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Important Causes Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Spiritual Satanist Blog

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Category: Important Causes

The Continued Tragedy in Haiti – Revelations of The Modern Witch Hunt

Last year, the Caribbean island nation of Haiti went from obscurity as a third-world country directly into the worldwide spotlight, when a massive earthquake hit 25 miles from Haiti’s capital center Port Au Prince. In the devastation, an estimated 300,000 people were killed, and the earthquake left more than 1.5 million homeless. The whole world witnessed the tragedy almost as fast as it unfolded. The news of this event spread like lightning across the internet, and people and aid agencies immediately responded to help Haiti. Relief poured in just as fast as the call was put out, from all corners of the globe.

Unfortunately, all of the millions of dollars that have been pledged and donated has not helped their situation. The people of Haiti are still dealing with the economic aftershocks of the earthquake, because their society and government infrastructure in shambles. Currently, Haiti is without adequate housing, food, clothing, medical care and other necessities. Even though we arrive at the one-year anniversary of this tragedy, the people of Haiti still suffer in so many ways. Most of those that did survive the earthquake are living in temporary shelters. These are the tent camps and shanty towns that have been provided to them by humanitarian aid.

With very little clean water available to the population, a cholera outbreak spread throughout the island, with it’s center located at the U.N. base in Meille. Cholera is a vicious intestinal disease that causes dehydration and could eventually lead to death if there is no medical intervention available. It is estimated that over 2,400 people have become ill so far, and this disease could affect another 600,000 or more people, in the near future.

Unfortunately, the religious leaders of Haiti have sought out a supernatural cause for this cholera outbreak, and they made the accusation that this disease was caused by the residents of Haiti and their religion – Voodoo. These same religious leaders, who influence the police and control of the government, have killed and tortured those people that they accuse of causing the recent deadly outbreak. The Associated Press recently reported that so far 45 people have died for allegedly using Voodoo and black magic to cause the recent outbreak of cholera, an infection that is caused by dirty water.

Religious folk magic is at the heart of the society of Haiti. The people of Haiti descended from slaves who were transported to Haiti by the French, in the 16th century. These African slaves brought their spiritual and magical Vodun tradition with them to the western world. Because they were slaves, they were forced into submission by accepting the beliefs and practices of their new Catholic culture. The practice of Haitian Voodoo developed when these slave descendants used their traditional magic along with the Catholic religion. It is estimated that today, 9.6 million people on the island of Haiti, are a part of the Haitian Voodoo religion.

Now the blood is on the hands of the religious leaders who are looking for a scapegoat to solve their problems. These religious leaders have used the cholera outbreak to target individuals whom they think are causing the fear and panic, and spreading the deadly disease. On the island, a local Voodoo priest, Max Beauvoir comments on the current state of affairs. “Most of the killings are occurring in the southern coastal town of Jeremie, where people are being lynched, set on fire and attacked with machetes.” These same killings have also been reported in places like Cap Haitien and the Central Plateau.

In other reports that show the severity of this situation, Haiti’s national police spokesman Frantz Lerebours said, “machete-wielding mobs had killed a dozen people accused of practicing witchcraft to spread cholera.” The UN is aware of this activity but they are slow to respond. Local law enforcement does not step in to stop the killings, and many incidences remain unreported. This senseless violence affects all the residents of Haiti. This attack comes from their own religious leaders. These are the same people who should be providing spiritual relief and healing, and uniting them under one cause.

With archaic ignorance the Haitian religious officials make the claim that Voodoo and black magic is the source of this cholera epidemic. The nation of Haiti has suffered more than their share of loss, sadness and heartbreak in the past year alone, and now they have to live in fear due to their own government. As these religious leaders target and murder these innocent people who practice Voodoo, they cut deeply into the religious roots of the Haitians, destroying whatever remains of their culture and heritage, one group of people at a time.

This isn’t the first time that black magic and Voodoo has been blamed on Haiti’s recent woes. When the earthquake struck the island nation last year, it was Pat Robertson who made the judgment that the people of Haiti were affected by an earthquake because they deserved it. In this 700 Club interview, while they were soliciting donations for the people of Haiti during a televangelism fundraiser, Robertson spoke out against the people of Haiti, accusing them of colluding with the devil so they could gain their independence from the French.

As stated by Robertson, “..something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, ‘We will serve you if you will get us free from the French.’ True story. And so, the devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal’. According to Robertson, the Haitians deserved what happened to them because they were cursed by (the Christian) god ever since they made that fateful deal with the devil.

