A Pagans’ Interpretation of Satan

[DreamQuickBook]

Over the last year, I have become particularly interested in the idea of Satan as a real spirit of the earth. As soon as any religion presumed to have the True God, Satan has come into existence as an adversary of that God. In this way, I believe Satan is the protector of religious and spiritual liberty. The fundamental principle of paganism, is that there is no one true God; there is no one true way, one true path, one true name or one true religion. Satan is the spirit adverse to such arrogance. The belief in Satan as the adversary of religious intolerance is not (real/true/pure) Satanism. This is simply my view.

What are the consequences of this idea of One God and One Religion? One of the consequences is the idea that believers go to heaven and nonbelievers go to hell. Look at the violence and hatred that springs from religions that think this way. Satan is the spirit that tries to free mankind from this kind of arrogance. Like Prometheus, Satan is a friend to man. Satan is the Adversary of arrogant, power hungry men who seek to dominate and enslave free spirits, to force all to recognize their image of god above all others.

The concept of the devil will exist so long as the concept of a one true god and a one true religion exists. So long as pagans are looked down on and belittled, so long as Christians and Muslims do their best to rule the world and to force all to bow before their image of God and so long as free spirits remain opposed to the arrogance of those who claim to have the only true path, Satan will be there, fighting beside free spirits in an eternal battle for spiritual freedom.

 

[Unedited]

But doesn't Satan contribute to the idea that 'believers go to heaven and nonbelievers go to hell'?

 

[DreamQuickBook]

But doesn't Satan contribute to the idea that 'believers go to heaven and nonbelievers go to hell'?

No. Only if you accept their idea of Satan. Which I do not. To me, Satan is a friend to those of us who love freedom. Christians and Muslims would have us all be Christian and Muslim. They believe they and they alone, have the one true god, the one true religion and the one true "way". The Christians that don't want to make other people Christian are even more vicious; they not only believe they have the one true way, but they don't care at all if other people burn in hell. Satan is opposed to that. He fights that. He is the spirit which exists inside us that allows us to be spiritually free. For that gift, I am forever loyal and thankful.

We are all free to see divinity as we experience it. There is no one true religion or one true god.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I never thought of it that way before.
I did read somewhere on this forum that Satan is the church's best friend since he's kept them in business for so long. I'm finding Satanism to be quite different from what I've heard it is.

 

[michel]

Did you not say that you were brought up in a Christian home, Jocose?

 

[DreamQuickBook]

I never thought of it that way before.
I did read somewhere on this forum that Satan is the church's best friend since he's kept them in business for so long. I'm finding Satanism to be quite different from what I've heard it is.

Well, Satanism isn't one thing or another. Not really. Traditional, Theistic, Left-Hand paths, pagans who worship lucifer or satan etc. Lots of different thought. It cannot be denied that the concept of "The Devil" is peculiar to those religions with a single one true god. Other religions have trouble-making gods and underworld gods, but nothing like an Adversary. Only those religions which try to lay claim to being the One True Religion and having the One True God are faced with The Devil. So, for the Devil's work, I am mighty grateful. Have to have someone out there, looking out for the liberty of free spirits and pagans.

Did you not say that you were brought up in a Christian home, Jocose?

Yes. I was. So I know what I am talking about.

 

[michel]

No. Only if you accept their idea of Satan. Which I do not. To me, Satan is a friend to those of us who love freedom. Christians and Muslims would have us all be Christian and Muslim. They believe they and they alone, have the one true god, the one true religion and the one true "way". The Christians that don't want to make other people Christian are even more vicious; they not only believe they have the one true way, but they don't care at all if other people burn in hell. Satan is opposed to that. He fights that. He is the spirit which exists inside us that allows us to be spiritually free. For that gift, I am forever loyal and thankful.

We are all free to see divinity as we experience it. There is no one true religion or one true god.

That is such a crass misinterpretation -if that is how you see Christians, all I can say is that you have been subjected to teachings by strange Christians.

So what does believing in Satan allow you to do that my Christian God would appear to forbid you to do ?

 

[DreamQuickBook]

That is such a crass misinterpretation -if that is how you see Christians, all I can say is that you have been subjected to teachings by strange Christians.

So what does believing in Satan allow you to do that my Christian God would appear to forbid you to do ?

Awww, Michel, you miss the point. First of all, I was raised within a very large and very average non-denominational Church, with over 3,000 people. These aren't strange Christians. Just your average ones. Secondly, I don't adore Satan because he allows me to do things or because the Christian God denies me things. If that is why you are religions, to be able to do stuff, I think that is truly sad. The point I am making about Satan, is that Satan is the spirit which fights against the idea that there is only one true God, only one true religion and only one true way. As long as Christians teach this, as long as Muslims teach this, there Satan will be... fighting the arrogance, fighting the pomp and fighting the lies. I am free to believe in any god I choose, without fear of hell, because I am free from the lie that there is only one true god, one true religion and one true way.

You may not be a Biblical Christian, so you may not believe that non-christians go to hell and that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. But as long as people believe this, that the believers go to heaven and nonbelievers to hell, there Satan will be fighting the arrogance, fighting the spectacle and fighting the lies.

 

[kreeden]

I think that you made some pretty large assumptions in your first post Jocose . But I see your point . I don't totally agree with it , but that is cool .

 

[Unedited]

Only those religions which try to lay claim to being the One True Religion and having the One True God are faced with The Devil.

Are you saying that this is because Satan actually exists, or that it has more to do with the psychology of the human mind? I'm just not sure if you're being philosophical here, or talking about your personal beliefs.

