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A very interesting thing I read about Satanism -
10-24-2002, 05:31 PM
I was browsing the forums of the Russian Front mod (for half life), and I came upon this very interesting bit. Now, as for its authenticity I do not know.. but it is quite interesting indeed.
On a more general level, Satanism is concerned with changing our evolution and the societies we live in - creating, in fact a new human species and a civilization appropriate to the new type of human being.
However, Satanism is often regarded by the mis-informed and by its enemies, as being one or more of the following:
A religious cult which practices Black Magick;
An inversion of the Nazarene religion and its rites;
A sect which preaches and practices perversions and sexual licence.
Further - and incorrectly - the figure of Satan Himself is commonly held to derive from the religion described in the Hebrew 'Old Testament', with the word "Satan" being regarded as derived from the Hebrew word for "accuser". In fact, the Hebrew word which is often rendered as "Satan" is itself derived from another word - an ancient Greek one. This Greek word - an is aitia - that is, 'an accusation'. [See, for example, its use by Aeschylus - aitiau ekho.] Essentially, the Hebrew word 'Satan' is a corrupt form of the Greek word for an 'accusation'. In Greek of the classical period, aitia and diabole were often used for the same thing, especially when a 'Wrong' or 'Bad' sense was required, as, for example in a 'false accusation'. Thus, in essence, Satan as a word represents 'Adversary' in the sense of opposing norm, the accepted, and this sense is still retained in the usage of 'Devil' (e.g. Devil's Advocate). The word 'Devil' is derived from the Greek word above, via the Latin 'diabolus'. The figure of Satan is thus seen to be not a Hebrew invention, as hitherto supposed, but in fact a representation of Opposition, Heresy: a refusal to accept the 'accepted'. Satan is regarded, by Satanists, as a symbol - both real and archetypal - of Defiance, of Pride (a refusal to bow down and meekly submit) and thus of creative change. From Opposition derives a synthesis, the process of dialectical change which governs evolution.
Fundamentally, Satanism is anti-religious. Religion means a submission - to a deity and its 'appointed' authority/church. It also means a certain way of viewing the world. The religious way is the way of dogma, of revelation, and ultimately, of fear - there is concern with reward and retribution, concepts of sin and such like. There is and must be faith. The way of Satanism is the way of liberation: internally and externally. There is a desire to know based on experience, rather than a faith. There is a desire to be proud and exultant, to revel in life and to fulfil the possibilities that life offers
In other words, to really live, completely, and to extend to frontiers of existence: to achieve, to prosper, to excel. To set the standards, the example, for others rather than to follow those of someone else. Thus, because of 'human nature', Satanism is suited to a minority - the few who can really defy and go against accepted norms. For it is a fundamental principle of Satanism that each individual Satanist finds his or her own limits and thus lives, and if necessary dies, by their own morality or ethics. That is, a Satanist accepts no standards, no code of ethics, no morality: they create their own standards, and live by their own morality, however dark or evil that morality may seem to others or 'society'. This principle means that Satanists are amoral in the conventional sense: they accept no restrictions other than those they impose on themselves. There is not and can never be, any such thing as 'Satanic ethics' or a Satanic authority which individual Satanists must accept and be subservient to - for these are contrary to the essence of Satanism
Satanism is an individualized defiance, an individual quest - it is the principle of evolution in human practice: the strong survive, win through, while the weak perish. However, this does not mean what most opponents of Satanism assume it means - a license for anarchic self-indulgence and a wallowing in lust/depravity and so on. A Satanist has a goal, an ulterior motive beyond the satisfaction of the 'ego' and an indulgence of unconscious impulses. This goal is to excel - to go beyond what one is. To do this requires a self-mastery, a real self-discipline. Both of these can only be acquired by experience in real life. A Satanist desires to evolve - this requires strength of character, resolve. What a Satanist does, in real-life or in ritual, is to explore the limits of themselves and the world - to experience and so grow, to fulfil the potential of existence, of 'god-head'/divinity latent within them. Everything is a means to this - rituals, other people, society itself. As a result of the ulterior motive, there is perspective - an understanding beyond the impulse/feelings/desires of the moment or the experience. In brief, there is real insight and judgement, a self-awareness. Of course, this is not easy. The failures become trapped in - or never go beyond - the moment and the desires/impulses/feelings of the moment. In simple terms, the failures, the pseudo-Satanists wallow in their dark side and that of 'society' without either understanding it or transcending it. Fundamentally, a Satanist knows and understands where they are going and what they are doing/why they are doing it: the failures, the pseuds, are trapped by the acts or acts or experience. The Satanist is strong, proud, defiant, self-disciplined and in control; the failures, the pseuds are in thrall to their feelings, emotions, and without any real self-discipline and thus insight
Naturally, the way of Satanism is not easy: the methods, experiences and so on which the Satanist uses to obtain their goal are risky and dangerous. It is easy to fail, get caught or whatever. There is nothing to aid the Satanist in his or her quest - nothing to make it easy or easier: there is only his or her determination and learning from experience; the gradual development of character from experience, and thus a real evolution.
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