This view was criticized by many, even within Christianity. A nationally known urban legend expert, Rich Buehler, stated that Roberston was incorrect “..on a variety of historical points, and (that he) propagated a common yet false claim that Vodou is Satanic in nature.

Robertson, host of the television series The 700 Club and outspoken Baptist minister, also blamed 9/11 on gay people in America. According to Robertson, in an interview after the tragedy in New York, he blamed ‘..the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays, and the lesbians who have helped the terror attacks of September 11th to happen’. When the people of America spoke up against Robertson for making this accusation, Robertson eventually apologized to everyone and to President Bush, and he retracted his statement.

Throughout all of the confusion in Haiti, one thing remains clear. Without raising awareness of the issues that these people are now facing, their future as a Voodoo culture looks uncertain. I wrote this article to help spread some of that awareness. Even in this modern-day society, while some are able to enjoy are supposed to be religious freedoms and rights, the ignorance of religious leaders endangers the lives of innocent people who have become the target of this most recent witch hunt. This new moral panic is a genocide of people who, according to these religious leaders, deserve to die for spreading fear and disease. The only intentional destruction of human life that is happening here, however, remains in the hands of these religious leaders.

– Venus Satanas

*****
References/Resources

Voodoo killings reportedly rise in Haiti epidemic: Dec 25, 2010 The Associated Press
http://www.aolnews.com/story/cholera-epidemic-spreads-in-haiti-nearly/1347181/?cid=12

Robertson’s “true story”: Haiti “swore a pact to the devil” to get “free from the French” and “ever since, they have been cursed”: January 13, 2010, CBN, The 700 Club, video: (accessed 1/9/11)
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201001130024

Urban Legend Expert Debunks Haitian ‘Pact with the Devil‘, By Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (accessed 1/9/11)
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2010/s10010104.htm

Read about the history of Haiti, and their freedom from the French. This article is about a man, Dutty Boukman, Hatian Priest and leader of the Hatian Slave Revolution, and the man who brought freedom to the island nation of Haiti. (accessed 1/9/11)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutty_Boukman

January 11, 2011
Misconceptions About Satanism pt2

MYTH: A Satanist has to believe in the Christian God to be a Satanist
REALITY: It is a myth that some who are not initiated into Satanism tend to believe: that you cant have one without the other. But, Satanism is a Satanic belief, not a Christian belief. If Satanism were a Christian belief, then Christians would accept Satanism as part of their teachings, and of course they do not. The Christians have their own understanding of Satan, as reflected in their gospels and books, and Satanists have their own understanding of Satan reflected in our Satanic writings and books.

You could say that Satanism came from, or was influenced by Christianity but it is not a Christian belief or practice. Just like Christianity was influenced by Judaism, it is not the same as Judaism. Just because something is similar does not mean that it is exactly alike.

Once the beliefs of Satanism are far removed from original Christian ideas they cease to be ‘Christian’ in origin, and become by a Christian definition, ‘Satanic’.

Because of this, not every Satanist will agree on whether they care about the Christian god or not and in the end it really does not matter. To a Satanist, Satan is the main figure, the god of this world and does not need any other god to validate it’s existence. What Satanists believe about Satan varies but the belief in the Christian god is not necessary for Satanic practice.

MYTH: Satanism is not a religion!
REALITY: Satanism is in fact a religion and within lawful practice like any other religion it is protected under the US constitution. The 1st amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”(1). Also in April 1978 within the Army Chaplain’s handbook is direction and instruction, written by Anton LaVey for the Church of Satan.(2) . Also in 1992, the chaplains handbook also included information on the Temple of Set. (3). The Temple of Set is not Satanic but they are Left Hand Path oriented.

Both the COS and the TOS are legally tax exempt Religious organizations. It’s about time that society recognized Satanism and has given it some respect in the regard to freedom of religion, but this is not always the case. For some Satanists who were incarcerated for crimes, some have had to sue or appeal to get their Satanic Bible and other materials into their cell. Like the man who sued a Montana county jail last February for 10mil. because he was denied his first amendment right to practice Satanism.(4)

There is also measures put into place to suspend or stop Satan-worship in prison altogether in some places. (5), Whatever happens for it or against it in the media, it seems that Satanism is not an easy thing for society to accept. Just because some recognize it as a religion and others may not, this is used as a reason to claim that Satanism is not real. Satanism is real and its been ‘real’ for more than 30 years!

