What is so bad about Satanism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, It's always good to bring the devil into your life. Like life isn't hard enough already!

This is another interesting aspect of Satan. There are a lot of Christians who will literally tell you that Satan is a real being who has lots of power. They seem to view it as a situation where whichever deity Satan Vs Jesus gets the most follower points levels up to be God. It is bananas.

Also, the idea that Satan is an ancient belief present in lots of religions is not true. The Christian idea of Satan as an opposing team to God/Jesus is not how anyone else views the world. It is a very evangelical, paranoid approach. Additionally, traditions such as paganism or wicca exist outside of this binary but Christians often think those people are worshipping Satan, because when they say “Satan” what they actually mean is “Anything other than the version of Jesus I believe in.”

[Anonymous]

A lot of the common notions about Satan seem to come from Revelations, where there is war in Heaven and Satan is cast down--this is the Satan in Milton who says it is better to reign in hell than be a servant in Heaven. The tempter stuff--Eve, Job, and Jesus--seems different. Like, why does God take the bet from the adversary in Job? Why does God put the serpent in Eden in the first place?

Well, then there is Judas. But Satan entering into him is all part of the long game, right?

I don't recall Satan being a major topic during my (long ago, admittedly) years and years of Sunday School, confirmation classes, and church (Lutheran) although there is the baptism thing about rejecting the devil and all of his ways.

Personally, I favor the Neil Gaiman portrayal of Satan and the archangel Michael in Omens.

The Satanic church per se is pretty much a bunch of libertarians. Like Milton Friedman, into Ayn Rand.

My nephew decided he was a Satanist when he was 15-ish. Still is. Doesn't do rituals or anything. He's a suburban father (one stepson, one adopted daughter) accountant for Microsoft and this year took up wearing kilts in the summer. His wife got some kind of online ordination years and years ago so she could perform gay wedding--long before Oberfell (her grandmother came out as a lesbian when the woman was 70, while her mom and stepdad are antivaxxer Trumpians, but they all get along).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will take Satanism vs Trumpism and the Lying GOP any day !

We can all agree on that!

- a Christian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

Whereas "doing good in the name of Satan" is simply contradictory and impossible by definition.

It isn't, actually. Satanists define the primary virtues as personal freedom, materialism, kindness for the virtuous, intelligence, knowledge, and "doing unto others as they do to you." It's pretty American, all told.

You can’t possibly claim to speak for all Satanists. Maybe just for the fake Satanists (who don’t really believe in it all) who are trolling religion. But there are plenty of Satanists who do actually think evil (however you define that) is a “good” thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

+1. The top pp clearly deals in black-and-white stereotypes, deliberate misunderstanding, and exaggerations. It’s a child’s view.

it's not hard to find hateful stuff people do in the name of religion. at least bad guys don't pretend to be good...

This. If you compare the body counts of Christianity and Satanism, it’s hard to argue Christianity isn’t the evil one

Miserable Ranting Atheist being miserable by trolling 24/7 on a mom’s website. Get outside, it’s sunny and won’t be warm-ish much longer!

Also, logic and math, please. A belief system where the majority are at least trying to be good but some aren’t good is hardly on the same level as a belief system where the majority are actively pursuing evil and maybe a few mess up and are good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

Whereas "doing good in the name of Satan" is simply contradictory and impossible by definition.

It isn't, actually. Satanists define the primary virtues as personal freedom, materialism, kindness for the virtuous, intelligence, knowledge, and "doing unto others as they do to you." It's pretty American, all told.

You can’t possibly claim to speak for all Satanists. Maybe just for the fake Satanists (who don’t really believe in it all) who are trolling religion. But there are plenty of Satanists who do actually think evil (however you define that) is a “good” thing.

I find it amusing that you (a Christian?) are trying to define who is a "real Satanist" and who isn't. The Satanic virtues are pretty much the same ideas for both atheist Satanists and religious Satanists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

Whereas "doing good in the name of Satan" is simply contradictory and impossible by definition.

It isn't, actually. Satanists define the primary virtues as personal freedom, materialism, kindness for the virtuous, intelligence, knowledge, and "doing unto others as they do to you." It's pretty American, all told.

You can’t possibly claim to speak for all Satanists. Maybe just for the fake Satanists (who don’t really believe in it all) who are trolling religion. But there are plenty of Satanists who do actually think evil (however you define that) is a “good” thing.

