How do you define "Religion" ?

[DreamQuickBook]

So If Satan represents the "natural world" to you, do you consider Satan a "being" with attributes as well ? What are these attributes, and are they subject to change as the religion evolves to embrace society?

Sabio

Is Satan a "being" with attributes? I have no idea. I like to think of Satan as a being. I like to think of Satan as the protector of the free and the brave, of those who love their own natures and take pride in being human. Satan is the advocate for those who do not seek forgiveness, but seek to maintain their natural independence and liberties. Does an actual Satan exist? I don't know, but I like to think so. Either he exists or I pretend he exists. Either way, Satan is a useful god to me.

However, because I do not believe in an afterlife and I do not have to sacrifice anything but my old illusions in order to be a Satanist, I have nothing to lose if Satan does not exist; but if he does exist, then I would be really excited if he dropped me a line or an email or something.

 

[Sabio]

Is Satan a "being" with attributes? I have no idea. I like to think of Satan as a being. I like to think of Satan as the protector of the free and the brave, of those who love their own natures and take pride in being human. Satan is the advocate for those who do not seek forgiveness, but seek to maintain their natural independence and liberties. Does an actual Satan exist? I don't know, but I like to think so. Either he exists or I pretend he exists. Either way, Satan is a useful god to me.

However, because I do not believe in an afterlife and I do not have to sacrifice anything but my old illusions in order to be a Satanist, I have nothing to lose if Satan does not exist; but if he does exist, then I would be really excited if he dropped me a line or an email or something.

This seeking foregiveness that you mention, do you mean seeking foregiveness from God, or from other people? Do you believe that we cannot wrong another human being and have cause to ask forgiveness of them?

Sabio

 

[DreamQuickBook]

This seeking foregiveness that you mention, do you mean seeking foregiveness from God, or from other people? Do you believe that we cannot wrong another human being and have cause to ask forgiveness of them?

Sabio

I am fine with asking forgiveness from someone if I have treated them unjustly. However, as habit, I tend not to do that.

 

[Sabio]

Is Satan a "being" with attributes? I have no idea. I like to think of Satan as a being. I like to think of Satan as the protector of the free and the brave, of those who love their own natures and take pride in being human. Satan is the advocate for those who do not seek forgiveness, but seek to maintain their natural independence and liberties. Does an actual Satan exist? I don't know, but I like to think so. Either he exists or I pretend he exists. Either way, Satan is a useful god to me.

However, because I do not believe in an afterlife and I do not have to sacrifice anything but my old illusions in order to be a Satanist, I have nothing to lose if Satan does not exist; but if he does exist, then I would be really excited if he dropped me a line or an email or something.

Your excitement at communicating with Satan... does the prospect of communication from Satan excite you because you want to become more intimate with him? Or does it somehow elevate you within your religious circle or peers? Are there political connotations attached to this communication, kind of like getting the office next to the boss?

Sabio

 

[Sabio]

I am fine with asking forgiveness from someone if I have treated them unjustly. However, as habit, I tend not to do that.

Then are "right" and "wrong" part of your religious system? How are right and wrong defined from a satanic perspective?

Sabio

 

[DreamQuickBook]

Your excitement at communicating with Satan... does the prospect of communication from Satan excite you because you want to become more intimate with him? Or does it somehow elevate you within your religious circle or peers? Are there political connotations attached to this communication, kind of like getting the office next to the boss?


Then are "right" and "wrong" part of your religious system? How are right and wrong defined from a satanic perspective?

Sabio

1. I just have a lot of questions. If I were to ever met Satan, I'd get to ask my questions and maybe get some answers and insight. Mostly, I'd just like to be able to personify him. Which is natural and irrational.

2. Right and Wrong. Gee, that's hard. I don't know what we are talking about. The Satanist uses reason, intuition and instinct to determine right from wrong. We don't have a single standard. For the most part, I guess, we just use our common sense.

 

[Sabio]

1. I just have a lot of questions. If I were to ever met Satan, I'd get to ask my questions and maybe get some answers and insight. Mostly, I'd just like to be able to personify him. Which is natural and irrational.

2. Right and Wrong. Gee, that's hard. I don't know what we are talking about. The Satanist uses reason, intuition and instinct to determine right from wrong. We don't have a single standard. For the most part, I guess, we just use our common sense.

As a satanist where do you believe that intuition, instinct, and reason come from? Do they come from Satan, are they learned from parents and peers (who may be of a different religion)? How do you believe that you arrived at this systematic approach to differentiate between right and wrong?

Sabio

 

[DreamQuickBook]

As a satanist where do you believe that intuition, instinct, and reason come from? Do they come from Satan, are they learned from parents and peers (who may be of a different religion)? How do you believe that you arrived at this systematic approach to differentiate between right and wrong?

Sabio

Hmmm. Most of my beliefs are based on experience and trying to interpret that experience through the language I have been given. I learned the idea of Satan when I was a Christian. After I left Christianity, the concept of Satan stayed with me and changed into something different.

Instinct comes from years of evolution. It's genetic. That is to say, instincts are pre-wired into our brains. Intuition is developed through experience. Your subconscious develops intuition to relieve the conscious of over-processing. Reason is our defense mechanism. It developed with the enlargment of our primate brain. So, reason comes from being human.