It does not matter if you only recognize Satanism as Symbolic or spiritual..the fact is, Satanism when lawfully practiced is protected under the freedom of religious expression in the US.

1. (1st Amendment) 9/28/09
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am1

2. (1978 Army Chaplains Handbook) 9/28/09
http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/ChaplainsHandbook.html

3. (Chaplains Handbook, 1992) 9/28/09
http://alleeshadowtradition.com/pdf/army_chaplain_handbook.pdf

4. (2009 Lawsuit to Sue for Religious Freedom) http://www.onpointnews.com/NEWS/Will-Hell-Freeze-Over-if-Satanist-Inmate-Wins-Suit.html

5. (Attempts to stop Satanism in Kentucky Prisons)
http://abcnews.go.com/US/CrimeBlotter/story?id=91225&page=1

MYTH: The Satanic Lifestyle: Most Satanists Are goth, metalheads, wear black, and are frustrated and depressed!
REALITY: Satanists enjoy a diversified lifestyle. not all satanists enjoy wearing black. my personal preference is black, but that’s because black matches anything and it looks svelte. I happen to enjoy black, and others may not. I think that these myths about satanic lifestyle come from the fact that many satanists begin exploring Satanism through metal and through alternative ‘dark’ lifestyles. These avenues seem to be a source for Satanism and Satanic expression. The idea of Satanism is individualism and these lifestyles are most likely to afford people the opportunity to be unique or individual, and self expressive.

A Satanist should know that it is OK to like whatever they choose as far as lifestyle choices are concerned, including music, dress, and sexual preferences or orientation. There are no rules telling all Satanists to think and act the same, like some religions have. Also, most Satanists I know in person are not depressed. Many I know are very self motivated and focused. Most of us eventually learn that life is for living and many of us enjoy our life in the here and now. It is through the Satanic lifestyle that they find the freedom to be themselves.

At the other end of the spectrum are the Satanists who use Satanism for self destructive behaviors. This can be found in any religion, when it is used by people who are mentally unstable or who takes things to the extreme.

Visit: Misconceptions in Satanism part 1

September 28, 2009
Misconceptions About Satanism

What are some of the popular myths and misconceptions that people believe about Satanism? Let’s explore this in a two part series here at the Spiritual Satanist Blog.

MYTH: All Satanists worship the devil.

REALITY: Satanism is diverse and there are many different viewpoints and ideas in Satanism. We can see this by understanding the Christian idea of Satanism first, and that usually involves the belief that all Satanists worship the ‘devil’.

Outside of Christianity it can be understood that Satanism began as a deist practice with the Church of Satan who eventually represented Satan as a symbol, not as a deity. After this came the spiritualists and theists who either worship the Christian aspects of Satan, or who have a uniquely spiritual view that maybe entirely interdependent of Christian beliefs.

Either way, the amount of Satanists that could be classified as devil worshipers are relatively small in number and make up a very small percentage of the varieties of modern Satanic expression. An even fewer of this amount identify strictly with the Satan found within a purely christian context.

MYTH: Satanism is for Teenagers!
REALITY: It is a fact that there are teenagers that can be found in any religion – Christianity, Wicca, Satanism, or even Paganism. While there are teens that can be found in Satanism, it seems that for the most part, teenage Satanism is either a phase or a transitory practice that many abandon when it no longer suits their need. Many Satanists who have a long term practice of Satanism found it later in their lives, after their teens in their early 20’s. James R. Lewis did an excellent survey of Satanists in 2001, where he recorded that most Satanists that he interviewed were between the ages of 18- 30 years old, with more than 5 years average involvement time. So, no, Satanism is not just for teenagers – in fact, those that it appeals the most to are already away from their parents and living their own lives, able to make their own choices about what religion suits them best.

From the Lewis Survey of 2001:
“Does this phenomenon, however, exhaust the significance of religious Satanism? Are most Satanists, in other words, just angry teenagers who adopt diabolical trappings to express their alienation, only to renounce the Prince of Darkness as soon as they mature into adults? While many youthful Satanists undoubtedly fit this profile, I came to feel that this was, at best, only a partial picture. Instead, I reasoned, there must be a core of committed Satanists who–for whatever reasons they initially become involved–had come to appropriate Satanism as a mature religious option.”