I find it amusing that you (a Christian?) are trying to define who is a "real Satanist" and who isn't. The Satanic virtues are pretty much the same ideas for both atheist Satanists and religious Satanists.

Oh really? You’re the one who tried to give Satanism a narrow scope.

Why are you lying so transparently?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-devil-you-know-the-satanic-cult-leader-who-loved-animal-sacrifices-orgies-and-murder
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2016/03/13/officials-probe-satanic-animal-sacrifices-on-long-island/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ctpost.com/policereports/amp/Cops-Rooster-burned-in-apparent-satanic-ritual-4009133.php
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-work-of-the-devil/amp/

Just the first few hits that came up, there are plenty more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

Whereas "doing good in the name of Satan" is simply contradictory and impossible by definition.

It isn't, actually. Satanists define the primary virtues as personal freedom, materialism, kindness for the virtuous, intelligence, knowledge, and "doing unto others as they do to you." It's pretty American, all told.

You can’t possibly claim to speak for all Satanists. Maybe just for the fake Satanists (who don’t really believe in it all) who are trolling religion. But there are plenty of Satanists who do actually think evil (however you define that) is a “good” thing.

I find it amusing that you (a Christian?) are trying to define who is a "real Satanist" and who isn't. The Satanic virtues are pretty much the same ideas for both atheist Satanists and religious Satanists.

Oh really? You’re the one who tried to give Satanism a narrow scope.

Why are you lying so transparently?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-devil-you-know-the-satanic-cult-leader-who-loved-animal-sacrifices-orgies-and-murder
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2016/03/13/officials-probe-satanic-animal-sacrifices-on-long-island/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ctpost.com/policereports/amp/Cops-Rooster-burned-in-apparent-satanic-ritual-4009133.php
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-work-of-the-devil/amp/

Just the first few hits that came up, there are plenty more.

The Work of The Devil

After Mark Kilroy disappeared in Matamoros during spring break, authorities feared the worst. But they had no idea how bad the worst could be.

“Nobody could make sense out of what happened to Mark Kilroy. It was all mixed up with black magic, white magic, drugs, mestizo superstition, gringo hedonism, coincidence, and random selection. We had warned ourselves about this sort of thing many times and still didn’t believe. It was the curse of el otro lado — the other side. Antonio Zavaleta, an expert on curanderismo who teaches at Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, was sometimes called to the other side of the border to supervise ghostbusting. “Look,” said Zavaleta, who had taught sociology and anthropology to two members of the murderous gang responsible for Kilroy’s death, “I’m a scientist. I have a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Texas. But when I went over there, I put a cross around my neck.””

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-work-of-the-devil/amp/

I have lots of family and friends in that area. It’s extremely scary. It’s no larp.

People here defending Satan and the worship of Satan are blind and or misinformed. They should stop talking about things they don’t understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

Whereas "doing good in the name of Satan" is simply contradictory and impossible by definition.

It isn't, actually. Satanists define the primary virtues as personal freedom, materialism, kindness for the virtuous, intelligence, knowledge, and "doing unto others as they do to you." It's pretty American, all told.

You can’t possibly claim to speak for all Satanists. Maybe just for the fake Satanists (who don’t really believe in it all) who are trolling religion. But there are plenty of Satanists who do actually think evil (however you define that) is a “good” thing.

I find it amusing that you (a Christian?) are trying to define who is a "real Satanist" and who isn't. The Satanic virtues are pretty much the same ideas for both atheist Satanists and religious Satanists.

Oh really? You’re the one who tried to give Satanism a narrow scope.

Why are you lying so transparently?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-devil-you-know-the-satanic-cult-leader-who-loved-animal-sacrifices-orgies-and-murder
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2016/03/13/officials-probe-satanic-animal-sacrifices-on-long-island/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ctpost.com/policereports/amp/Cops-Rooster-burned-in-apparent-satanic-ritual-4009133.php
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-work-of-the-devil/amp/

Just the first few hits that came up, there are plenty more.

And in the 80s, people were sure Satanists were running day care rings. It's all fear mongering nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

Whereas "doing good in the name of Satan" is simply contradictory and impossible by definition.

It isn't, actually. Satanists define the primary virtues as personal freedom, materialism, kindness for the virtuous, intelligence, knowledge, and "doing unto others as they do to you." It's pretty American, all told.

You can’t possibly claim to speak for all Satanists. Maybe just for the fake Satanists (who don’t really believe in it all) who are trolling religion. But there are plenty of Satanists who do actually think evil (however you define that) is a “good” thing.

