Hey, Sail Hatan,
I'm an Agnostic and Anti-Theist, raised in a Baptist home.
I found your post quite interesting, although I agree, a post under 'Introductions' would have been better,
but perhaps you didn't realize you had the option.
At any rate, I'm frequently long-winded, myself, so I can't complain about that part,
and I'd like to extend you a welcome.
There are a few Theists who take part in these Atheist forums,
so I see no reason why a Satanist shouldn't.
I have entertained many theories, on my journey to Agnosticism,
and one of them is similar to the scenario you paint:
That the Abrahamic religions are actually the real bad guys,
and Satan was actually the good guy, who unfairly got a bum rap.
I've also entertained the Deist theory of an impartial and disaffected God (and no devil, at all)
who is more like a scientist or architect, who doesn't give a shit about "Sin" or being "worshiped"
and neither loves, nor hates humanity, but simply carries on with His own experiments;
Of course, these are all just theories I entertained;
my personal leaning is that there most likely isn't a God, isn't a Devil,
that there are no human souls or an afterlife,
no Heaven, no Hell....just a big atomic soup called the Universe.
Ultimately, despite my leanings, I always allow for any possibility.
...but not any probability.
However, I'm a little surprised that you didn't at least get a few more acknowledgments
of the bad stuff you mentioned about Christianity;
however, it must be remembered that most Atheists will figuratively
come out in a rash if exposed to ANY organized dogma,
and will react with corresponding antipathy.
For me, philosophically, your representation of Satanism is actually quite appealing,
and for me, the only real rub in what you had to say was the acceptance of Satan as a real entity.
It compels me to pose the same question to you that I would to a Christian, a Jew, or a Muslim:
Can you prove....beyond all doubt...that your deity exists...or existed at one time?
Or, like Christianity, does your religion hang on Faith?
And can you prove that the stuff you claim to know ABOUT your deity, is actually true?
If it was just the philosophical concept of not condemning the Biblical Satan for His role as a rebel,
(which was my understanding of what Satanism actually was),
then I suspect that more Atheists would be slightly more tolerant of the idea
...although many of them still reject the idea that any organization is required,
just for the purposes of examining a philosophy.
but you are touting Satan as a deity,
just as much as Christians tout Christ as a deity;
and you profess the existence of "powers" and "miracles".
the dogma is very different, yes
...but there is still a deity at the core that you maintain is "real".
Now, granted, I don't recall reading anything, anywhere in what you wrote,
indicating that your deity requires worship, as such, the way the Biblical God does.
You simply stipulated that a "relationship" with Satan was possible
for anyone who was "willing and respectful".
I find that interesting. Does your deity, Satan, not actually require worship, as such?
I did note that you said that Satanism was about
"elevating and empowering humanity",
and again, I think that concept would be somewhat more palatable as a mere philosophy, amongst Theists,
....but not as a religion, with both dogma, and a deity, behind it.
so it raises the question:
why does Satan care about elevating and empowering humanity?
Also: you mention demons that were once "bound" using rituals and the name of Jehova.
If Satan is the original Creator, how were his demons so easily bound, by mere humans?
That's like telling a Christian that Michael the Archangel was once put in a cage by humans,
and God allowed it, or was powerless to do anything about it, at least immediately.
And finally, with regard to the importance of meditation and mind powers,
it could be interpreted different ways:
Do you mean to say that Satanism makes it possible for you to have mind powers
on the scale that most people today would consider to be those of a superhero? Like in the movies?
Like telekinesis or telepathy?
The literal ability to directly and immediately manipulate events or matter,
merely by personal will?
or, do you mean it in a more subtle sense;
like the power of positive thinking;
like visualizing what you want to achieve,
and then taking real-life steps to realize what you envisioned,
benefiting from the focus and confidence you garnered as a result of your visualization?
Are you simply saying that this power, of positive thinking and visualization,
can be far more useful that people realize
(and that Satanism encourages this balancing practice and self-healing and self-betterment)
and is too easily dismissed
.....by those who misunderstand and think you are touting something supernatural?
I hope you haven't been chased off by the cool reception you received,
and if I've misunderstood anything, I look forward to hearing your clarification.
