August 16 2002

What is Satanism?

Satanism Discussion on list

" And I am not afraid to stand and say I am against Satanism." another speaker

It depends on what you mean. Satanism has a couple of varieties, one being the adolescent who listens to Slayer and Black Sabbath and cuts on himself, hoping for power, fame, looks, and the head cheerleader, in return for allegiance to Satan. A far larger group is a bunch of humanists/hedonists who think reveling in your "humanness" is the sincerest state of being. That is the group that followed Anton LaVey, the "Church of Satan".

Have you actually read their tenets? The Church of Satan is not about ripping little girls' hearts out. There's yet to be a documented case of ritual murder by a Satanist or Satanic group, anywhere, of EITHER variety, insane serial killers notwithstanding (before you say this is an exception designed to deflect any possible criticism, I don't accept deathbed conversions either. You have to be "of sound mind and body" to accept a religion honestly into your heart, IMHO).

But back to the CoS. Their Satanic Rules for Earth state "Do not harm little children," and "Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food." Find them here: http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/Eleven.html (which is a sublink and you will lose the framing intended here: http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html )

Of course, some Christian teachings involve grouping anything "Non Christian" or "Non-My-Denomination" as "Satanic", so if that is how you meant it, I have no way to convince you otherwise."

Regards,
David Reynolds
(Raibeart mac Fhionguine)

Blessed Be!