I find it amusing that you (a Christian?) are trying to define who is a "real Satanist" and who isn't. The Satanic virtues are pretty much the same ideas for both atheist Satanists and religious Satanists.

Oh really? You’re the one who tried to give Satanism a narrow scope.

Why are you lying so transparently?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-devil-you-know-the-satanic-cult-leader-who-loved-animal-sacrifices-orgies-and-murder
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2016/03/13/officials-probe-satanic-animal-sacrifices-on-long-island/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ctpost.com/policereports/amp/Cops-Rooster-burned-in-apparent-satanic-ritual-4009133.php
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-work-of-the-devil/amp/

Just the first few hits that came up, there are plenty more.

And in the 80s, people were sure Satanists were running day care rings. It's all fear mongering nonsense.

No, those are news articles with evidence of people who worship Satan killing people. I don’t think the people who were killed and their families think satanic killings are nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) The actual Church of Satan is a secular humanist organization whose primary goal is to undermine attempts by right-wing christian fundamentalist groups to turn the US into a theocracy (look up the Satanist response to the Texas anti-abortion laws for a perfect example).

2) Yes, there are some people who suffer from severe, untreated mental illness who commit horrible acts and claim to do so in the name of Satan.

3) There are also people who commit horrible acts and claim to do so in the name of Jesus. These people, despite what many religious people will tell you, are not categorically different from those who commit the same acts in the name of Satan.

For example, a close friend is an assistant district attorney who has handled several child sexual abuse cases. One abuser was a devout Christian who molested a number of boys and his M.O. was to tell the boys how important sexual purity is and then demonstrate that touching their genitals is evil and a sin against Jesus…by touching their genitals. He would proceed to molest them and then punish them if they appeared to enjoy it.

Is this man a true follower of Christianity? He says he is. He goes to church 3 times a week. Pays his offerings, had a church wedding to a devout Christian woman and committed all his acts of abuse in his good Christian home or in the church building itself, referencing bible verses and Christian teachings literally as he molested prepubescent children.

A lot of Christians would say that he is not a “real” Christian, but when someone who claims to worship Satan then does something equally vile in pursuit of that belief, they say, “See, we told you Satan is a powerful leader of a real religion competing with Christianity for the souls of men!”

My take is that people who are driven to commit evil and abusive acts will grab on to any convenient ideology to justify themselves. Blaming everything evil on Satan is a way to absolve yourself of responsibility for trying to combat evil. People don’t commit child abuse and murder because the devil made them do it. They do so because they have the right combination of mental health issues, trauma and opportunity to act out.

When we fight to normalize and increase access to mental health care, or to provide financial logistical and educational resources to parents that reduce neglect and trauma for at-risk children, the result is a decrease in violence and abuse in society. But if we don’t want to do those things, saying that only Jesus can stop evil is a good excuse for not trying.

—Christian woman

Different poster here, please humor me. In regards to the bolder: To my mind, the child abuser you describe is actually an adherent of the devil, not Christianity. He may not acknowledge it consciously, but he is following satanic impulses. Definitely not a Christian. He has wrapped himself in the cloak of Christianity, and that is why he is so dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

Whereas "doing good in the name of Satan" is simply contradictory and impossible by definition.

It isn't, actually. Satanists define the primary virtues as personal freedom, materialism, kindness for the virtuous, intelligence, knowledge, and "doing unto others as they do to you." It's pretty American, all told.

You can’t possibly claim to speak for all Satanists. Maybe just for the fake Satanists (who don’t really believe in it all) who are trolling religion. But there are plenty of Satanists who do actually think evil (however you define that) is a “good” thing.

I find it amusing that you (a Christian?) are trying to define who is a "real Satanist" and who isn't. The Satanic virtues are pretty much the same ideas for both atheist Satanists and religious Satanists.

Oh really? You’re the one who tried to give Satanism a narrow scope.

Why are you lying so transparently?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-devil-you-know-the-satanic-cult-leader-who-loved-animal-sacrifices-orgies-and-murder
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2016/03/13/officials-probe-satanic-animal-sacrifices-on-long-island/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ctpost.com/policereports/amp/Cops-Rooster-burned-in-apparent-satanic-ritual-4009133.php
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-work-of-the-devil/amp/

Just the first few hits that came up, there are plenty more.

