Help Me Out Here, Satanism/satan Worshipping

[skOh]

There's been alot of debate about the matter, is satanism the same as satan worshipping? Most of the sites concerning this matter state that they are two different things, but alot of satanists state, that satanism is satan worshipping. Is it?

[The Doctor]

Quote:There's been alot of debate about the matter, is satanism the same as satan worshipping? Most of the sites concerning this matter state that they are two different things, but alot of satanists state, that satanism is satan worshipping. Is it?

There are several varieties of satanism: Corruptive satanism, in which people worship a personification of or walk the path of corruption of the natural world and life itself. There is athiestic or LeVayan satanism, in which Satan is seen as a symbol of the qualities of power and success to be emulated. There is theistic satanism, in which the entity Satan is honoured worshipfully. There are probably other sorts as well, but those are the only sorts I've encountered in my travels.

If by 'Satan worship' you mean the stereotypical sort of satanism said to be practised by bored high school kids and some metal bands, then it could be considered a corrupted form of theistic satanism - lots of sound and fury, but ultimately signifying nothing. The few that actually do have a clue and manage to get anything to work tend to burn out in spectacular ways, or run back to the Abrahamic path that they fought so hard to deny. Statistically speaking, the ones who make it that far and through with their resolve and sanity intact have to exist, but you don't hear about them - they're probably not as interesting and are too bright to do something stupid, so they don't get much press time. The rest sort of peter out and also fade from notice.

[yeti]

Then there's the whole Lucifer thing, where people truly believe that Lucifer is "The Light" and knowledge, which they claim the church is trying to suppress. Far more interesting concept. I think there are a lot of very powerful people who subscribe to Luceferian concepts...

[The Doctor]

Quote:Then there's the whole Lucifer thing, where people truly believe that Lucifer is "The Light" and knowledge, which they claim the church is trying to suppress. Far more interesting concept. I think there are a lot of very powerful people who subscribe to Luceferian concepts...

I am inclined to agree with you. It is interesting whom one might run into at certain private conferences these days...