Also: “The average Satanist is 26 years old (ranging from 14 to 56) who has been a Satanist for eight years (ranging from less than a year to 44 years for an individual who claimed to have been raised in a Satanist household). This means that the average Satanist became involved at age 18”

– text selected from James R. Lewis, Who Serves Satan? A Demographic and Ideological Profile. Referenced from: http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/mjr/pdfs/2001/articles/lewis2001.pdf [accessed 9/24/09]

MYTH: All Satanists are Criminals.
REALITY: The Satanic Panic of the 80’s, the same myth machine that perpetuated this lie, sustains this lie in the public view even to this day, even though not one shred of evidence has ever been found of secret Satanic societies that are criminal! It was reported time and time again that these sensational stories of Satanic criminals were the fodder of book publishers, counselors, preachers, news reporters and corporations who used these stories to sell books, interviews, tv airings, and counseling sessions.

The amount of money that they profited from telling these lies is beyond belief. Reports of Satanic crime were falsified, and testimonies from so-called SRA survivors were sold to the media and book publishers. Children were coached in how to act and what to say. It was a moral panic that society has not yet recovered from, as some still hold the belief that Satanists are associated with crime.

Jefferey S. Victor in his book “Satanic Panic, Creation of a Contemporary Legend” did a great job of exposing many of the people behind the 80-‘s and early 90’s panic. In his book he tracked the history of the moral panic, and the court cases that fell through because of lack of evidence. Unfortunately there are still some people who are in jail from the trumped up charges of the Satanic panic, more than a decade ago! Why? because no one bothers to revisit the cases, evidence is created or non existent making a real trial and acquittal impossible.

The fact is, that Satanists represent a very minute portion of society as a whole, and as such, it is impossible to know what kind of crime, or lack thereof they produce. It is also a fact that the majority of people who are in prison for violent and non violent crimes are Christian, come from Christian families and are rehabilitated with Christianity while in prison. And, its not just because Christians represent a majority of the population; it is because many of these people have problems living in society and abiding by societies rules. Whether or not their Christian background is a factor in this, I do not know. My belief is that people should abide by the laws of their own government, if only to keep the peace and so that we may live in a civil society.

Then I will have a letter sent to me by some Christian who gives me a news story about the 15 year old girl who set a church on fire in Canada. My opinion on that is that she is mentally disabled and needs emotional support and should be tried as an adult. Wwhile her crime seems to have been motivated by her ‘satanistic’ religion (as they called it) what really happened is that a mentally unbalanced girl lived a very unsupervised life and because of that she went out of control, committed a crime, and used religion as an outlet for it. A person should not be persecuted on the merit of what religion they believe in.

That’s what happened in the witch trials – people were murdered for being accused of being cohorts of the devil, a false charge that assumed immediate guilt by association instead of a fair and legal trial. Criminals should be tried for the crimes they commit regardless of what religion they claim to be. Should we think any worse of the many religious criminals associated with Christianity, and assume that all Christians are therefore evil because of a few people that used their religion as a scapegoat to crime? [ for an interesting read, see, List of Convicted Religious Criminals at wiki]

When people like Warren Jeffs [see Warren Jeffs, wiki] use Christianity to commit crimes, its conveniently forgotten about and no one dares to ask, “Was what he did right? did Christianity lead him to commit his crimes?” . In other words, no one ever consults with the pope when Christians commit a crime, but they certainly want to pursue Satanists, Wiccans, pagans and all others who are not Christian once a mentally unbalanced person gets out of control and hurts themselves or other people. Its a double standard with no solution in sight.

In my view, any professional lawyer, social worker, or judge should leave religion out of the courtroom.

MYTH: All Satanists are Ignorant!
REALITY: This is obviously not true. There was an excellent survey found at Wikipedia which explained the IQ of people compared to religious beliefs. it was found that the majority of people who had a higher IQ were either spiritual or atheist, and that the more fundamental a person’s beliefs, the lower the IQ seemed to be. You can explore it HERE [Study of IQ and Religiosity].

Mr Lewis, in his wonderful essay of 2001, surveyed 140 people and over 14% of those people had at least one year of college, 20% had 2 years of college, and 11% had their bachelors degree. Many had professional jobs and had family lives. 23% of those surveyed were married.

“Satanists are employed in diverse occupations. Eighteen respondents were involved with computers and/or the internet. Forty were students. And eleven were writers or artists (fourteen if web writers are included). Otherwise, they ran the gamut from stripper to clinical psychologist, and from salesman to engineer.”

