Misconceptions about Satanism

Misconceptions about Satanism

Most religions like Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam have well defined

meanings, one exception is Satanism. Most people have their own definition for

Satanism.

Some people feel that non-Christian religions and all Christian

denominations other than their own are forms of Satanism. This would imply that

all Buddhists, Hindus, Moslems, and Jews. In fact at least 75% of the world's

population would be Satanists.

Others feel that all religions other than Judaism or Christianity are

inspired by Satan and thus are forms of Satanism. This would still leave the

vast majority of people in the world being Satanists.

Large numbers of people feel that a wide variety of unrelated, benign

religions (such as Santeria and other Caribbean religions, Druidism, New Age,

Wicca, ect.) are forms of Satanism.

Such definitions create great confusion. The following are recommended

terms and descriptions for four essentially unrelated religions that have been

called Satanism.

The first is Religious Satanism, This faith includes the recognition of

Satan either as a deity or as a principle. Three main denominations exist: the

Church of Satan, the Temple of Set, and the Church of Satanic Liberation. Other

short lived Satanic groups currently exist and have existed in the recent past.

According to Statistic Canada, the 1991 census found 335 Canadians who

identified themselves as Satanists. The actual Number is probably significantly

larger. A United States Department of the Army pamphlet #165-13 "RELIGIOUS

REQUIREMENTS AND PRACTICES OF CERTAIN SELECTED GROUPS - A HANDBOOK FOR

CHAPLAINS" (1978 - April) estimated that there were 10 to 20 thousand members of

the Church of Satan in the United States. Accurate data is impossible to

estimate, since the largest group (The Church of Satan) does not release its

membership totals.

It is important to realize that the Satan they recognize has few if any

point s of similarity with the Christian concept of Satan. The Satanists'

concept of Satan is pre-Christian, and derived from the Pagan image of power,

virility, sexuality and sensuality. To most Satanists, Satan is a force of

nature, not a living quasi-deity. Their Satan has nothing to do with Hell,

demons, pitchforks or profound evil.

The image of Satanism spawned by Christianity is called Gothic Satanism.

It is an imaginary and profoundly evil religion that was invented during the

late Middle Ages. Concepts included ritual killing of children, selling their

soul to the devil, breaking crucifixes, conducting black masses, ect. It has

never existed in the past, and does not exist today, except in the imagination

of the public.

Another form of Satanism is Teen Satanism: A syncretistic religion which

is a blend of Religious Satanism, Gothic Satanism, ceremonial magick, and any