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By Empiress
http://www.geocities.com/empire_ess/Not_A_Satanist.htm
Empiress' website:
www.notasaint.com
Without exception, the people I've met who consider themselves
Satanists in the tradition of Anton LaVey are some of the most interesting
people I've ever met. They tend to be ethical, intelligent, confident,
honest, powerful, and nice.ooops.I mean evil! And a read through
the Satanic Bible is enough to convince critics and skeptics alike
that Anton LaVey was brilliant (besides being funny and brazen)
in his own right. Yet, I still find much to be desired in Satanism
and offer the following essay to Satanists and would-be Satanists
alike as an honest critique.
But first, what I like about Satanism:
1. The Honesty
Satanism is damn honest philosophy. It tells it like it is! Hypocrisy,
so rampant in most philosophies and religions, is seemingly absent
in Satanism. A true Satanist does not stand for hypocrisy in others
or in oneself. A commitment to radical reality is common among Satanists.
Satanism is a breath of fresh air in a society so tainted with self-delusion.
2. The Independent Thought
By and large, true Satanists are very intelligent. Satanism requires
one to think for oneself and this automatically separates the intelligent
from the stupid. Satanists understand the value of independent thought
and are able to analyze and choose what to believe and do according
to their own values and interests, not those instilled in them by
social norms and culture.
3. The In-Your-Face Non-conformity
This one gets me excited. *breathe* The herd mentality of our society
that judges books by their covers is not only absent in Satanism,
Satanists have practically invented new rules when it comes to independent
thought and nonconformity. I love the fact that the average idiot
is either offended or afraid of Satanists and their symbols. Satanists,
like many alternative cultures and philosophies, unabashedly stands
over and against the conforming masses of society while simultaneously
challenging them, it just does so more extravagantly.
4. Self-Empowerment
In a world where people are so often driven to feel ashamed, guilty,
or just plain negative about themselves, Satanism offers a key to
uplift the individual to new heights of self-confidence, value,
and consequently, empowerment. Satanists value themselves and embrace
their own power and talents; they not only acknowledge them, they
flaunt them. Most people long for the ability to embrace themselves
in such overwhelmingly positive terms but cannot and will not. The
Satanist can and does. and doesn't hide it!
5. Ethical but not Dogmatic
Satanism offers a minimum ethical structure and trusts individuals
enough to figure the rest out for themselves. This means that the
average Satanist must, once again, think for themselves. This generally
results in a more well reasoned, sensible, and sophisticated ethical
way of life than the average person. Most Satanists are ethical
and moral, but not out of guilt or conformity, they are so out of
common sense.
6. It's Just so much more Interesting
Yeah, this is one of my shallow reasons. But one has to admit,
it's much more intriguing and it raises all kinds of brows (and
questions) to say, "I'm a Satanist" rather than some other anticipated
response. It's unusual and unexpected. I gather most Satanists dig
this too.
7. A Sense of Purpose
I suppose this isn't really unique to Satanism, but I do appreciate
the fact that Satanism gives people a sense of meaning and provides
something "worthwhile" to rally behind and support. All humans need
something to believe in or we become apathetic and lethargic. Satanism
lights a fire of passion!
My Criticism of Satanism:
1. Satanism is Reactionary
The fact is, the best philosophies are developed out of the embrace
of something positive, not out of reaction to something negative.
But Satanism is overwhelmingly reactionary. The "reactionary factor"
is evident even in the name of "Satanism." Satanism is a reaction
to the hypocritical, stupid, tired, weak, boring, failings of mainstream
philosophies and religions. Rather than developing concepts intrinsic
to itself, Satanism gathers its strength and power by feeding off
of the weaknesses and failings of other systems of thought. The
great pitfall with this is that Satanism can only be as strong as
that which it reacts to. Like the Radical Protestants whose power
and persuasion relied solely on the evils of Roman Catholicism and
later died when the Roman Catholics got their act together, Satanism
depends on the ignorance and stupidity of modern Christianity and
other white light religions.
