Hello from California!

[SkepticSatanist]

Hello everyone,

I am a LaVeyan Satanist, and ex-Buddhist.

I am a LaVeyan Satanist, for those of you unfamiliar with the term, it means I am an Atheist who agrees with the philosophy presented by Anton LaVey in The Satanic Bible, and several other books written by this author. We label ourselves as 'satanist' because, to use, Satan/the devil/Lucifer/Behemoth/even more is a symbol of human nature that religions have always labelled as evil, bad, etc. For a quick, though not thorough, run through of some of LaVey's philosophy, see here http://www.churchofsatan.com/nine-satan ... ements.php At its base I would say, from my perspective, the label represents living in reality, free from nonsensical ideology that would attempt to limit ourselves, accepting our carnal animalistic nature, as well as a stick in the eye against Abrahamic religions (satan representing the adversary and the opposition to the righteous).

I am an ex-Buddhist. I was raised as one by my family, and went to a vajrayana buddhist temple. I did not agree with their pacifist, stand-idly-by pacifism approach to problems in the world. For example, many in the Sanga (the religious 'family' of the temple, as they like to call themselves) expressed that they would never harm another being, and in the event that a wild animal would have chased them up a tree, and were about to eat them, they would just accept it and die. Their belief that harming someone bring bad karma is inherently harmful to the existence of our species. To illustrate, a recent debate with my mother went over killing murderers (this was started by discussing the death penalty). It is her belief that to kill them (even someone as deplorable as John Wayne Gacy (I always try to avoid bringing up Hitler, as it is a common tactic to win an argument through emotional fallacies)) brings about bad karma, and could result in a lower birth (bring reborn as an animal or something like that). But herein lies the problem. If the population at large were Buddhist, and lets face it, that is the goal of all religions, no one would be able to get in the way of murderers on a rampage, and kill them. Weakening our species, declining our ability to survive as a mass and individual.

I also see no reason to believe in their more theistic beliefs such as reincarnation, the power of prayer, accumulative karma, etc. Buddhism can, of course, be boiled down to a secular philosophy, which is all good and fine, but there are too few in the Buddhist scene that take it that way.

Anyways, Hi everyone!

[Unknownfromheaven]

Hello! Welcome

Why label yourself satanist and not just human or even atheist ? Why do you have the need of a church or a label if you are indeed an atheist ? Your assertion is kind of pointless there. You do not need symbols if you are atheist...we all know that humanity was never perfect.

Deists for example do not have a church. they do not take in symbols or meanings...they just cannot take out a creator from their views, but it is a right to have an opinion, such as atheists have their own, everyone has their motive and developed personality.

Buddhists are much more superior at least than the three major monotheistic followers.. I do agree in a way on what you have said, but karma is a real phenomenon and there are many examples out there, even an intention to do evil do come back. Sooner or later. As a taoist i do not harm other living beings but its also known that we should protect people, nature and animals. So it goes against the teachings if we just do, well nothing...

The idea of karma either that some believe it or not is a good thing since it can enhance the individual to do more good not of fear, but on compassion towards other life forms...for instance it is said that it is bad karma on those who eat cows, rabbits, deers, and so on. So for vegans at least, or people who want to go in that path, its an enforcing on volition, and can have benefits from that such as a will.

[SkepticSatanist]

A label presents a belief system, such as Freudians. Some people need labels. Humanity likes to separate and define each other. And some people use labels as a matter of pride. I label myself for presentation and pride.

Anton LaVey named his philosophy/religion Satanism as a matter of theatrics and shock value, but more importantly because the archetype of Satan represents his philosophy, as laid out in the 9 satanic statements. And as I said, its a blow at Christianity. Satanism being the opposition against Abrahamic religions and the damage they have done to the world. It is a prideful, brutal, and indulgent religion/philosophy. So why not indulge in fancy and scary labels, when they describe us?

And I am not a member of the Church of Satan. There are no social requirements to identify oneself as a Satanist. The church is there for people who feel they need it. Mankind needs things such as temples, rituals, labels, etc. The Church of Satan is there for people who need that. The dogma that can be found in LaVeyan Satanism is there for our enjoyment.

As for karma, and being an observed phenomenon, it can be attributed coincidence and real consequences. Humans subconsciously obsess over finding patterns in things. But as you said, it can reinforce someone's volition, which is fine. Mankind has needed that. But that also goes with reinforcing my beliefs with a label and blasphemous acts/activities/rituals and the like. It reinforces my strength, my individualism and my self pride. It is of benefit for me.

[Unknownfromheaven]

A label presents a belief system, such as Freudians. Some people need labels. Humanity likes to separate and define each other. And some people use labels as a matter of pride. I label myself for presentation and pride..

I ve noticed that you did not put atheist, but yet ”other” section in religion, and than can mean something else. Pride is silly, but i could be wrong.

And I am not a member of the Church of Satan. There are no social requirements to identify oneself as a Satanist. The church is there for people who feel they need it. Mankind needs things such as temples, rituals, labels, etc. The Church of Satan is there for people who need that. The dogma that can be found in LaVeyan Satanism is there for our enjoyment..

