Satanism: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
|||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
LaVeyan satanists believe that Satan is a metaphor that represents the natural urges of mankind. The term ''LaVeyan Satanist'' or [[symbolic]] Satanist, is used by other Satanists to refer to supporters of the writings of [[Church of Satan]] founder [[Anton Szandor LaVey]] and successors such as [[Peter H. Gilmore]].<ref>[http://web.satanism101.com/satfaq.html Satanism 101<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Use of the word Satanism in this context, according to [[religioustolerance.org]], refers to a "small religious group that is unrelated to any other faith, and whose members feel free to satisfy their urges responsibly, exhibit kindness to their friends, and attack their enemies.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/satanis2.htm Satanism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
LaVeyan satanists believe that Satan is a metaphor that represents the natural urges of mankind. The term ''LaVeyan Satanist'' or [[symbolic]] Satanist, is used by other Satanists to refer to supporters of the writings of [[Church of Satan]] founder [[Anton Szandor LaVey]] and successors such as [[Peter H. Gilmore]].<ref>[http://web.satanism101.com/satfaq.html Satanism 101<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Use of the word Satanism in this context, according to [[religioustolerance.org]], refers to a "small religious group that is unrelated to any other faith, and whose members feel free to satisfy their urges responsibly, exhibit kindness to their friends, and attack their enemies.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/satanis2.htm Satanism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
||
===Temple of Set=== |
|||
{{main|Temple of Set}} |
|||
The largest or most visible organized group of Religious Satanists appears to be the Temple of Set, organized by Michael Aquino from members of the Church of Satan who left that Church in 1975. The Temple of Set claims to believe in the existence of Set, the ancient Egyptian god, as the primal Prince of Darkness. |
|||
==Groups alleged to have practiced Satanism== |
==Groups alleged to have practiced Satanism== |
||
Revision as of 20:50, 19 September 2008
- For other uses of the word, see Satanism (disambiguation).
Satanism can refer to a number of belief systems depending on the user and context. The word, in basic context, can refer to the worship of Satan [1] or the left hand path belief system founded by Anton LaVey.[2] It is often the practice of any given Satanist not to refer to themselves with a hyphenated prefix. Each "type" of Satanist will usually refer to themselves only as Satanists. But to identify which type of Satanism is being referred to, they are known as LaVeyan Satanists and Theistic Satanists. The word can also be used as a derogatory term towards any belief system of which the speaker disapproves.
Theistic Satanism
Theistic Satanism, also called Spiritual or Traditional Satanism, is the worship of Satan, and consists of several viewpoints and groups. One group that falls under the definition of Theistic Satanism are called "reverse Christians"; this is sometimes used as a disparaging term by other theistic Satanists, and embraced to a lesser or greater extent by the groups given this label. Groups called "Reverse Christian" are said to practice what Christians claim Satanists do, and worship what Christians consider to be the enemy of Christ and God, basing their concept of Satan somewhat on descriptions of him in the Bible. Some other groups of Theistic Satanists do not accept the Bible as depicting the true Satan to the same degree, basing their concept of him on personal spiritual experience and prayer. The Spiritual Satanists however see Satan as a god that looks just like any other human, in their view Satan has blond hair, is Caucasian, and so forth. Spiritual Satanists tend to focus their time on meditation and self expansion. Their beliefs have nothing to do with Christianity or the Bible, and their view on Satanism.