– text selected from James R. Lewis, Who Serves Satan? A Demographic and Ideological Profile. Referenced from: http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/mjr/pdfs/2001/articles/lewis2001.pdf [accessed 9/24/09]

Next: Misconceptions About Satanism, Part 2

September 24, 2009
Compassion in Satanism Reader Q&A

This was a letter sent to me the other day, from a woman who wants to know about the role of compassion in Satanism. I thought about this answer all week long before I finally replied to her. Here is her letter, and below, my reply:

“”I was raised as a fundamental Christian, though I have never been baptized, fortunately. It took me a lot of trouble and soul searching to get rid of all the propaganda and baggage that was forced on me as a child. I say forced on me, but I must admit that there have been quite a few years I actually believed the bible to be true. I have always had a fascination for the occult, probably because it was forbidden. After all, that is the devils territory, according to Christianity.

After a mental and emotional battle to let go of Christianity and all that comes with it, I have been studying other religions, including Wicca. Also, I have learned a lot about new age and it’s principals, but to me there is also a lot of denial to be found there, as is in Christianity. There seems to be only room for happy happy thoughts, and our darker side should be ignored, denied. After all, everything is about love and light.

I feel that good and evil resides in all of us and that developing and growing on a spiritual level is really about acknowledging that we are really dualistic by nature and integrating and accepting these two sides. Taking responsibility rather than playing the helpless victim, or the ever positive light worker.

These thoughts raised the question if there was any kind of religion or philosophy that would stimulate this kind of awareness.

That is how I came in touch with satanism. I looked into the LaVeyan satanism, but the idea that Satan would be no more than a symbol of our carnal nature, wasn’t very appealing to me. When I found your website about Theistic satanism, that was very interesting.

There are however, still a lot of questions I haven’t found answers for, so far. I’m now 38. A lot of information on the Internet about satanism is LaVeyan. For example, I wondered about charity. I have always had a soft spot for the weak, human or animal.

Now, according to modern satanism, the survival of the fittest is an satanic principle and we shouldn’t attempt to help those who perish, but rather help them on their way. It may be obvious that I myself see it very differently, but I have no idea how theistic Satanism’s views on things like this are.

I am very interested in your opinion on that matter. Since it seems Satan wants us to be independent thinkers, it occurs to me that he would leave it to us whether or not we decide it is good for us to help others, but I don’t know.

Lydia from the Netherlands“”

***********
Greetings, Lydia.
This is a very complicated issue with no easy answers. I can’t speak for all of Satanism, of course but I can give you my knowledge on this subject.

The beliefs of LaVeyan Satanists are as such : ‘Do unto others before they do unto you’, it is their modified golden rule. This is a very defensive attitude. A defensive person is not a strong person, in my view. They need something to hide their vulnerability and they do this by being selfish and hard-hearted, and acting hateful towards anyone that does not benefit their own selfish cause.

However, ‘survival of the fittest’ is not one of their rules, but it is easy to see why you would get that from reading their material. They have a selfish attitude that is meant to be in opposition to the golden rule(s) of Christianity. In many ways, any form of Satanism is about the self – including self-worship, and fulfillment of personal desires. In fulfilling personal desires, I see no conflict with your desire to help other people or animals with charity. In fact, I think that would be great.

But in the LaVeyan view, compassion comes at a price. Compassion to the LaVeyan is a selfish attribute. Compassion comes to those that deserve it, instead of ‘love wasted on ingrates’. This is selfish, it is not true compassion because true compassion would help others regardless of whether they deserved it or not. Compassion comes from an open heart and an open heart is not selective and does not exclude others that are in need. The LaVeyans take this attitude to an extreme, in opposition to the Christian attitudes of forgiveness and kindness. It does not have to be like this, there can be a reasonable balance between compassion and personal strength.

And, who or what is deserving of compassion? As a Satanist, I have a strong belief that animals need our compassion. I take care of 3 cats that lived at my husband’s house, who were abandoned by their former owner.

The former owner didn’t feed them or give them water and they had to go to the neighbors house to beg for food. I was more than happy to open my heart to them when I moved in with my husband and I know that they love me for it. Their love in return is all that I need. My other cat was adopted from a shelter, and I most likely saved his life because shelter cats here do not live for very long, they are quickly euthanized because no one seems to really care about getting their animals fixed. The shelters here are always overflowing and are constantly low on funds. The shelter people couldn’t thank me enough for taking in my cat. I love animals, and I know that they need our help.

If Satan is god of this world then we should be concerned with what is in this world, and how to take care of it..how we can take care of our own. Recently, I made a lifestyle change that I know will help the environment – I began recycling about 4 months ago because I read many, many reports on how plastic garbage ends up in the ocean, killing wildlife and poisoning the soil in landfills.

