The Satanic Bible--Satanism and Church of Set

MamaGadfly

I'm sure you must have covered this before, but what are your thoughts on the CoS and Church of Set?

ST

As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.-Bakunin

Chris OConnor

LaVeyian Satanism has always intrigued me, but I know little about other forms of Satanism. The Satanic Bible is a must read for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of world religions and cults. I'm in agreement with what Anton LaVey teaches for the most part, but have some problems with the vengeance stuff.

What is your opinion?

Chris

MamaGadfly

I was laughingly telling dh the other day he is a Satanist without knowing it. I don't find fault with the majority of what they do and say, including rituals only for psychological effect but feel the choice to use the term Satan and say "hail Satan" and such in ceremonies has painted them in a corner a bit and leads to a great deal of unnecessary misunderstanding. You'd think they'd want to avoid that.

Much better than the Church of Set which apparently holds Satan to be real. As an atheist, I find that odd...sort of like rooting for the Cubs for eternity

ST

I would defend the liberty of concenting adult creationists to practice whatever intellectual perversions they like in the privacy of their own homes; but it is also necessary to protect the young and innocent. -Arthur C. Clarke

MadArchitect

As I understand it, the Church of Satan chose Satan as its symbol in part to satyrize religion at large, and in part as an expression of its rebellion against other forms of religious expression. To that end, whether or not they've painted themselves into a corner by the decision would seem to me to depends a great deal on whether or not the rebellious character of the group has changed over the years, which might well be possible. If they're looking for mainstream acceptance, touting Satan as a viable alternative to other icons is probably going to work against them.

Granted, I don't know more than the basics of the Church of Satan, but I've always found their self-conscious theatricalism to be more effective as a form of performance art than as any sort of real social or religious institution. I'm not sure all of the adherents are as aware of this as LeVay would have liked.

MamaGadfly

Quote:
As I understand it, the Church of Satan chose Satan as its symbol in part to satyrize religion at large, and in part as an expression of its rebellion against other forms of religious expression.

Yes I understand that, but this seems to me a sort of jejune act. Something like shaving your head into a mohawk or painting your nails black to prove you're not like everyone else (ironically making you just like everyone else who is doing goth or punk).
I don't think they want to fit into the mainstream, OTOH if rebellion against the mainstream (assuming secularism/satanism is never mainstream) is the thrust of what they are about, then again I'm reminded more of a 15 year old boy in a Def Leppard shirt than a thoughtful, mature adult...I don't know...makes me think of the pseudo-individualism Leonard Peikoff speaks of.

Quote:
Granted, I don't know more than the basics of the Church of Satan, but I've always found their self-conscious theatricalism to be more effective as a form of performance art than as any sort of real social or religious institution. I'm not sure all of the adherents are as aware of this as LeVay would have liked.

ITA. There's something terribly offputting about it...black robes, black candles and goat/devil masks during ceremonies by a group supposedly not adhering to the very image of Satan they themselves are using and likely perpetuating...weird.

Liked their guidelines though and at least Satanists don't believe in harming children or animals which is more than you can say for the Christain bible.

ST

I would defend the liberty of concenting adult creationists to practice whatever intellectual perversions they like in the privacy of their own homes; but it is also necessary to protect the young and innocent. -Arthur C. Clarke

capecodindependant

All Satanists and Satanism is evil...its a diabolical craft.Its evil

TBR
Astrophysics & Cosmology
Friends & Mild Lunacy
.

scrumfish

Do you really think that CCI, or have I missed the true tone behind your words? What about Satanism and Satanists do you find to be evil? And how would you define "evil?" I do not believe in an intrinsic evil in the universe of which certain things are a part by their very nature, so it would be helpful to me to know what you consider conditions of being evil. I find some of the tenets of Satanism to be on the selfish side, but I wouldn't classify the entire satanic craft as extremely evil and cruel.

Chris OConnor

Bumping this up above the closed spam threads.

Chris


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