Satanism and the truth of Christianity

[Skwim]

No doubt this has been asked before, but not being able to post much here I've never bothered to look.

Anyway. . . . . . Does Satanism require a belief in the truth of Christianity?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

No.

 

[Adramelek]

Anyway. . . . . . Does Satanism require a belief in the truth of Christianity?

The true Satanist accepts only one essential Truth and that is the Truth of his/her own Being.

 

[Skwim]

No.

Then does the Satan of Satanism derive from the Bible, Old and/or New Testament?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Then does the Satan of Satanism derive from the Bible, Old and/or New Testament?

Depends on the Satanist. Most of us use the Christian mythology of Satan as a springboard for a larger mythological paradigm that includes many pre-Christian Adversarial figures including Prometheus, Enki, Set, Apep, Lilith, Typhon, etc. and even horned gods such as Pan.

 

[Skwim]

Depends on the Satanist. Most of us use the Christian mythology of Satan as a springboard for a larger mythological paradigm that includes many pre-Christian Adversarial figures including Prometheus, Enki, Set, Apep, Lilith, Typhon, etc. and even horned gods such as Pan.

Then you regard Satan as a myth? Satanism is a mythological construct of sorts?

 

[Aštra’el]

The belief in Abrahamic mythology is completely optional in Satanism as a whole, but there are various sects and individuals within Satanism who are completely against it... and those who wholly embrace it.

​

 

[Skwim]

The belief in Abrahamic mythology is completely optional in Satanism as a whole, but there are various sects and individuals within Satanism who are completely against it... and those who wholly embrace it.​

So let me get this straight. For some Satanists Satan doesn't play any part whatsoever in the religion; for others, Satan is a mythical figurehead of sorts; and for others he is a real being? I assume that those in the last two groups give the Bible a certain degree of credence, perhaps only a mythic one. For those in the first group I have to wonder why they adopt the label "Satanist."

 

[Father Heathen]

For many satanists, Satan is a symbolic representation of nature, self sovereignty, and carnal indulgence rather than a literal being.

 

[Liu]

So let me get this straight. For some Satanists Satan doesn't play any part whatsoever in the religion; for others, Satan is a mythical figurehead of sorts; and for others he is a real being? I assume that those in the last two groups give the Bible a certain degree of credence, perhaps only a mythic one. For those in the first group I have to wonder why they adopt the label "Satanist."

Actually also those in the first group normally have at least started from the point of using Satan as some kind of mythological figurehead.
But you are right, even if we begin at that point why do we call us Satanists then if we have left it behind?
As for me, I'm not sure whether one could even say that I started from that point. It was rather the case that I read about what Satanists believe in, and came to the conclusion that I basically believe in the same and because of that started calling my religion Satanism. Satan simply is the most commonly used name for the deity of this religion, even though, due to many re-interpretations, it has only indirectly and not for all adherents anything to do with what the Christians or Jews or Muslims understand by it.
I also wouldn't mind being called a Discordian, a Baphometian or a LHPer/Vamacari instead.
The concept/entity I venerate is inspired by many different mythological entities, not only by the various entities called Satan, so it's mostly for reasons of tradition and convenience that I call that concept/entity Satan, and that's hardly the only name I use for It. But many of the names are related to other traditions. I can call It Shiva as much as I like, it still wouldn't be really fitting to call myself a Shaiva.
So of the many mythological entities which inspire my concept of the Dark One, I choose the name of Satanism for my religion since it's the one most commonly used in our culture, and also the worldview I hold (the approach to morality etc.) is most typically called so by its adherents here.

 

[Aštra’el]

So let me get this straight. For some Satanists Satan doesn't play any part whatsoever in the religion; for others, Satan is a mythical figurehead of sorts; and for others he is a real being?

Correct​

I assume that those in the last two groups give the Bible a certain degree of credence, perhaps only a mythic one. For those in the first group I have to wonder why they adopt the label "Satanist."

Because the essence is not the outer form...

​

 

[Mindmaster]

So let me get this straight. For some Satanists Satan doesn't play any part whatsoever in the religion; for others, Satan is a mythical figurehead of sorts; and for others he is a real being? I assume that those in the last two groups give the Bible a certain degree of credence, perhaps only a mythic one. For those in the first group I have to wonder why they adopt the label "Satanist."

No Satanists give the Bible credence except for Christians that are pretending to be Satanists. Popular Satanists are actually atheists, but there probably more unknown theistic Satanists who keep it to themselves and are basically offline..

 

[Liu]

No Satanists give the Bible credence except for Christians that are pretending to be Satanists. Popular Satanists are actually atheists, but there probably more unknown theistic Satanists who keep it to themselves and are basically offline..

Additionally to what Goddess_Ashtara wrote, I have seen Reverse Christians online who call themselves Satanists and seem quite serious. Since at least some of them have philosophical and moral convictions that are not unlike those of "real" Satanists, I'd count them in as well. They are probably a minority, but I wouldn't say they don't exist.

 

[Aštra’el]

I am a "theistic Satanist", among other things, and despite this I most certainly do give the Bible a great deal of credence... although there are many things that I interpret differently than those of the Abrahamic religions.
​

 

[Aštra’el]

I perceive the Bible as an epic combination of:

-historical accounts
-ancient spiritual/ religious culture
-attempts at understanding and describing Celestial and Infernal forces
-astronomical references
-attempts at manipulation/ indoctrination/ financial exploitation/ brainwashing and social control
-profound occult secrets
-wisdom
-poetry and lessons about human Nature

There is much to learn from it outside the Christian perspective, and honestly, I have nothing against Christians or their religion, or any religion for that matter. I say absorb what strengths you can, ignore anything you subjectively perceive as weakness, and continue on... explore the various religions and holy books to discover what strength and power and beauty and wisdom there is to find.

​

 

[Adramelek]

I seek out the gems of the knowledge of the Lord of Darkness where ever they may be found.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Then you regard Satan as a myth? Satanism is a mythological construct of sorts?

Of course Satan is mythological. It's irrelevant from my point of view if Satan is a literal being or not, since I view mythological figures as archetypes first and foremost.

 

[Skwim]

I seek out the gems of the knowledge of the Lord of Darkness where ever they may be found.

Then I presume this Lord of Darkness whom you seek knowledge from, Satan, is/was real. As real as the god of Abraham. Correct?

Of course Satan is mythological.

Not if I've read Adramelek above correctly---at least not to his way of thinking. He appears to see Satan as more than mythological. Not trying to get either of you in a dispute here, just want to establish your two very distinct notions of Satan.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Not if I've read Adramelek above correctly---at least not to his way of thinking. He appears to see Satan as more than mythological. Not trying to get either of you in a dispute here, just want to establish your two very distinct notions of Satan.

Satanism is not an organized religion with dogmas and doctrines. We don't need to agree and LHP people usually don't. We often hate each other.

 

[Adramelek]

Then I presume this Lord of Darkness whom you seek knowledge from, Satan, is real.

In short, I am personally convinced in the literal existence of that which is the Lord of Darkness whom I know as Set. The Ageless Self-Aware Intelligence of this Universe and the living First Principle of Isolate Intellect. Who infused within humanity the Gift of His own Essence, giving us Self-Consciousness and higher intellect, hence, giving us the ability to conceive of and create gods such as the god of Abraham and others, and the ability to conceive of and create concepts such as religion, philosophy, and the ability to understand the sciences and mathematics, to invent, to compose music, and the other creative arts. In essence Set, the Dark One, created the human psyche. All other gods of all other times and nations have been created by men via the power of his imagination and intellect sparked by the Set-created psyche.