Due to constant misunderstanding with my name I feel the need to change my intro. I am hateful, hateful of religion. I hate what religion does to people and that people use it as an excuse to not think. I have spent many years of my life as an Atheist and have learned to handle my emotions, but no other word quite describes how I feel towards religion short of hate. I am outspoken, open minded, and will share my opinion. If you're looking for someone who will always agree with you, that won't be me.
The Out Campaign: Scarlet Letter of Atheism
(Ricky Gervais is my icon photo, I seem to be asked a lot.) Follow HatefulAtheist on Twitter

15th August 2011

Question with 4 notes

amandabastiaans asked: Could you please tell me what the diffrent is between Satanism and Lavey-Satanism? Atheism is almost the same as Lavey-satanism, right? I just want to know little about the diffrents between them all.
I see myself as an Atheist, but i just want to know what the diffrent is.
Thank you for an awesome blog!
Amanda

For the most part Lavey-Satanism is the only Satanism there is. I often use the qualifier myself when talking about it and call it Lavey-Satanism just so there is no confusion as to what we’re talking about. Really before Lavey the only thing that could be deemed “Satanism” was just a perverted form of Christianity. Occult practices in general are different than Satanism, although many worship and even attempt to summon up demons and entities they do not specifically venerate the figure of Satan in the same way Christians would venerate Jesus. Satan is usually treated as just one of the many demons of the underworld and another entity that could be called upon with the right preparations and rituals.

Historically the only time we run into someone actually worshiping “Satan”, as it is commonly defined in Christianity, is usually from a member of the clergy gone mad. For some reason, be it mental illness or just general confusion, they feel that turning to the “dark” side of the religion will give them power. Many have attempted to enter into pacts with Satan in exchange for power or knowledge. They will sign contracts in their own blood and even arrange for “sacrifices” sometimes human, sometimes animal. For the most part in the last 150-200 years this type of thing has been more or less non-existent. If it does still exist they are doing a better job of keeping it secret.

So overall Lavey-Satanism is the only Satanism people should really think about when rationally discussing the term. There are other occult and demonology studies but they would not identify themselves as Satanists. The idea of a literal devil worshipers making rituals and sacrifices to the “dark lord” existing today seems to be more a product of overactive religious imagination and 80’s death metal bands. Once in a while you hear of a random semi deranged teen who makes sacrifices in the name of “Satan” but this is just mental illness or weakness, not a religion by any means.

()

  1. hatefulatheist posted this