Is Satanism the most misunderstood religion of all?

Question

I am an Atheist, but I had back in 2000 emailed the Church of Satan with a question about Kenneth Anger; the artistic tie interested me.

The High Priestess of the Church wrote me back very politely outlining the Church's tenets, and about Anger's association with the Church. It was a pleasant exchange, and I read about the Church on their website as she had requested I do, to further understand their teaching.

From what I gathered, the Church is the champion of the celestial underdog, in this case represented by the angel who was cast out by a God with whom he had clashed in conflict, and all over his championing of mankind, and the right of mankind to free will: man should be responsible for his actions and pay for them accordingly, but this is not eternal damnation, it is payment according to deeds, and always with the hope of mercy.

It is just my opinion, but this did not seem anything but a different, yet positive, religious expression as valid as any. What do you think?

Answer 1

Satan is bad Jack... very bad.

*naughty satan*

You should be careful ~ you may not appreciate what you're in for.

*down boy*

Actually mate, I have significantly less belief that there is a fallen angel named satan compared to whether or not there was a man named Jesus Christ. If you put it this way.. "Gaz, mate, Do you believe there is a devil?", I would say no and I wonder if that would make me an Atheist? ... but if you were to ask if I believe there is a god, I realise that I am agnostic.

Answer 2

Satan is nothing more than Saturn the 6th planet. The jews are often accused of worshipping Satan because they worship Saturn, which is why their holy day is on SATURday, and the Christians that worship the SUN have their holy day on SUNday.

Satan was also known as Set in ancient egypt, which is where we get SUNSET... the Son goes down, and the Son of the night Saturn was still up. Which is probably why SATURNday is Saturnday because it's the end of the week or the Week END... Then the Christians celebrate the rebirth of their SUN god for the week on SUNday in their churches most of which if properly built face to the east, so they can receive the LIGHT.

Saturn at one time was a Sun, it is still made up of hydrogen and helium just like the sun is, it only lacks the fused burning core. So it's the fallen Sun, the Black Sun, or the Dark Star... it's represented by the 8 spoked wheel which you'll find in the vaticans courtyard, the black square, the black sun, and the black cube like some of the hassidic jews wear on their arms, and forehead.

There is no all seeing good guy out to save your soul, or some bad guy out to steal it, it's all simple astronomy, and astrology. All religions light and dark are nothing more than tales based upon natural phenomena.

Answer 3

Yes
Satanists do not believe in Satan as a personal deity, rather as an archetype.

Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence!
Satan represents vital existence, instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
Satan represents undefiled wisdom, instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates!
Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek!
Satan represents responsibility to the responsible, instead of concern for psychic vampires!
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!
Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
Satan is the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years

Answer 4

Didn't they bring it on themselves by identifying with a negative figure from Judeo-Christian mythology? It is indeed misunderstood but it also turns a lot of people off because it takes the name of someone most Christians see as an evil figure and turns him into a tragic hero.

I have no problem with satanism, by the by...just a guess as to why it's so misunderstood...because most people of faith don't even WANT to understand it.

Answer 5

Look at the bible and make a tally of the evil deeds that God does versus the evil deeds that Satan does. No where in the bible is Satan linked with evil. Evil spirits are sent by God.

Answer 6

Satanism is less a religion, as it is a philosophy. But yes, I'd say it's very misunderstood. People make it out to be some dangerous cult, and it's not like that at all.

Answer 7

I guess I have little against it, I'm just afraid it might have a commercialism to it. Like Satan is really perfect subject matter to bring attention (and maybe even money). However, it is a religion, it's real. I have no disrespect..

Answer 8

Satan stands for absolute evil in any religious scripture, be it The Bible, Torah, or The Quran. Then how can you worship him and say you're "positive" at the same time? It's absolutely paradoxical!

Answer 9

it probably is, especially in a world with a culture guided by biblical attitudes.
any religion, set of beliefs or attitude that contradicts the prevailing belief system will be seen as the main danger and attempts will be made to crush it.

Answer 10

remember:
satan is nothing more than a nonsense word created by man to explain away all of the things we can't yet understand and religion is a disease of the mind, born of fear, which has done nothing but bring untold misery down upon the human race.