my best freind has picked up satanism and wants to share it with me,should i read the book to understand more?

Question

my best friend has recently old me that he has obtained the satanic bible and wants to share his new found glory (in his words) with me. i dont know what to say this dude is like my little brother. i want to understand him and tha direction hes going cuz i care alot. ive heard alot of bad and good things about satanism but never read the satanic bilble. should i read it just to see what hes up to or well getting himself into so that if theres something i feel may hurt or harm him or bring him down that i maybe able to help him out so he doesnt hurt himself or soem one else?

The really weird twist is iam a ceremonial mage. so ive read some really crazy things that are far fetched........

Answer 1

Absolutely yes. Reading is the best way to learn both about good views and bad ones, and thus to respond to them accordingly. I personally disagree strongly with Satanism, but it's a fascinating philosophy and one that's impossible to effectively argue for, or against, without a working knowledge of what it actually claims.

Most Christians fail entirely at effectively criticizing LeVayan Satanism because they stereotype it based on their own personal presumptions about what a "Satanist" should be. Much like people stereotype Wiccans as being Devil-worshiping witches. There might be genuine flaws in such views and beliefs, but it's impossible to ever effectively locate them if you never look at what is actually being preached by such religions and philosophies. Or, on the other hand, you might end up liking some of the teachings, and taking them on yourself. Who's to say? But none of that is possible without the first step: learning.

You may also want to read secondary sources on Satanism if you want to get at least a very cursory understanding of it before deciding whether or not to "dive in" to the Satanic Bible. You can read up on it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaVeyan_Satanism

Answer 2

My heart goes out to you. You sound like you don't want to read the book and you seem concerned about your friend. I'm not gonna do the heavy sermon. I'd suggest you do your research and get opinions pro and con the Satanic Bible. And if you do decide to read it, read along with the Holy Bible - look for the love. Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia:

"LaVey then justifies Satanism as a religion by explaining that it is not merely a philosophy. He explains that one reason man has always had religion is because he has a need for dogma and ceremony; Satanism acknowledges this, and therefore supplies its adherents with dogma and ceremony in the form of magic and ritual. LaVey claims that it is precisely this trait that distinguishes Satanism from Humanism or other essentially atheistic philosophies, and makes it a true religion suited to man's carnal nature.

LaVey concludes the essay by explaining that even other religions or new-age movements that claim to supply adherents with magic have failed in this by distinguishing "white magic" from "black magic;" LaVey says that all magic is one and the same, as all of it is done for the glorification of the magic user and therefore, like all man's actions, is essentially selfish. He suggests that a Satanist may choose to help those he cares for, including himself, or condemn those he hates, but in all cases what he does is at his own discretion and therefore done for selfish reasons."

My warning based on this article about the Satanic Bible is that a selfish lifestyle, where you become the god of your own little world, is a very, very, very, very, very, very lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, frustrating way to live. Ain't no future in it.

Earf!

Answer 3

Think of it like Ayn Rand to the maximum. It is not about Satan as a real being but about Satan as a symbol of self centred behaviour. Why not do a Web Search first.
Here is one of their official pages;
http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html

It is a start. There is a good entry in Wikipedia and there should be one on the Ontario Consultants on religious tolerance. Let me check.
OK. Here you go;
http://www.religioustolerance.org/satanis1.htm

Point out to him that great freedom demands great responsibility.
Most people think that the responsibility is gone but when you are in charge of your life you are responsible for everything in it. Nobody is going to save you from you.

Answer 4

I'm guessing that would be the one by Anton LaVey. Really they believes themselves as gods but in mortal form. They believe in the "gift of sin". Unlike they the Cathedral of the Black Goat, the Church of Satan founded by Anton believes Satan is a force and not an actual deity. So yes you should read it. There's nothing wrong with the book really. Only fools would tell you its wrong.

Answer 5

I'm a Catholic, and I've read The Satanic Bible. Reading it won't kill you. It's just a book, after all. It would be better to check it out and know for sure what it says than to rely upon a bunch of hearsay and misinformation.

Answer 6

Tough question. You could just tell him that you are absolutely not interested but that response might hurt him. If you think that you can read it and not be influenced by it go ahead. You need to do research for yourself so that you can help your friend.

The really important thing here is to pray!!

Answer 7

Yeah, you could read it and see what he's getting himself into. But I wouldn't join the religion. You both may meet someone who takes it too far and one of you may become sacrifices and that's never good. But yeah, like I said, since you care about him, see what he's getting himself into.

Answer 8

I say read it. I don't know what it's all about myself, but if you read it, you at least can understand it and have a basis for an argument. (if you want to argue against it) Just try and make sure he doesn't do anything illegal.

Answer 9

"The Satanic Bible" isn't a religious text. LaVeyan Satanists are basically secular humanists.

The book isn't respectful of Christianity, but it won't have you sacrificing goats at midnight either. I'd say read it to understand where your friend is coming from. You don't have to agree with it, after all.

Answer 10

If he wanted to share his decent off the empire state building would you be willing to share that experience with him as well?