athiests do not hate human beings greater advantageous than Christians do, i understand fairly some Christians that detest all styles of folk.

Answer 8

Sorry, you're a bit wrong there. Satanism is not a "belief". It is a philosophy. A way of living. We are actually atheistic and some are agnostic. We do NOT WORSHIP SATAN or anything but ourselves and nature. We use the mythological Satan as a symbol for Wisdom and Human Nature. We do not believe in a devil/god/heaven/hell.

Answer 9

Most Satanists are athiests or agnostics. Most athiests and agnostics are not Satanists.

I think this has to do with the continued wild misinterpretations of Satanism and the erroneous belief that its practitioners actually believe in and worship Satan. Not a theistic system at all, actually.

Answer 10

Because basically religions claim to hold the truth. So, whatever defends a different opinion is by definition NOT the truth. So, every thing that is not Christianity is essentially wrong for them, and they don't care much the internal differences within everything that is wrong.

Answer 11

I don't equate Satanism with atheism. Atheist don't worship anything ,where as Satanist worship Satan. I believe Satanist believe in God and Satan but choose to worship Satan, and directly oppose God. Therefore is against God. I think there is hope for atheist, where as Satanist seems rather blasphemous