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Overview of Satanism
Much of what most believe to be Satanic or the characteristics of a Satanist are from fictional evil allegories created over centuries by organized religions in order to keep followers on the “straight and narrow”. Unfortunately the fictional evil atrocities attributed to Satanism from child molestation, blood sacrifice to ritual abuse are far from what Satanism actually is. However, this has not stopped psycho-pathetic individuals and general miscreants who label themselves as Satanists whose only motives are to rebel against peers, provide shock value, or to commit crimes of evil with a later lament of “the devil made me do it” and shun all responsibility in the eyes of the law. Of course, this happens as well with so-called members of other organized religions who go bad.
Although there have been Satanists and Satanic thought ever since there have been two legged animals, the terms Satanist and Satanic were not clearly defined, nor did there exist a formal Church of Satan until 1966. In 1966, Anton Szandor LaVey formed the Church of Satan, and in 1969 the Satanic Bible was published. It was The Church of Satan and The Satanic Bible that truly codified and formalized what Satanism is and the definition of what Satan is. Prior to this, all other works attempted to do this to a limited extent but all of their efforts were based on the terms of reference established by propagators of organized religion, Good vs. Evil, aimed at keeping followers in line, where any concept outside of their respective faith was to be feared and avoided.
In a time of organized religious fundamentalist beliefs, Dr. LaVey, had the courage and genius to bring Satanism into the 20th century and beyond. During the years that followed up to the present, there are many who claim to be Satanists but are actually individuals that are using the established fictional evil allegories as a reference point or are simply creators of their own concept of what they have defined as "Satanism". Alas, the same malaise of organized religion where each church or belief system claim that only they have the original, real truth and direct pipeline to their god has also spilled over into Satanism. However, these individuals and groups are not Satanists and in no way represent Satanism as it is codified and defined in The Satanic Bible. One cannot legitimately study Satanism or Satanic history, or claim to be a Satanist and discount or alienate themselves from the work of Anton LaVey or the Satanic Bible authored by him. It is individuals and groups such as these that make life difficult for Satanists and do a great injustice to Satanism.
There are only two bona fide reference sources for Satanism and they are The Satanic Bible by Anton S. LaVey and the official Church of Satan website at www.churchofsatan.com
An overview of what Satanism is in 13 points:
1) Satanists do not worship Satan, as Satan is not considered a living entity. Satan is a symbol of all the power and potential of physical existence. Satanism is a personally applied philosophy.
2) Satanists do not condone or promote any form of illegal activity, substance abuse, child molestation, animal or child sacrifice, ritual abuse or ethnically based hate.
3) Satanism is not a sex cult or a pagan religion (Wicca).
4) Individualism and intelligence are core Satanic values. Satanists believe that every individual must be responsible for their own actions.
5) Stupidity is the primary cardinal sin of Satanism.
6) Satanists do not harm children, do not sacrifice animals (including humans or virgins) and do not drink blood.
7) Satanists do not believe in heaven or hell. There is no spiritual or physical afterlife, and immortality is only obtained by what the Satanist does here and now, and through the impressions made on those encountered.
8) Satanists do not believe in external Gods whether they be good or evil but believe that each individual is a God unto themselves, capable of wondrous and profound things.
9) Satanists do not pray but effect change through their own physical working (efforts) and aided by their application of greater and lesser magic.
10) One cannot sell their soul to, or make a pact with Satan because the entity does not exist. Satanists consider that the soul and
physical body are one, not separate components and that a soul is of value only to its birth holder.
11) Satanists legally pursue materialistic goals (fame, fortune, success and opportunity) while indulging in all the comforts and benefits that they bring. These are earned privileges.
12) Satanists do not preoccupy themselves with evil and chaos but center their lives on the legal pursuit of physical indulgences rather than the placating of an external god or savior contrary to many organized religions.
The Satanist lives each day to its fullest, realizing that even a single minute of physical existence can never be regained.
13) There are no Satanic churches of bricks and mortar. The majority of Satanists are individual practitioners, although affiliated with the
Church of Satan, and who may at times socialize with other Satanists, they do not rely on or require such insecure fellowship nor do they refer to each other as brother or sister to reaffirm their Satanic status.
For further information on Satanism you may read a copy of
The Satanic Bible by Anton S. LaVey
or visit the Church of Satan website at
http://www.churchofsatan.com
- IRI
Contents copyright 2006 - 2010 by IRI www.HaveYouTriedSatan.com
All Rights Reserved.
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