What would posses a person to be a Satanist?

Question

And I'm looking for an answer less glib than "Satan", if you don't mind.

Personally, I feel like you'd have to follow a trail of rubber and human excrement to find these so-called "Satanists" if Satan were to show up for real one of these days.

"I don't think you eben know what Satanist means" - is this what passes for an answer these days? Believe me, I know what Satanist means, Clubber.

Answer 1

Rebellion against one's parents? - A very natural phenomenon?

Answer 2

You made your question into a joke, and it made me laugh (sorry, really i am).
Anyway, the only thing I can think of is the
need to be a rebel. Remember when we all did something bazaar just because it freaked out our parents? There ya go....
To state that you are a Satanist would shock people - I think these are immature people who want attention - who want to be "special" and "known for something", I
quess.
Satan knows scripture better than most "religious" people, and Satan certainly believes in those scriptures, so I would assume if someone is really a "satanist" that they would learn the scriptures quite well, too, and also believe them. If they know the scriptures and believe them, then they also know that we have the victory, and Satan and his followers go into the lake of fire. Now why would anyone desire that?
Maybe they think they can win the war against God and His election, but the fact is that they lost the last war that Satan started, so they don't have a real good "winning record".
My answer: beats me.

Answer 3

A feeling that Christianity has failed them. The influence of peers. A need for acceptance by someone/anyone. A desire to seperate themselves from society.

There's a lot of variables. But really the same variables involved in making a decision to become a Satanist are the same ones involved in becoming of any other religious belief system. The difference in what a person decides is more a matter of life experiences and upbringing than anything else.

Answer 4

Same thing as for any other religion -- agreement with the basic philosophy and moral teachings of that religion.

Most Satanists (particularly those of the Church of Satan) are in fact atheists, not believing in a deity or a demonic being.

Most forms of Theistic Satanism (those where a dark/demonic/chaotic being is believed to exist and is the focus of worship) are polytheistic, where supplication of the darker aspects of the divine are considered no less valid and important than supplication of the light aspects of the divine.

Answer 5

From what I've heard from a small interview on tv a while ago.....

The church of satan isn't so much the hellfire and brimstone satan of the church, but they believe satan is the exact opposite of what the church preaches......earthly pleasure, not putting constraints on yourself.

Basically, they make themselves out to be what humans might have been without the interference of religious laws and the like.

No, they don't promote killing/sacrifice. That's the more fundimentalist satanists I believe.....just like other religions.

Though, i've never heard of a buddhist wanting a blood sacrifice to Buddha. lol

Answer 6

It's easy to understand the attraction once you understand what satanism is. Satanism isn't worshipping satan. Satanism is complete and utter autonomy. The belief that one has the right to do anything one wishes without regard for fault or casualties of the deed. It's total worship of the self.

For the most part we are all egotistical in our own way. Satanists just take it to the extreme. One might say they are the "fundies" of the secular world.

Answer 7

I believe that Satanism is one of the most fullfilling and rewarding religions. I could easily ask what would possess a person to NOT be a Satanist. hehehe

Answer 8

No to be funny, but the answer is satan. Now, let me explain what I mean.
People have a severe power lust. Everybody, it is our sinful nature. First off, satan is real. Second, he has power to give to people. Third, he gives followers instant power. Fourth, there is the rebellious side of us also.
Christianity is a lifestyle of discipline. Satanism appears to be not so structured, however, cross a satanic high priest or fail to follow coven laws and you could find yourself punished or dead.
God will protect, satan likes to watch us struggle.
Come to the site below for more info and links.

Answer 9

The excitement and stimulation to the ego and pride. It's the same with any evil that a person falls prey to. Behind the false promise of becoming something great, that age old appeal to pride, there is a hidden deception that does not become apparent until it's too late.

Answer 10

Anger at the excesses of Christianity, for the most part. If there was no Christianity, there would be no Satanism. (There would still be Diabolism, but that's not quite the same thing...Diabolism is the belief in practicing rites to use the power of the adversaries to the culture's dominant religion, and can be Satanic or not, depending on whether or not Christianity is dominant.)

Edit: This refers to Satanism, not devil worshipping, BTW, and if it was the fundamentalism of secularism, it would NOT use the term Satanist, which even LeVay called reactionary.

Answer 11

$$$.

Convince a gullible group of sheep to follow ANY belief system you want and they will give you everything they own if you word the "beliefs" correctly- ie. "I had a vision that came to me and said all righteous people must hand over all their worldly possessions in order to be saved. So liquidate all of your assets and I'll pass around a collection plate on Thursday.". This includes satanism.