What is the appeal of Devil Worshiping?

Question

Why do people join? What does Satan promise you except for fire, brimstone & eternal damnation? Do the special magical powers you get here on earth = what you give up in return?

I'm talking about the people that conjure demons and make pacts with them in order to gain earthly powers such as: manipulation of people, high ranking positions, power, etc.

I'm just curious if anyone knows what the draw is to this religion? Is it the promise of unlimited power on earth? Perhaps the ability to pursue any vice one wishes? Maybe just the fun of getting together with others in a group and conjuring the unknown?

okay I deleted my last question to better rephrase my new question. I'm not talking about traditional satanism! I'm talking strictly about devil worship! I think I might just delete this question as well because nobody wants to give a useful answer.

Yes I have read about satanism, yes I have looked it up... once again I'm not talking about the traditional LeVay Satanism (sigh)

okay as I've said before I'm not talking about satanism. I am not a bible thumper... I don't even go to church. And when I say "people gathering together for fun and conjuring the unknown" I don't say it because I believe it, I say it because some dumb people out there do it because they think they are cool! I'm simply asking what the appeal is and if you people aren't going to answer the actual question I'm asking don't bother asking at all. I really don't appreciate you belittling me and making fun of my intelligence. I'm not saying this is what I believe in. I don't go skulking around graveyards at night trying to freakin conjure up spirits! OMG seriously people! Why can't they add an idiot answer button?

Answer 1

For most of the new agers it is just to piss off someone or get attention.

Having said this, please don't underestimate the serious devotees. They exist and they are usually influential and powerful....typically a very ambitiious and secretive group.

Maybe someone will open up and comment to us in this regard.

Addendum

OK to answer your question about the "appeal". Satanism appeals to us because it makes us self legislating...we are to explore who we are and live out our "identity" as best we can to experience all of this life. For most, this is not so bad because the image of God in all of us causes the everyone to more or less have a shadow of God's law in their heart and wisdom system. Their are some stark exceptions to this when you have a Satanist who decides that thier identity and their soul demands demented behavior for satisfaction. By demented i am not referring to the variance of sexual expression thought by most to be mainstream heterosexual and homosexual practices nor am I talking about the ups and downs of the mainstream life experience. By demented I am indicating some of the darker identities...pedophilia, bloodthirst, etc etc. Satanism would excuse someone of the darker side for practicing any form of self expression within one's own identity. Let me reiterate that this is far and away the exception to the rule...I am talking about 100ths of 1%...but Satanism does allow all to find themselves and be themselves. For comparison sake, wiccans say "Blessed be as long as you do not harm others" Satanists say "Blessed Be" without qualifiers. I hope this helps.

Disclaimer : Please understand that this is my opinion in my words based on my understanding of the topic.

Answer 2

I think a big part of the appeal is in personal agency. Christianity limits personal agency and emphasizes outside control by a greater force. Adherents to Christianity accept that they are small and weak and that a disembodied 'other' understands and controls the universe.

Some people don't like that view, however. Some find it too limiting, believing that humans are or should be more powerful than that. So they take on the stance of the rebel, taking power that Christianity says they should not take in an effort for personal agency.

As to why they think this will work, well, there are a couple of options. Some devil worshippers might operate under the viewpoint that the Bible is history, not absolute truth, and might hold that it is skewed in favor of God. Perhaps they believe that Satan was rebelling for good cause and choose to take up arms against God, or perhaps they believe that, with enough followers, Satan can eventually overthrow God.

And of course, some people don't really think about the theology and just see the promise of greater power over oneself and the world. Greed is a major factor in human life.

Frankly, I think devil worshippers that operate opposite Christianity aren't really thinking clearly; even if you're rebelling against Christian orthodoxy by performing its opposite, you're still admitting to that canon's truth, and that canon clearly states that God will ultimately triumph against Satan. Fully rebelling against Christianity means denying its fundamental truth and thus becoming an atheist or agnostic, not holding up a mirror to Christianity and using that as your guideline for a different religion.

Most Satanists, however, do not actually worship demons, but instead venerate the power of humanity. The 'Satanist' label is simply stating that the religion is a response to Christianity, which mostly tries to push down the power of humanity.