Christians do horrible crimes all the time, and frequently use Christianity as an excuse. How many youth pastor stories do you want?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you are serious, Satan and Satanism represent (some would say cause) humanity’s worst impulses. We’re not talking about cute witch covens or crunchy pagans. We’re talking about people who abuse their kids or parents, who steal from retirees, who are mass murderers, and so on.

Religious folks call it Satan; secular/atheists call it sociopathy ir psychopathy. But they all find common ground in judging mass murders to be bad.

I don't think there is any proof that mass murderers or child abusers are Satanists. In fact, prisons are full of religious people.

Other than people who are truly delusional (as in, hearing voices).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

Whereas "doing good in the name of Satan" is simply contradictory and impossible by definition.

It isn't, actually. Satanists define the primary virtues as personal freedom, materialism, kindness for the virtuous, intelligence, knowledge, and "doing unto others as they do to you." It's pretty American, all told.

You can’t possibly claim to speak for all Satanists. Maybe just for the fake Satanists (who don’t really believe in it all) who are trolling religion. But there are plenty of Satanists who do actually think evil (however you define that) is a “good” thing.

I find it amusing that you (a Christian?) are trying to define who is a "real Satanist" and who isn't. The Satanic virtues are pretty much the same ideas for both atheist Satanists and religious Satanists.

Oh really? You’re the one who tried to give Satanism a narrow scope.

Why are you lying so transparently?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-devil-you-know-the-satanic-cult-leader-who-loved-animal-sacrifices-orgies-and-murder
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2016/03/13/officials-probe-satanic-animal-sacrifices-on-long-island/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ctpost.com/policereports/amp/Cops-Rooster-burned-in-apparent-satanic-ritual-4009133.php
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-work-of-the-devil/amp/

Just the first few hits that came up, there are plenty more.

And in the 80s, people were sure Satanists were running day care rings. It's all fear mongering nonsense.

No, those are news articles with evidence of people who worship Satan killing people. I don’t think the people who were killed and their families think satanic killings are nonsense.

Those aren't"news articles" and aren't even evidence that satanic cults killed these people. Read the links and then do some more googling on the perpetrators and victims.

Briefly, the first guy was a psychopath. If you read about the poor guy Mark Killroy, the people who tortured and killed him were not "satanists." They were a murderous group/cult involved in drug smuggling, magic spells and something closer to voodoo.

I think actual cults of people who worship Satan and murder people are non-existent or rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given all the terrible and hateful stuff people do in the name of religion, my vote is no, there’s no difference.

I think people do a lot more good in the name of religion than bad.

Whereas "doing good in the name of Satan" is simply contradictory and impossible by definition.

It isn't, actually. Satanists define the primary virtues as personal freedom, materialism, kindness for the virtuous, intelligence, knowledge, and "doing unto others as they do to you." It's pretty American, all told.

You can’t possibly claim to speak for all Satanists. Maybe just for the fake Satanists (who don’t really believe in it all) who are trolling religion. But there are plenty of Satanists who do actually think evil (however you define that) is a “good” thing.

I find it amusing that you (a Christian?) are trying to define who is a "real Satanist" and who isn't. The Satanic virtues are pretty much the same ideas for both atheist Satanists and religious Satanists.

Oh really? You’re the one who tried to give Satanism a narrow scope.

Why are you lying so transparently?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-devil-you-know-the-satanic-cult-leader-who-loved-animal-sacrifices-orgies-and-murder
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2016/03/13/officials-probe-satanic-animal-sacrifices-on-long-island/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ctpost.com/policereports/amp/Cops-Rooster-burned-in-apparent-satanic-ritual-4009133.php
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-work-of-the-devil/amp/

Just the first few hits that came up, there are plenty more.

And in the 80s, people were sure Satanists were running day care rings. It's all fear mongering nonsense.

No, those are news articles with evidence of people who worship Satan killing people. I don’t think the people who were killed and their families think satanic killings are nonsense.

Those aren't"news articles" and aren't even evidence that satanic cults killed these people. Read the links and then do some more googling on the perpetrators and victims.

Briefly, the first guy was a psychopath. If you read about the poor guy Mark Killroy, the people who tortured and killed him were not "satanists." They were a murderous group/cult involved in drug smuggling, magic spells and something closer to voodoo.

I think actual cults of people who worship Satan and murder people are non-existent or rare.

And look at the rooster article. They found dead roosters that appeared to have been set on fire (horrific, if burned alive), but the article has absolutely no mention of any indication that it was a satanic ritual. Did you even read the article you yourself posted?