âThe power of Christ compels you!â Thatâs what Father Merrin shouts as he perform the exorcism rites to cast out Pazuzu inside Meganâ¦.Yeah rightâ¦A lot of people are misguided to compare atheism from Satanism.
What is Satanism anyway?
Ignorance sometimes make us believe in somethingâ¦Well before I have a copy of the Satanic Bible, I thought that Satanism is just plane symbolic atheismâ¦Wellâ¦that was before. Now I know that Satanism is more fitting to be called an anti-theistic religious cult, where you can enjoy sex, drugs and alcohol while you curse the name of the Christian god. That is not atheism.
Yet a lot of misguided Christians are still in the dark about this.
Majority of Satanists here in the Philippines are more familiar with Anton Szandor LaVeyâs Church of Satan. Weâre not even be talking about the real thing here. Weâre not going to talk about Sir Francis Dashwoodâs Hell-Fire Club or Aleister Crowleyâs Ordo Templi Orientis. Nopeâ¦weâre going to talk about theatrics.
Anton LaVey is a circus performer and he created his âchurchâ in 1966â¦Anno Satanas! Yeah manâ¦1966, the year of hippies and drugs. The Church Of Satan represents the mood of the youth in the late 60âs, indulgence, vitality and gratification. In fact, LaVey created his church as a protest against Christianity, as LaVey said in his own biography,
âOn Saturday night I would see men lusting after half-naked girls dancing at the carnival, and on Sunday morning when I was playing the organ for tent show evangelists at the other end of the carnival lot, I would see these same men sitting in the pews with their wives and children, asking God to forgive them and purge them of carnal desires. And the next Saturday night they'd be back at the carnival or some other place of indulgence.â "I knew then that the Christian Church thrives on hypocrisy and that man's carnal nature will out!"
Like the showman he is, LaVey shaved his head in the tradition of ancient executioners and announced the formation of The Church of Satan. He had seen the need for a church that would recapture man's body and his carnal desires as objects of celebration. "
Since worship of fleshly things produces pleasure," he said,
"there would then be a temple of glorious indulgence..."
But the Church of Satan is really nothing more but LaVeyâs unashamed showmanship. He would use a pantomime-devil suit for his ceremonies. His congregation would also be masked and robed in theatrical style. There is also obligatory nudity and choreographed satanic extravaganzas using topless dancers from San Franciscoâs red district. What can I sayâ¦itâs Saturday morning cartoons? Oh and did I forget to tell you that LaVey was the adviser and also have a cameo role as the devil in the film Rosemaryâs Baby. He also used the accident that killed Jane Mansfield to boost his church. What a master showman indeed.
According to the nine Satanic Statements:
1. Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence!
2. Satan represents vital existence, instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom, instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates!
5. Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek!
6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible, instead of concern for psychic vampires!
7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his "divine spiritual and intellectual development", have become the most vicious animal of all!
8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
9. Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years!
Now if we read these nine statements, this is practically more about being an anti-theist rather than atheism. Atheism doesnât represent anything in these nine statements. Atheism is about not believing in a god or gods. An atheist doesnât give any tootles about norms and behavior. I canât even consider this as Humanism. According to the Satanic Bible,
why not call it something like 'Humanism' or a name that would have the connotation of a witchcraft group, something a little more esoteric - something less blatant." There is more than one reason for this. Humanism is not a religion. It is simply a way of life with no ceremony or dogma. Satanism has both ceremony and dogma. Dogma, as will be explained, is necessary. Atheism is not a dogma nor does it have any ceremonies. Personally speaking, I think Satanism is more of a rebellion than enlightenment. Well remember, we are talking about a belief system that was formed in the late 60âs.
Most Satanists do not accept Satan as an anthropomorphic being with cloven hooves, a barbed tail, and horns. He merely represents a force in nature - the powers of darkness which have been named just that because no religion has taken these forces out of the darkness. Yet most modern concept of God also have the same perception. In her book The History of God, Karen Armstrong has discussed this concept of a mystical God which is better compare to common theism. She also said that the ancient Hebrews also worship a God who is like the force of Nature...like the wind. Bishop Spong also offer to his readers this god idea. LaVeyâs concept of Satan is similar. The same banana! That is not atheism.
Atheism is about not believing in a god or gods. Even if a Satanist think that Satan is a force of Nature, it is still very different on an atheist's point of view. Atheism is not about rebellion on a supernatural higher force or a force of nature.
So, does Satanism represent atheism? Not a chance! So sorry to burst your bubble @ James Andrew Hatfield .