And again, welcome!
I'm an Agnostic and Anti-Theist, raised in a Baptist home.
I found your post quite interesting, although I agree, a post under 'Introductions' would have been better,
but perhaps you didn't realize you had the option.
At any rate, I'm frequently long-winded, myself, so I can't complain about that part,
and I'd like to extend you a welcome.
There are a few Theists who take part in these Atheist forums,
so I see no reason why a Satanist shouldn't.
I have entertained many theories, on my journey to Agnosticism,
and one of them is similar to the scenario you paint:
That the Abrahamic religions are actually the real bad guys,
and Satan was actually the good guy, who unfairly got a bum rap.
I've also entertained the Deist theory of an impartial and disaffected God (and no devil, at all)
who is more like a scientist or architect, who doesn't give a shit about "Sin" or being "worshiped"
and neither loves, nor hates humanity, but simply carries on with His own experiments;
Of course, these are all just theories I entertained;
my personal leaning is that there most likely isn't a God, isn't a Devil,
that there are no human souls or an afterlife,
no Heaven, no Hell....just a big atomic soup called the Universe.
Ultimately, despite my leanings, I always allow for any possibility.
...but not any probability.
However, I'm a little surprised that you didn't at least get a few more acknowledgments
of the bad stuff you mentioned about Christianity;
however, it must be remembered that most Atheists will figuratively
come out in a rash if exposed to ANY organized dogma,
and will react with corresponding antipathy.
For me, philosophically, your representation of Satanism is actually quite appealing,
and for me, the only real rub in what you had to say was the acceptance of Satan as a real entity.
It compels me to pose the same question to you that I would to a Christian, a Jew, or a Muslim:
Can you prove....beyond all doubt...that your deity exists...or existed at one time?
Or, like Christianity, does your religion hang on Faith?
And can you prove that the stuff you claim to know ABOUT your deity, is actually true?
If it was just the philosophical concept of not condemning the Biblical Satan for His role as a rebel,
(which was my understanding of what Satanism actually was),
then I suspect that more Atheists would be slightly more tolerant of the idea
...although many of them still reject the idea that any organization is required,
just for the purposes of examining a philosophy.
but you are touting Satan as a deity,
just as much as Christians tout Christ as a deity;
and you profess the existence of "powers" and "miracles".
the dogma is very different, yes
...but there is still a deity at the core that you maintain is "real".
Now, granted, I don't recall reading anything, anywhere in what you wrote,
indicating that your deity requires worship, as such, the way the Biblical God does.
You simply stipulated that a "relationship" with Satan was possible
for anyone who was "willing and respectful".
I find that interesting. Does your deity, Satan, not actually require worship, as such?
I did note that you said that Satanism was about
"elevating and empowering humanity",
and again, I think that concept would be somewhat more palatable as a mere philosophy, amongst Theists,
....but not as a religion, with both dogma, and a deity, behind it.
so it raises the question:
why does Satan care about elevating and empowering humanity?
Also: you mention demons that were once "bound" using rituals and the name of Jehova.
If Satan is the original Creator, how were his demons so easily bound, by mere humans?
That's like telling a Christian that Michael the Archangel was once put in a cage by humans,
and God allowed it, or was powerless to do anything about it, at least immediately.
And finally, with regard to the importance of meditation and mind powers,
it could be interpreted different ways:
Do you mean to say that Satanism makes it possible for you to have mind powers
on the scale that most people today would consider to be those of a superhero? Like in the movies?
Like telekinesis or telepathy?
The literal ability to directly and immediately manipulate events or matter,
merely by personal will?
or, do you mean it in a more subtle sense;
like the power of positive thinking;
like visualizing what you want to achieve,
and then taking real-life steps to realize what you envisioned,
benefiting from the focus and confidence you garnered as a result of your visualization?
Are you simply saying that this power, of positive thinking and visualization,
can be far more useful that people realize
(and that Satanism encourages this balancing practice and self-healing and self-betterment)
and is too easily dismissed
.....by those who misunderstand and think you are touting something supernatural?
I hope you haven't been chased off by the cool reception you received,
and if I've misunderstood anything, I look forward to hearing your clarification.
And again, welcome!
