Satanism: Dialogic?

[Abishai100]

Satanism is a group of ideological and philosophical beliefs based on the character of Satan. Contemporary religious practice of Satanism began with the founding of the Church of Satan in 1966, although a few historical precedents exist. Prior to the public practice, Satanism existed primarily as an accusation by various Christian groups toward perceived ideological opponents, rather than a self-identity. Satanism, and the concept of Satan, has also been used by artists and entertainers for symbolic expression (source of information: Wikipedia).

Satan (or the 'Devil') is the adversary of God and hence the Christian epitome of temptation and corruption.

To Satanists, Satan is a 'father-figure' meant to bestow a feeling of metaphysical escape from the confines of a congested orthodox world. Satanists have been criticized for bizarre rituals and have even been accused of inhuman practices such as cannibalism and child-sacrifice.

I'm a follower of Catholic beliefs/rituals, and I find that intellectually entertaining notions about religious pluralism and free-speech regarding non-mainstream religions such as Satanism and Scientology represents a social investment in stimulating philosophical dialogue.

Even if Satanism seems unusual or bizarre to non-Satanists, we could motivate ourselves to ask questions such as, "Why is Satanism meaningful to its devotees?"

As long as a religion does not force its beliefs onto others through fascism (as Satanists and Christians have done alike!), we should respect the decision of its devotees to honor its philosophical assumptions.

Satanism seems to offer its members opportunities to meditate on the human consequences of rebellious imagination.



Satanism (Wikipedia)

 

[yiostheoy]

Satanism ??

Here having the meaning of Wiccan campfire dances ??

 

[konradv]

Don't besmirch Satanism by comparing it to Scientology.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

Satanism ??

Here having the meaning of Wiccan campfire dances ??

Wiccans do not believe in satan.

The devil is a christian construct - just like god.

 

[Abishai100]

The Forest

American horror films present extreme monsters and 'ghouls' such as Jason Voorhees (a hockey-mask wearing zombie) and Leatherface (a chainsaw-wielding cannibal) who symbolize pure evil.

We can use these 'freaks' to understand the value of anti-social behavior characterizations in pop-culture art (or mainstream cinema), especially since horror-cinema has become very popular since the release of the psychosis-magnification Alfred Hitchcock films (i.e., Psycho).

Many modern horror films and spin-off video games (e.g., Aliens vs. Predator) use violence and gore as totems of anti-social behavior dialogue, yet these media are never considered anti-social (in political tone) and are therefore never criticized/censored by political organizations.

This partially explains the plethora of experimental genre cross-over media such as Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf (horror-comedy animation).

Understanding why these images are never censored while bizarre offbeat rituals in Satanism are actively critiqued can help us better approach the symbolic value of 'unpopular storytelling.'

It's why the controversial writer Salman Rushdie dealt with 'the wilderness of censorship' --- since his incendiary book The Satanic Verses proposed the notion that the esteemed Muslim prophet Muhammad was given words by the Devil (Satan) in the desert which altered the way Islam was transcribed.

In other words, has the depiction of the Devil (Satan) in popular media (i.e., books/movies) affected/impacted the way mainstream society critiques Satanism? This may be the proverbial 'forest of censorship-storytelling.'


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Snow White was a fair princess looking for the keys to wisdom and monarchy but pursued by the malice of an envious wicked queen who saw Snow White's beauty as a symbol of spiritual divinity and hence a direct threat to her fascist dominion. The wicked queen sent the spirit of Jason Voorhees (a murderous zombie) to stalk Snow White and scare her to death. Snow White would now have to contend with pure evil.

Snow White was hiding in the cottages of her newfound forest friends, the precocious and friendly dwarves who were off to work for the day (leaving Snow White alone to wander around the area). Snow White was walking around the woods by the dwarves' cottages singing about the joy of spiritual thoughts when she suddenly was approached by the hockey-mask wearing Jason Voorhees. Jason walked towards Snow White, machete raised in hand.

Snow White knew she was doomed if she failed to find a way to either evade Jason or somehow miraculously convince him not to kill her with his deadly and terrible machete. Snow White decided to look Jason right in the face and say, "If you kill me, you'll never find out if I'm worthy enough to challenge the dominion of the wicked queen!" Jason considered the cleverness of the comment but also the notion that Snow White would never find the 'opportunity' to face the wicked queen face-to-face. Jason decided he would let Snow White challenge the wicked queen someday (something the queen herself would seek), and so he disappeared.

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Snow White (2012)

 

[aris2chat]

Satanism is a group of ideological and philosophical beliefs based on the character of Satan. Contemporary religious practice of Satanism began with the founding of the Church of Satan in 1966, although a few historical precedents exist. Prior to the public practice, Satanism existed primarily as an accusation by various Christian groups toward perceived ideological opponents, rather than a self-identity. Satanism, and the concept of Satan, has also been used by artists and entertainers for symbolic expression (source of information: Wikipedia).

Satan (or the 'Devil') is the adversary of God and hence the Christian epitome of temptation and corruption.

To Satanists, Satan is a 'father-figure' meant to bestow a feeling of metaphysical escape from the confines of a congested orthodox world. Satanists have been criticized for bizarre rituals and have even been accused of inhuman practices such as cannibalism and child-sacrifice.

I'm a follower of Catholic beliefs/rituals, and I find that intellectually entertaining notions about religious pluralism and free-speech regarding non-mainstream religions such as Satanism and Scientology represents a social investment in stimulating philosophical dialogue.

Even if Satanism seems unusual or bizarre to non-Satanists, we could motivate ourselves to ask questions such as, "Why is Satanism meaningful to its devotees?"

As long as a religion does not force its beliefs onto others through fascism (as Satanists and Christians have done alike!), we should respect the decision of its devotees to honor its philosophical assumptions.

Satanism seems to offer its members opportunities to meditate on the human consequences of rebellious imagination.



Satanism (Wikipedia)


View attachment 117213

Satanism is humanism and mocks religion, including satan.

There is not devil, it is theater


What, The Devil? - Church of Satan
www.churchofsatan.com/what-the-devil.php
Satanism is not Devil worship. That comes as a shock to many who haven't explored our philosophy and it is the prime misconception outsiders have regarding ...