I know that I am just one person but at least I can do what I can to help. Others are not as willing to help. You don’t hear other Satanists talking about taking care of the earth, they just want to use what is here and then dispose of it like it never even mattered.

It breaks my heart to know that more and more species of animals die every day. Where I live there are less than 100 panthers that live in the wild, due to hunting, roadkills, and the ever-increasing need for humans to build large houses in wild places where these animals live.

We live in a poisoned world, brought about in part by our modern (mostly Christian) civilization that could care less about taking care of the earth. Its not surprising to me that some of these people don’t care about the future because they are waiting for the ‘rapture’ or the destruction of the earth, and so they feel that the earth is doomed, and it’s too late to care. But I don’t think that is true. You mentioned responsibility. If each one of us took responsibility in our lives and stopped living wastefully, don’t you think that we could make an impact? I think so.

Some (LaVeyans) may say that compassion is a weakness, but it is not, its a strength that few are able to possess. They equate it with weakness because they think that Christians use compassion within their religion. Its very easy to be weak, to hate others, to not care – that is taking the easy way out, and it is not taking personal responsibility. Above all, personal responsibility should be important in satanism, and along with that comes the strength to be compassionate for issues that need our care.

So, have compassion for the earth, it is a living thing and like all living things, it needs help to live or it will die, and this is the only earth that we have. Volunteer your time at no-kill shelters or help them with funds, and know that you are helping to rescue animals that would not have had a chance to live.

If we all stop living wastefully we will see a difference. We all have an opportunity to be responsible for the lives that we live. As Satanists, as humans, shouldn’t it be our responsibility to help the earth? We have the intelligence, the capacity to have compassion and the means to carry it through. Let’s do it!

VenusSatanas

ps. last week, i posted a link to this site in my links section; maybe it will help to raise awareness of the needs of animals in our world:

The World Society for Protection of Animals

And: 10 Ways that you can Help Animals and the Environment we live in

And: How to Recycle Anything!!

And: 10 Ways to help your Local Shelter (ASPCA)

September 15, 2009
Are you a Satanist in Public?

From: The Satanic Temple, Seattle

Just some basic thoughts about public Satanism, put into a question and answer format.

Do you do your thing regardless of what others may think?

Well, do you? are you able to be a Satanist in public? I think its difficult to live a lifestyle like that, but its not impossible. I’ve done it. Every day at my job I wore my pentagram, just to see what would happen, to test the waters. Luckily at my work there wasn’t a strict dress code and I wasn’t the only one who wore alternative religious jewelry.

I had a friend who was Wiccan and she always wore her Pentacle at work. She sold spell potions to her friends and she also read the Thoth tarot for them [at work, on breaks!]. She was known for years as being the ‘house witch’! The one that others go to for spells and readings. So I was lucky in my situation that I didn’t have to be the first to be public about witchcraft in the workplace. There were others before me. I have also introduced 2 other employees to the craft after they came to me for advice, they wanted to learn what it was about for themselves.

It helps if you have understanding friends and family who let you be yourself. many of us unfortunately do not, because of the christian backgrounds we have. For some being public about Satanism has caused them to be rejected by society, friends and family [and their family’s god, too]. These types of people want you to conform, because you don’t fit into their puzzle pieces, you aren’t the same as them. I’m sure in many cases they only want what they feel is best for you, but it hurts, its selfish and its not fair to deny others their right to be themselves!

We as Satanists aren’t the only ones to face these types of prejudice. Wiccans and even people involved in freemasonry can have troubles in daily life due to the beliefs and suspicious reactions of a ‘Christian society’. Thus, why things of the occult need to be secret and hidden. Because they will not understand and they will do what they can to oppose you, crush your spirit, and make you conform to their beliefs.

Do you really have the religious freedom to do what you want?

At times i feel that we do not. none of us do. There are troubles even for the wiccan and pagan community. i just read an article that my friend Troll Towelhead From Satanservice.org showed me, about an organization for pagans and wiccans.. and in this report was a story of how a legitimate business was thrown out of town because the religious right discovered that it was a Wiccan witchcraft shop. Unfortunately, the city won and the witches were driven out of town. This happened in the early 90’s. As I read the article I kept envisioning angry mobs of Christian townspeople with pitchforks and torches ready to burn the witches and drive the evil from their town.