If you don't think Satanism is reactionary, just read a few Satanists'
websites. Many of the authors sound like enraged frustrated teenagers
who need a target to pin their angst on and need one now. Satanism
provides them an outlet. There are exceptions to this rule, but
this is the general attitude I've observed.
2. Satanism is Mainly Rhetoric
Related to Satanism being reactionary, Satanism is "philosophy
light" and "rhetoric heavy." Anton LaVey's greatest skill was that
of a rhetorician. Satanism, if one scratches much beyond the surface,
proves to be intellectually shallow. There's just not a lot to it.
My gut reaction to the SB was, "It's Dale Carnegie's How to Win
Friends and Influence People with an 'evil' twist and a large dose
of Friederich Nietzsche thrown in. Satanism gets people motivated,
excited, and impassioned.like all good rhetoric. But in the end,
it's not intellectually satisfying as a philosophy in its own right.
3. Satanism is too Dependent on Emotion and Human Ego
Just like Satanism's forerunners, existentialism and gnosticism,
Satanism's main target is the human ego. Most people are drawn and
remain committed to Satanism because it feeds their ego. If you're
told that you're special or elite or some other warm fuzzy idea
when you embrace a philosophy, then you're more apt to buy into
it and be blind to its shortcomings. Satanists thrive on the idea
that they're somehow "the few, the brave, and the proud." In fact,
Satanism uses the same rhetoric that the US Military and religious
cults use to win and keep the loyalty of their followers. If your
ego needs to be flattered and this need is met in Satanism, then
your ability to be rational and have intellectual clarity has been
short circuited on some level. This is the problem with all "feel-good"
philosophies and religions. Like a habit one can't give up, people
become dependent on the stroking of their ego and critical thought
is sacrificed.
4. Satanism Misunderstands Independence
People need people. Many of us wish it weren't so because people
have let us down, but the fact is, no man is an island. Satanists'
claim of godhood denies this fact which is fundamental and necessary
to humanity. This is one area where Satanists seem unable to face
reality effectively. While individuals do in fact have much more
power and potential than most ever acknowledge or realize, no one
is independently god or independently powerful. In fact, you can
only attain power if people give it to you. And when I say people
need people, I don't just mean in terms of their usefulness, I mean
people need the support and care of others. Babies will die if they
receive no loving affection, and adults are no different. We all
depend on others if we are going to be healthy and productive. Making
independent claims of divinity, while it feels good, feeds one's
ego, and has some self-empowering results, leads to a denial of
that reality. And denying reality is always a pitfall; those that
consistently deny reality will eventually find themselves powerless.
5. Satan is an Unworthy Symbol
When Satanism was developed in the 1950's and 1960's in "Christian
America," calling it Satanism had more power and punch because people's
image of Satan was more heterogeneous, ridiculous, and stereotypical.
Post the 1960's hippie movement however, people are more clued in
to what Satanists are saying and the title no longer carries the
same impact on people (with the possible exception of Christian
fundamentalists). That which is based on shock eventually becomes
mundane. The Black Mass, for example, has become expected and uninteresting.no
longer the subject of newspaper articles or "scandal." Once again
we see that Satanism, by being a purely reactionary philosophy,
is dependent on the weaknesses of other systems of thought, or,
in the case of the name, on the ridiculous stereotypes people hold
of Satan.
And here is where I hold sympathies for Satanists. When "Satan"
no longer shocks, one of the most "interesting" aspects of Satanism
is lost. Satanism actually needs to grow into larger boots! I think
if Anton LaVey were alive today he'd realize his short sightedness.
Satanism needs to have the flexibility to change with the times.
As our world grows more and more secular, Satanists will be left
holding yet one more tired, reactionary philosophy.
I would add that "Satan" has already been given a thorough definition
by the world which is not entirely in accord with the Satanist's
definition of Satan. Rather than merely redefining and recreating
a "Satan" to one's own liking as La Vey did, a more appropriate
symbol should by chosen. Simple! Obvious! |