Whatever it is, I find this topic very interesting.

 

[michel]

Awww, Michel, you miss the point. First of all, I was raised within a very large and very average non-denominational Church, with over 3,000 people. These aren't strange Christians. Just your average ones. Secondly, I don't adore Satan because he allows me to do things or because the Christian God denies me things. If that is why you are religions, to be able to do stuff, I think that is truly sad. The point I am making about Satan, is that Satan is the spirit which fights against the idea that there is only one true God, only one true religion and only one true way. As long as Christians teach this, as long as Muslims teach this, there Satan will be... fighting the arrogance, fighting the pomp and fighting the lies. I am free to believe in any god I choose, without fear of hell, because I am free from the lie that there is only one true god, one true religion and one true way.

You may not be a Biblical Christian, so you may not believe that non-christians go to hell and that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. But as long as people believe this, that the believers go to heaven and nonbelievers to hell, there Satan will be fighting the arrogance, fighting the spectacle and fighting the lies.

Again, I see a lot of Judgementalism and assuption of other's way of thinking in that reply.........

a)If that is why you are religions, to be able to do stuff, I think that is truly sad.

I would agree with you completely if you were right - that is not the reason for my having Faith in Christianity; if anything, I could be seen as being 'restricted' by my beliefs in God - but I am lucky I guess, in not seeing it that way either.

................"As long as Christians teach this, as long as Muslims teach this, there Satan will be... fighting the arrogance, fighting the pomp and fighting the lies. I am free to believe in any god I choose, without fear of hell, because I am free from the lie that there is only one true god, one true religion and one true way. "......................

That sounds like you see Satan as the 'Robin hood' of theology and religion - sounds very much like a large chip on the shoulder; one big enough to be a whole potato!

.........."You may not be a Biblical Christian, so you may not believe that non-christians go to hell and that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ.".......................

I do believe in the teachings, as in the Bible, but I must say that I don't believe all non-Christians will go to hell..............

 

[KirbyFan101]

No. Only if you accept their idea of Satan. Which I do not. To me, Satan is a friend to those of us who love freedom. Christians and Muslims would have us all be Christian and Muslim. They believe they and they alone, have the one true god, the one true religion and the one true "way". The Christians that don't want to make other people Christian are even more vicious; they not only believe they have the one true way, but they don't care at all if other people burn in hell. Satan is opposed to that. He fights that. He is the spirit which exists inside us that allows us to be spiritually free. For that gift, I am forever loyal and thankful.

We are all free to see divinity as we experience it. There is no one true religion or one true god.

I very much enjoy your open interpretation of Satan. At the same time, be sure never to trivialise Satan.

If God is the ultimate good, and Satan is the ultimate evil... well... Watch The Exorcist and see how "nice" he really is.

 

[DreamQuickBook]

I very much enjoy your open interpretation of Satan. At the same time, be sure never to trivialise Satan.

If God is the ultimate good, and Satan is the ultimate evil... well... Watch The Exorcist and see how "nice" he really is.

Oh, I do not want to trivialise Satan. I take the concept of Him quite seriously.

 

[DreamQuickBook]

I do believe in the teachings, as in the Bible, but I must say that I don't believe all non-Christians will go to hell..............

I know you don't. You are what is considered a "liberal Christian" (I HATE THAT TERM) - but I don't have a better one to replace it, sorry. However, you are constantly in error when you put yourself forward as an average Christian. You are not. You are far more tolerant of other's beliefs. I don't understand why someone as tolerant as yourself would choose Christianity as a religion, but that is between you and the gods.

 

[kreeden]

I very much enjoy your open interpretation of Satan. At the same time, be sure never to trivialise Satan.

If God is the ultimate good, and Satan is the ultimate evil... well... Watch The Exorcist and see how "nice" he really is.

Ok , I'm just wondering if there is any possible way to trivialize anything more , then to make a movie about it ? Or is that just me ?

 

[Feathers in Hair]

I know you don't. You are what is considered a "liberal Christian" (I HATE THAT TERM)

Why do you hate that term?

However, you are constantly in error when you put yourself forward as an average Christian. You are not. You are far more tolerant of other's beliefs.

It might not be the best thing to make a sweeping judgment about another's belief system, or to say that they are in error. The majority of Christians on this forum are kind, tolerant people. To try to attack them for the beliefs of those who they are not is... something that might not be the kindest thing to do.

While I take no issue with those who would follow whatever their interpretation of Satan is, the highest symbol that I have against bigotry (of all faiths) is my own trust that everyone is equal and that all of the world's religions are wide enough to accomodate every belief. To me, arrogance, spectacle and lies are what occur when you make an assumption about a person or on how they are 'supposed' to be based on their their religion

 

[Tez]

I did read somewhere on this forum that Satan is the church's best friend since he's kept them in business for so long

Yeah I read it to, its in the Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey, number 9 on the Satanic Statements, lol, I thought it was really funny.

- Tez

 

[Quoth The Raven]

Ok , I'm just wondering if there is any possible way to trivialize anything more , then to make a movie about it ? Or is that just me ?

Hey, I've seen The Exorcist and Satan scares the willies out of me...he can make you projectile vomit pea soup when you haven't even eaten any.
That's some scary **** right there!

 

[kreeden]

Yea Lady L . I haven't peed on the floor since I saw it neither ... I guess that the movie house broke me eh ? lol

 

[Pardus]

This guy is making a compelling arguement, but then again my patron god is Loke.

I view all god's as creations of humans through energy.