That is what satanists say.
I just think they can come up with a better name than satanist. I much prefer pagans or something else.
Some Satanists actually draw and manipulate "dark" energy from Satan and his hierarchy of demons
the same way people invoke "light" energy from God through Christ and expressed through saints angels etc.
the dark energy is more dangerous than people think and should not be mixed with light energy. they clash.,
Dear Hypercube the two branches of laws that all others branch off from
the gentiles or secular followers under natural laws including civil laws science Buddhist/nontheist philosophy psychology
the churched tribes under divine laws given by scripture including Christian Muslim Jews and others under religions
(there is also overlap or intersection some people use bible laws or islamic laws but in a secular political way
some people make a religion out of Constitutional laws or mix Christian law in with political practice)
The Pagans are more associated with the natural law branch where this was tied to earth-based type religions and the expression of these followed from that.
These "gods" are not the same as the monotheistic belief in one God that created all the other authorities/gods
So Christianity focuses on the connection with the one God as author of all other laws or lords
then these laws branch out into the two folds of secular gentiles under natural laws and believers under church laws
satanism isnt an actual religion, its a mock religion like pastafarianism, though more like an anti-religion, the only god is you.... its mostly theatrics, and most of the covens of satanism are just con games... there are some that teach a type of "magic" which are quite intriguing though...
Thanks Emily, that actually made a lot of sense :D
YHVH or whatever that guy calls himself is an interesting God to me. He says he's the only god, but then says don't worship any of the others. So he's not the only god, he's just the alpha god.
And there are so many freaking laws in that book it's unreal. I wouldn't bother reading them all but wow the laws.
Jesus is pretty cool, I like him better as a prophet than as a god though. I like the concept of Trinity but I think the Catholics got it all wrong, unless the Holy Spirit is female.
I'm honestly not religious but if I had to pick a favorite it would be this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism
Not my religion, but one of the most interesting ones I've read about.
True but like Thrill was saying it's also kind of a philosophy? I don't know what the philosophy is though.
There's nothing wrong with theatrics. Holiday Mass at the right church can be an incredibly beautiful experience.
There's this one other sort of Mass for thelema people which I've never seen done well but tends to attract interesting people. The afterparty is better than the party for that one.
by hypercubeWhy worship the devil as an entity? Do they pray for things or is it just ceremony?
Is modern satanism basically atheism with a specific philosophy? Do they believe in any variation of the concepts 'good' and 'evil'?
I don't know much about modern Satanism. All I really know is their belief system is different from traditional Satanism, in that they don't believe in God or Satan. I was reading Anton LeVay's book - The Satanic Bible, at one stage, but that was years ago and I didn't read all of it.
Traditional Satanists do hold ceremonies and rituals and pray to Satan: http://www.amazon.com/Codex-Saerus-Black-Book-Satan/dp/0557025869