(December 17, 2024 at 7:29 pm)Belacqua Wrote:(December 17, 2024 at 3:00 pm)AFTT47 Wrote: The Satanists are a curious group. Most of those I've encountered have more in common with Ayn Rand Objectivists than the humanistic worldview more commonly seen in atheists.
I definitely approve of their activity regarding violations of church-state separation. I believe their approach is much more effective than trying to prosecute violations. It's much simpler too. You can argue until you're blue in the face that displaying this or that Christian symbol in this or that public space is a violation and get nowhere. Display your own symbol right besides theirs though and it leaves them in a tough spot. It's a lot harder to defend why you should be able to do something while others should not be able to do exactly the same thing.
I think the Satanist approach also has the added value of frustrating and pissing off the holier-than-thou Christians too which is something I always take delight in.
It's because modern American "Satanists" don't believe in Satan. It's cos-play.
They could just as well be Mickey Mousists, except the Satan thing pisses off the Christians more. And I'm sure they're happy that their statue was broken, because it gets them more attention and gives them an opportunity to prosecute someone who was "oppressing" them. Political theater.
Their real beliefs are just what modern liberal Americans believe.
This is in contrast to old-style European Satanists, who actually believed they were risking something, and weren't just grandstanding.
That’s why it’s called a non-theistic religion, you fucking dolt.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