Answer 3

Ok then what ARE you talking about??
Seriously, you are coming off as an uneducated Bible thumper.
First off do you know how rare it is to have theistic Satanist?
Second you DO know that they aren't worshipping the same Satan you think they are? Read about something that's NOT LeVay then.
You REALLY believe in "manipulation of people" and "power"? I'm pagan cupcake and I think that's a load of ****.
"Maybe just the fun of getting together with others in a group and conjuring the unknown?"
Are you SERIOUS? LOL Good goddess, and I thought newbie pagans were ridiculous. You watch too many movies. No more Charmed episodes for you.

Seriously, if you want to know something LEARN about them. Pick up an unbiased book. Read as many as you can. That way, if you choose to ask a question about someone's faith, you don't look like a schizophrenic.

Answer 4

Almost no one worships a being similar to the Christian Satan. That is a group of people almost entirely invented by the minds of Christians. Like you said, why would you choose damnation if you believed it would really happen? That doesn't make much sense. Also, practically no one sees themself as evil....even really evil people. So why would someone think worshipping a power specifically devoted to evil was a good idea?

You don't have to worship the prince of darkness to pursue vice, nor to conjure the unknown.

In short, "devil worshippers" are almost entirely fictional characters.

Answer 5

How much do you actually know about Satanism? Did you know that they don't actually believe in the devil, and do not sacrifice animals or small children, as many seem to believe?
Actually, they're one of the more reasonable religions.

EDIT: Oh, people who really worship the devil, and evil and all that? I don't know very much about them. Sorry. I'd assume they'd be like anyone else following a strange cult. Most of them are probably teenagers trying to rebel and be "cool".

Answer 6

Of course, as others have told you, LaVeyan Satanism is an atheistic religion, so therefore, no "devil worship" is involved.

You are probably referring to Theistic Satanists, as myself. One thing you must understand about devil worshippers is that we don't view Satan *strictly* in the Christian sense. We do not believe that Satan is a being of pure evil, only that is one of many divine beings and that he represents carnality, intelligence, independence, human progress, and indulgence. We believe that Satan was made a scapegoat by the Abrahamic religions simply because he happens to represent everything they wish to repress.

In that case, why do we choose to call ourselves Satanists? Simply because that's the name that our divine teacher gives to us. But don't be fooled -- just because we wish to employ the Hebrew word doesn't mean that we view Satan in a purely Judeo-Christian manner.

Theistic Satanism drew me in by how personal it is. There is no "Satanic Bible". There is no list of how to do ritual. All of this is revealed to us personally. Its the kind of personal relationship that Christians claim to have with Christ, but could never dream of. Sometimes, we get together and perform ritual, but its usually a very personal, solitary path. After all, Satan might expect different things from me than he does for you.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no "conjuring" or making pacts with the devil. Some of us do incorporate witchcraft into our religion, but we don't have any "supernatural" powers. The idea of making a deal with the devil is simply a folktale. Satan can give us some insight or direction in our lives, but we still have to put in the work. The idea that we get unlimited power is just plain silly.

I don't believe in hellfire, brimstone, or eternal damnation. In fact, I don't believe in an afterlife at all. What it boils down to is that Satan saw something in me and decided to get my attention. We've been working together happily for 5 years now.


There are "Reverse Christians" who claim to worship the devil strictly as he is presented in Christianity, but they are just silly ... and they don't get unlimited power either. Satan finds them as amusing as the rest of us do. If any of you are reading this -- sorry guys, the master isn't pleased! ;)

If you have any more questions, you are more than welcome to e-mail me.

Answer 7

The word satan is generically used by christians when referring to other people's gods. These people tend to think their own god is good and Yahweh is either evil or non-existant.

Its nothing more than an insult, really.

Why do people worship that evil god Yahweh, when his own followers admit he is a vengeful despotic god who burns and torments people who disagree with him for ever and ever?

Answer 8

Did you just ask this, or was it somebody else? Satanists don't worship the devil; Satanism is an atheistic religion. Look it up to find out more.

Answer 9

I think you misinterpret the Satanist religion... wait that's too kind. You don't know what the hell you're talking about sounds a lot better.

Satanists don't believe the same things about Satan as Christians do (if they aren't atheistic Satanists).

Answer 10

I'm with belichick - the dental insurance is what did it for me. The vacation package doesn't hurt, either.


Hail Satan!