This happened ten years ago, in America. It’s hard to believe that things like this happen, considering that we are supposed to have freedom of religion. This freedom is an ideal. See also my post about: Is Satanism Legal in America?

What does Religious freedom mean to you?

In this ideal world, religious freedom would be the ability to think, act, do say, and express one’s self in a spiritual way without the fear of restriction and social condemnation.

Is this accurately reflected in society? Does this matter to you at all?

I know that in America it is not. I can imagine that it would be worse in other parts of the world, especially in Europe. for instance, recently Italy tried to ban all Satanic organizations, claiming that these people were ‘conspiring against the church’. Witchcraft was still outlawed in many parts of the world by the 1900’s.

Are you prepared to answer to others who want to know what your Religious beliefs are? What do you tell people when they ask you what your religion is? Why?

I have been asked about religion in social situations. Especially when I wear any kind of jewelry that does not look Christian in origin. I have generic answers to give depending on the person, and what I feel they could handle for an answer.

At the very least I will identify as pagan, and when the curious christian asks, I will say that ‘its a non christian, natural earth religion’ or something like that. They usually don’t ask any more questions after that. Giving a generic answer lets them show me how much they could know about occultism or how comfortable they could be with the answers.

Only a few of my personal friends know that I am a Satanist. I will make an acquaintance, and if I feel the time is right I will tell them that I am a satanist. It is at that point that I usually see a very surprised look on their face, a look of shock and fear like no other. Like a deer caught in the headlights of a car.

Well this revelation will either deepen our friendship or cause a rift. and that is fine with me. If they aren’t willing to put their personal religious prejudice aside and relate to me on a personal and human level, then maybe they aren’t the right person to be associating with. I try to be fair and accommodate their beliefs, but if they cant do the same for me then I’m just not really interested in a deeper friendship.

And the ones that do, well they know me on a personal level, they know that I’m Venus Satanas, that ‘Satanist chick who’s into metal’ 😉

Are you a Satanist in public?

August 27, 2009
Take The Satan Survey!

Now is your opportunity to take the Satan Survey, brought to us by James R. Lewis, from the University of Wisconsin. The Satan Survey has many questions asking about your life and preferences as a Satanist. By filling out this Survey you are helping others to get a clear view on what Satanism is and how it relates to our society. When you fill out this survey, you can remain anonymous if you choose to. All types of Satanists are welcome to participate.

The Satan Survey link: (The survey is over unfortunately!) but you can access some of the data from the 2001 survey here : Satanist Survey at Satanservice.org

James R. Lewis is a sociologist and he studies and writes about New Religious Movements. You can read a bio about Mr. Lewis at Amazon. Some of his essays are online :

James R. Lewis,Diabolical Authority: Anton LaVey, The Satanic Bible and the Satanist.
Marburg Journal of Religion. September, 2002: Volume 7, No.1.
http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/mjr/pdfs/2002/articles/lewis2002.pdf

James R. Lewis.Who Serves Satan? A Demographic and Ideological Profile.
Marburg Journal of Religion. June, 2001: Volume 6, No. 2.
http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/mjr/pdfs/2001/articles/lewis2001.pdf

Also: a video I made for this survey from Youtube:

July 17, 2009
Neo-Nazism in Satanism

After reading the essay by Diane Vera titled “How can we effectively discourage neo-Nazism in the Satanist scene?” I wanted to respond to her essay in agreement and give my own views on neo-Nazism in Satanism. Please read her essay first, and then come back here for my commentary…

In this essay Diane gets to the issue of freedom of thought vs. discouragement of Neo-Nazism. I am in agreement with her statement that others have the rights to whatever they want to believe. but, when these beliefs become a public menace, and when religious beliefs are used for a political agenda, it makes me question why they should have rights to hurt others under freedom of speech with what they say and do.

Vera also makes the point that Satanists should care about Nazism in Satanism for several very important reasons. First of all, neo-Nazism and Satanism are not really compatible. The beliefs of ‘traditional’ neo-Nazis are by majority christian, while some identify with paganism or Asatru. Satanism is not generally associated with Christian worship, or paganism [although some Satanists do have a pagan pantheon].

There will always be those that claim that these beliefs all belong together, Nazism, occult and Satanism. typically, this beliefs is from a fundamentalist Christian point of view. So when Satanists agree that Nazism belongs together with Satanism they are essentially agreeing with the ‘religious right’, that all things that could be questionable are in fact, evil, and therefore ‘Satanic’.