How did humans develop? No idea. Evolution sounds good; but it is a crappy scientific theory, in that it cannot be proven. *shrugs* ummm

Satan isn't really a "giver" in my experience. Satan is a force or protection. Satan is in the instincts. Satan is the energy we have to remain free and independent animals.

 

[Sabio]

I learned the idea of Satan when I was a Christian. After I left Christianity, the concept of Satan stayed with me and changed into something different.

This is quite interesting, both religions that you have been invloved with acknowledge the existence of Satan. Did you leave the Christian religion because of a problem with Christ or a problem with a Christian?

Sabio

 

[Green Gaia]

So during this evolution or change for society's sake, does the "belief system" need to change or do the "ethics" get modified to be more applicable to the society?

Do you still believe the Earth is flat? Or that is it OK to have slaves?

Does society actually drive and control religion, or vice versa? And how does this affect the beliefs of individual members of the religion?

Religion is a part of human culture. You cannot have one without the other. Fundamental belief changes come slowly over time, it is likely to have little effect on individual people. Most won't even notice. It is for history to examine and explain.

 

[DreamQuickBook]

This is quite interesting, both religions that you have been invloved with acknowledge the existence of Satan. Did you leave the Christian religion because of a problem with Christ or a problem with a Christian?

Sabio

I had a problem with the Bible, the Christian Religion(organization) and Theology. The only difference between when I was a Christian and now that I am a Satanist, is that I feel like I am doing the right thing, like I am seeing things correctly. When I was a Christian, nothing really made any sense, because I had to reject what my experience was telling me. Now, my religion and my experience agree, so there is less cognitive dissonance.

 

[Sabio]

Do you still believe the Earth is flat? Or that is it OK to have slaves?

Excellent point, one is a change because of scientific advancement, the other is an ethical change in society.

Religion is a part of human culture. You cannot have one without the other. Fundamental belief changes come slowly over time, it is likely to have little effect on individual people. Most won't even notice. It is for history to examine and explain.

I agree.

 

[Sabio]

I had a problem with the Bible, the Christian Religion(organization) and Theology. The only difference between when I was a Christian and now that I am a Satanist, is that I feel like I am doing the right thing, like I am seeing things correctly. When I was a Christian, nothing really made any sense, because I had to reject what my experience was telling me. Now, my religion and my experience agree, so there is less cognitive dissonance.

Does this reduce the contrast between right and wrong as well? (for you)

Can you now say, "i'm experiencing it (doing it) so it must be right"?

Sabio

 

[DreamQuickBook]

Does this reduce the contrast between right and wrong as well? (for you)

Can you now say, "i'm experiencing it (doing it) so it must be right"?

Sabio

Oh no. Not at all. Just because I am doing something, doesn't it make it right. Right and Wrong, as I had said before, are determined by virtue of reason, intuition and instincts. In other words, let's take some ethical question: Dishonesty. I do not lie to my family or friends, but I will lie to someone I dislike.
Forgiveness. I will forgive my family and friends, unconditionally; but I demand justice from strangers and people I dislike. Yet, after justice is done, I forgive. Holding a grudge is a weakness when it is no longer necessary in the pursuit of justice.

I am not willing to say that anything is always wrong, but I think if we use common sense, you and I could agree, situation by situation, what is wrong and what is right.

Basically, people should do the responsible and honorable thing. If in doubt, be responsible and honorable. If that doesn't help, try to figure out what you want the consequence of something to be and then figure out how best to accomplish that.

People actually complicate morality by trying to make morality fit a universal or absolute paradigm. My friends grandfather put it best, "Son, For God's Sake, USE SOME COMMON SENSE!"

 

[Mr Spinkles]

In my opinion, this is why religions die out and new ones come into play. I don't think that religions are supposed to change.

I couldn't disagree with you more. It's the religion that fails to adapt to a changing environment that dies out....just as viruses which mutate infrequently are less likely to survive over time.

 

[Sabio]

I couldn't disagree with you more. It's the religion that fails to adapt to a changing environment that dies out....just as viruses which mutate infrequently are less likely to survive over time.

Do you think that the major religions we are left with today are the ones that have adapted and evolved into a higher form of religion?

Sabio

 

[Mr Spinkles]

Do you think that the major religions we are left with today are the ones that have adapted and evolved into a higher form of religion?

I think that they have certainly adapted and evolved, but I would be hesitant to call any religion the "higher form" of another. Just a different form.

 

[Green Gaia]

Do you think that the major religions we are left with today are the ones that have adapted and evolved into a higher form of religion?

From a historical and anthropological viewpoint, yes they most certainly are. Although I don't like referring to them as a "higher" form of religion, just a different form adjusted to our current level of understanding.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Do you think that the major religions we are left with today are the ones that have adapted and evolved into a higher form of religion?

Evolution is not progress - it does not result in 'higher' forms but, rather, it eliminates maladapted forms.

 

[Sabio]

I couldn't disagree with you more. It's the religion that fails to adapt to a changing environment that dies out....just as viruses which mutate infrequently are less likely to survive over time.

Which ones do you see dying out in the near future?

Or maybe a better question is: What characteristics do you think a religion must have to survive into the future?

Sabio