Catholicism-Satanism: Contour Dictionary?

[Abishai100]

Catholicism (e.g., the Vatican) has been criticized for being overly-ornamental and hence indulgent.

Satanism has been overtly-criticized for being overly-passionate about primalist beliefs, making them seem very non-mainstream (even rebellious).

While Atheism and Puritanism (and non-ornamental belief 'groups' such as the Amish) are considered 'clear' about their dispassionate approach to metaphysics, this doe not necessarily make Catholics and Satanists 'biased' or 'overly-sentimental.'

How can we coordinate social attitudes towards 'philosophical expressionism' with open-dialogue about religious pluralism to better appreciate how Catholicism and Satanism can be considered peaceful (and hence non-confrontational) foils?

After all, many college courses in the USA teach that Karl Marx (father of communism) and Adam Smith (father of capitalism) are 'scholastic foils' and not necessarily 'rivals' or 'enemies.'

Critics of Satanism cite bizarre rituals and ideas regarding cannibalism and blood-drinking as heretical, but critics of Christian denominations (such as Catholicism) cite holy wars and religious persecution as clear condemnations of mainstream religions.

I think a good way to approach the intellectual analysis of the Catholicism-Satanism 'contour' is to cite William Shakespeare's contract-inquisition play The Merchant of Venice, a story about a precociously clever young woman named Portia who has to help a man get out of a fatal oath to an unforgiving money-lender referred to as 'Shylock the Jew.'


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CATHOLIC: Are you a fan of Shakespeare?
SATANIST: I think Shakespeare does a good job of addressing the 'frailty' of human nature.
CATHOLIC: Yes, vice, gluttony, rage, pride, conspiracy, daydreams, infatuation, etc.
SATANIST: Are you a fan of Ian Fleming?
CATHOLIC: I think the James Bond spy films nicely address a human fascination with 'espionage.'
SATANIST: How would you compare the Bond villain Goldfinger with the Shakespeare 'villain' Shylock?
CATHOLIC: Goldfinger represents organized crime, while Shylock represents society bias.
SATANIST: However, they both represent greed.
CATHOLIC: That's true.
SATANIST: Shylock was nabbed for being a merciless money-lender.
CATHOLIC: His potential 'victim' was a naive 'gambler' of sorts.
SATANIST: Do you think James Bond is a gambler?
CATHOLIC: I think espionage is certainly a 'risky game.'
SATANIST: Americans are criticized for their 'gambling nature' (e.g., Las Vegas, Wall Street, etc.).
CATHOLIC: It's perhaps why the Taliban attacked the World Trade Center in 2001...
SATANIST: Do you think pro-Catholicism films such as Angels and Demons are a 'gamble'?
CATHOLIC: Well, there's no reason to assume that mass-marketed Catholicism will be appreciated.
SATANIST: Why do you think Roman Polanski made the Satanism-experimentation film The Ninth Gate?
CATHOLIC: Mainstream audiences feel that Satanism itself is a 'gamble.'
SATANIST: Perhaps Shylock can teach us both something about optimism...

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The Merchant of Venice (Wikipedia)

 

[Luddly Neddite]

That's quite a rant about imaginary beings. Wish we had a Religion forum for it.

 

[Abishai100]

The Dollhouse


Here's a mock dialogue about metaphysical figurines (or dolls) between Vishnu (Hindu god of protection) and Shiva (Hindu god of destruction).

It's interesting to note how we talk about toys/treasures in the modern age of media/consumerism (i.e., Facebook).


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VISHNU: What do you think of the Child's Play horror-film franchise?
SHIVA: Is that the one about that evil possessed doll named 'Chucky'?
VISHNU: Yes!
SHIVA: Americans seem fascinated by 'haunted objects.'
VISHNU: Yes, Americans like applying metaphysics to toys/treasures.
SHIVA: Maybe it's a way to normalize the nihilistic profiteerism behind capitalism.
VISHNU: Are you saying socialists/communists are more spiritual than capitalists?
SHIVA: I'm saying capitalism is more vulnerable to the forces of greed.
VISHNU: Karl Marx suggested socialism/communism could curb the ravenous human appetite.
SHIVA: Unfortunately, communist leaders (e.g., Stalin) are vulnerable to power-gluttony too.
VISHNU: Well, capitalism societies are more focused on the 'idolization' of commodities (e.g., Wall Street).
SHIVA: Therefore, Chucky (from Child's Play) symbolizes the 'heresy' of consumerism.
VISHNU: Right. Chucky is the opposite of Cupid (avatar of love/romance) and represents ugliness.
SHIVA: Figurines of metaphysical 'avatars' (e.g., Chucky, Jesus, etc.) serve as self-criticism reminders.
VISHNU: Yes, sort of like Bride of Frankenstein.
SHIVA: To Satanists then, Chucky is like Icarus (a potentially romanticized gluttony-god).
VISHNU: To Catholics, Chucky is like Cerberus (demon-dog 'guardian' of hell and capitalism fear).
SHIVA: I'd compare Chucky to Tom Hanks (the celebrity), since both represent 'overt street-wisdom.'

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