Modern Satanism
Modern Satanism is the observance and practice of Satanic religious beliefs, philosophies and customs. [3] In this interpretation of Satanism, the Satanist does not worship Satan in the theistic sense, but is an adversary to all spiritual creeds, espousing hedonism, materialism, Randian Objectivism, antinomianism, suitheism, Nietzschean and some Crowleyan philosophy and anti-theism. Modern Satanists are also sometimes referred to as symbolic Satanists.[4] [5]
Luciferianism
Luciferianism is a recently developed offshoot of Satanism that keeps most of the tenets of Satanism, yet has more leniency to what is commonly referred to as a 'good' morality. Their view of Satan may incorporate some concepts from contemporary western religion, such as the sense of him by some of them as a father. One of these groups considers themselves to be 'Christian Satanists,' rejects the ideas of magic and rituals, and define themselves as being in the middle of LaVeyan Satanism and Christian teachings. This stance has led to their rejection from the Church of Satan.[6]
LaVeyan Satanism
LaVeyan satanists believe that Satan is a metaphor that represents the natural urges of mankind. The term LaVeyan Satanist or symbolic Satanist, is used by other Satanists to refer to supporters of the writings of Church of Satan founder Anton Szandor LaVey and successors such as Peter H. Gilmore.[7] Use of the word Satanism in this context, according to religioustolerance.org, refers to a "small religious group that is unrelated to any other faith, and whose members feel free to satisfy their urges responsibly, exhibit kindness to their friends, and attack their enemies.[8]
Groups alleged to have practiced Satanism
Many groups have been believed to have worshiped Satan, from pagans celebrating Pan to Yezidis worshiping Melek Taus.[9] In reality, the Yezidi do not view themselves as Satanist, as the being they worship is referred to by them as an angel, and considered a servant of the God of Adam. Anton LaVey himself believed the Yezidi to be devil-worshippers, but he believed it due to stereotypes and rumors about them propagated by both Westerners and Muslim communities, as some viewed the Yezidi's customs to have been corrupted by Satan.[citation needed]
Satanism and heavy metal music
Heavy metal music has often been connected with Satanism, in part to the lyrical content of several bands and their frequent use of imagery often tied to left hand path beliefs (such as the pentagram). As a result, members of several bands, including Slayer and Black Sabbath, have faced accusations of being true Satanists. More often than not, such musicians deny any belief in legitimate Satanic ideology and often profess to being atheists or, in some instances, followers of right hand path religions, while using that which appears to be "Satanic" for entertainment purposes and shock value.[10]
However, while some debate their authenticity, plenty of artists profess legitimate Satanic beliefs. Glen Benton, vocalist and bassist of the band Deicide, has openly claimed to be a practitioner of Theistic Satanism, and has spoken publicly on numerous occasions[11] to profess staunch anti-Christian sentiment. Norwegian black metal artists, such as those from bands Gorgoroth and Mayhem, have also defended modern Satanic ideology.[12] Numerous burnings of churches that covered parts of Norway in the early 1990s were also attributed to youths involved in the black metal movement, who claimed to have theistic Satanic beliefs and strong "anti-LeVeyan" attitudes.[13] However, the legitimacy of such actions as Satanic endeavors, rather than simply rebellious actions done for publicity, is something that has been doubted by even those who contribute to the genre.[14]
See also
References
- ^ satanism - Definitions from Dictionary.com
- ^ Flowers, Stephen (1997). Lords of the Left-hand Path. Runa-Raven Press. ISBN 1-885972-08-3.
- ^ Satanic Denominations
- ^ Darkside Collective Ministry International
- ^ Modern Satanism
- ^ Witches, Wiccans, and the "True Satanist"
- ^ Satanism 101
- ^ Satanism
- ^ “The Devil Worshipers of the Middle East : Their Beliefs & Sacred Books” Holmes Pub Group LLC (December 1993) ISBN-10: 1558182314 ISBN-13: 978-1558182318
- ^ Baddeley, Gavin. Raising Hell!: The Book of Satan and Rock 'n' Roll
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcgmWrhSg8c
- ^ Garry Sharpe-Young (2007). Metal: The Definitive Guide.
- ^ Grude, Torstein (Director) (January 1). Satan rir Media (motion picture). Norway: Grude, Torstein.
{{cite AV media}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ Ihsahn Interview
Further reading
- Michelet, Jules (1862). Satanism and Witchcraft: The Classic Study of Medieval Superstition. ISBN 978-0806500591. Considered the first modern work to discuss Satanism.
- Cavendish, Richard (1967). The Black Arts: An Absorbing Account of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout the Ages. ISBN 978-0399500350. Summary of the history of Witchcraft, Satanism, and Devil Worship in the last part of the book.
- Zacharias, Gerhard (1980). The Satanic Cult. ISBN 978-0041330083. Translated from the 1964 German edition by Christine Trollope.
- Medway, Gareth (2001). Lure of the Sinister: The Unnatural History of Satanism. ISBN 978-0814756454.
External links