I am against dogma of any kind, but understand i am a former orthodox christian and i was intoxicated with religion, so i have many motives to hate this.

Atheism does not need temples, it does not need other labels,, its even a mistake for an atheist to have label in the first place, but i can understand this reasonable retaliation on the problematics on religion... i think atheism is quite enough for it...they do have strong points of view about it and i think its sufficient. And what general atheism is, has its base on science and reason, not dogma...those are very different.

As for karma, and being an observed phenomenon, it can be attributed coincidence and real consequences. Humans subconsciously obsess over finding patterns in things. But as you said, it can reinforce someone's volition, which is fine. Mankind has needed that. But that also goes with reinforcing my beliefs with a label and blasphemous acts/activities/rituals and the like. It reinforces my strength, my individualism and my self pride. It is of benefit for me.

Its is true, since i was a meat eater...the idea of a karma helped me to leave cow meat, and meat in general,, it was really hard for me until i found out about a form of buddhist meditation and it did really helped me a lot, since before i would have desired meat, and since then i did not had that particular feeling again..so it worked for me.

In my country there is a stupid tradition now...even the orthodox church has nothing to say against it....yet porks are taken and cut alive and i can hear those damn screams and i know what its going on.

These so called christians, do party, get drunk and eat a lot of meat only to get later on hospitals with various problems.

[SkepticSatanist]

The dogma in LaVeyan is simply for our enjoyment and reinforcement of beliefs. At its core, satanism is about individualism, and the elimination of anything that seeks to restrict us, oppress us, or control us. A LaVeyan satanist is under no obligation to do anything they dont want to. But there are a ton of other satanic or left hand paths that are more dogmatic, that people can be shunned from their temple/church/whatever for silly things

These so called christians, do party, get drunk and eat a lot of meat only to get later on hospitals with various problems.

Christians are really bad at their own religion lol

“On Saturday night, I would see men lusting after half-naked girls dancing at the carnival, and on Sunday morning when I was playing organ for tent-show evangelists at the other end of the carnival lot, I would see these same men sitting in the pews with their wives and children, asking God to forgive them and purge them of carnal desires. And the next Saturday they'd be back at the carnival or some other place of indulgence. I knew then that the Christian church thrives on hypocrisy, and that man's carnal nature will out no matter how much it is purged or scoured by any white-light religion.”
― Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible

[Unknownfromheaven]

“On Saturday night, I would see men lusting after half-naked girls dancing at the carnival, and on Sunday morning when I was playing organ for tent-show evangelists at the other end of the carnival lot, I would see these same men sitting in the pews with their wives and children, asking God to forgive them and purge them of carnal desires. And the next Saturday they'd be back at the carnival or some other place of indulgence. I knew then that the Christian church thrives on hypocrisy, and that man's carnal nature will out no matter how much it is purged or scoured by any white-light religion.”
― Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible

I cannot argue on that, its the truth....but know this..zeitgeist had three intelligent series where they put out many truths but also lies..we cannot take all as a certain truth just because we agree with some things.

Any man can make mistakes, but the true point is to learn from those. I do not like the label satanism, and i know there five types of satanism,
i ould not consider myself as a satanist even if i am against those particular religions. i think reason is enough, and such for entertainment there are many other variables.

[SkepticSatanist]

Any man can make mistakes, but the true point is to learn from those. I do not like the label satanism, and i know there five types of satanism,
i ould not consider myself as a satanist even if i am against those particular religions. i think reason is enough, and such for entertainment there are many other variables.

Well it's good and perfectly fine to not label yourself as a Satanist. It is not meant to be a religion for everyone, just a select few. There's a whooole lot more in LaVeyan satanism than just shock value of the label. It is anti-theist and self serving, and hedonistic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2kbmUyBaM4 The label just fits us

There's a lot about the philosophy set down by Anton LaVey to go over, since we started by discussing labels. If you would like to learn more about LaVeyan Satanism I encourage you to visit this site http://www.churchofsatan.com/

I do not agree with everything on there, since Peter Gilmore took over the church, and it has changed since Anton's death, but there is a lot of information there that would be too tiring for me to type out lol so if you are interested, take a gander. No pressure

[Unknownfromheaven]

Thank you but i did research on this topic 10 years ago:)

Yet when you behave with links for a church i do not know why you remember me about those who in particular want to invite you to their church to find out more.

I am not an atheist, yet i am anti-theist and against dogma, so i reject that at the very impulse. I hope you understand that.

I wish you well.

edit. p.s. i still believe that your ex-buddhist beliefs were superior.

[SkepticSatanist]

I did not mean it as an invitation to join or anything like that, just as a source of information on my particular beliefs, if I have offended you at all with that, I apologize. I am making no attempt to convert ANYONE to satanism, but to spread understanding.

I completely understand and accept your rejection

Hope to see you around on here!

[Unknownfromheaven]

You did not offend me, chill, i just expressed my views as well regarding that label.