The solitary beliefs and practices of Satanists are in contrast with the political agenda of neo-Nazism. According to Vera, “The most extreme neo-Nazis want to kill whole large sectors of the population, including both Jews and gays, and they want to force vast numbers of other people to relocate.” The things that attract Satanists to neo Nazism are the very things that make Satanists look bad. Segregation of society is a terrible thing, and it is un-American, in my view.

Diane Vera writes..”Admittedly, there have also been some very noisy Satanists who have tried to define Satanism as a political movement calling for changes that would be every bit as drastic. But, as far as I can tell, the vast majority of Satanists don’t see Satanism that way.”

I am in agreement with this statement above. The few Satanists that I have seen that are involved with a political agenda are extremists. They do not care about the advancement of Satanism or of the self. They want to wallow in hatred for humanity, an opposite view to those that see the human body as sacred, and for those who see Satan as god of this entire earth and all that is in it.

The neo-Nazi community with its strict Christian fundamentalist beliefs, are not likely to accept Satanism any time soon. So why some Satanists choose to accept neo-Nazism, is because they are looking for an outlet for what they think will shock, enrage, empower. In my view this is a stereotypical reason for being involved in Satanism. Neo Nazi Satanists choose to use Satanism as a soapbox for the same reactionary political agenda that fueled one of the most horrific tragedies of humanity.

Vera makes a very good point in her statement about neo-Nazism in Satanism causing alienation. Neo-Nazism is by its own nature a method of alienation. Satanism has been around for more than thirty years and it is becoming more socially accepted in different areas of paganism and alternative belief systems.

To accept the hatred-filled beliefs of neo-Nazism into Satanism is to deny our chance of expression – essentially its bad for Satanists who have had a hard enough time dealing with lies, accusations of the Satanic panic, created falsehoods, and now *racism*?

“If there are too many neo-Nazis in the Satanist scene and not enough Satanists who openly oppose neo-Nazism, then the neo-Nazis’ presence has the potential to alienate Satanists in general from the very people who would otherwise be most inclined to tolerate us, and who would otherwise be our best potential allies in the event of another Satanic panic.“-Diane Vera

Daine writes that there will be those who will object to this view, stating that Satanists would not care at all about how Satanism is perceived. They are entitled to their opinion, but I don’t agree with it.

I personally think that Satanism should not be used for a political platform for radical and fundamental extremists. I personally oppose neo-Nazism and racism in Satanic practices. I can not identify with their beliefs because I have no need or desire to hate other human beings, based on race or gender.

Satan is a god that encompasses all of humanity, not one ‘chosen’ part of it as satanic neo-Nazis may assume. thirdly, I oppose neo-Nazism in Satanism because I do not think that political beliefs belong in the same arena with spirituality, or religion.

I want people to know that as a Satanist, I am not hate filled – I have an interest in humanity. To me there is only one race, the Human race..I am not afraid to socialize with others who have different beliefs than I do, because I am secure and comfortable with my self, and who I am.

There are organizations and groups ready to point the finger at all neo Nazis and Satanists, claiming that they are one in the same – when they are in fact, radically different.

And there is something that I would like to add. If the vast majority of neo-Nazis are Cchristian, then why are they worshiping the man who was the King of the Jews?

Quotes in this post are taken from the essay “How can we effectively discourage neo-Nazism in the Satanist scene?” by Diane Vera

June 16, 2009
It’s Satan’s Day, Celebrate!

Today, April 11th is Satan’s day. I call this Satan’s day because its the day that all satanists should take a moment to pay respect to Satan. April 11th is a Satanic Holiday, it is Anton LaVey’s birthday, and according to the ‘satanic tradition’ of egoism, the birthday is the most holy day of all.

Additionally, this day falls on a Saturday [Saturn] and Luna is in the house of Scorpio tonight, as well! These are the dark, occult associations on this Satan’s day.

So take some time to think about how Satanism has benefited you. Consider some of the works of the dark Brother LaVey and his impact on Satanism:

1. How he brought Satanism out of the darkness and into the public eye, by organizing and being in the media.

2.”The Satanic Bible” created in 1969, gave us rituals and a black mass, and Satanic invocations, and Satanic literature.

3. LaVey’s book has inspired so many Satanists in this world, and introduced the concepts of Satanism to many.

4. Consider how many groups and orders and Satanists who have been proud to call themselves Satanists, due to the efforts of Anton LaVey’s introduction to Satanism as a philosophy.

See Also: The Satanic Holidays

April 12, 2009