Salutations Morgan,
>>My meaning is that Satanism, being as it is named after the biblical
>>character ha satan, is at the opposite pole to Judaism/Christianity/Islam.
>>The light is not any greater
than the dark, or vice versa. They are equal, and indeed necessary to each
other's existence.<<
Mmm, but I think that sophisticated modern Satanists (some, not all) are
trying to move beyond the "just the opposite of Christ" kind of stereotype.
Cannot Satan change? If people can re-interpret pre-Christian goddesses into
"The Goddess" who is all benevolent for example, then can't people also
re-interpret Satan into something a bit more interesting? Satan wasn't even
a proper noun in the Hebrew Bible, so the Christians obviously
re-interpreted him themselves into an arch-enemy of their fave god, Christ.
Satan can be rather exciting and fun, but perhaps that does involve being
non-Christian, for example, Anton la Vey's (hilarious) reasons why one
*should* do all the seven deadly sins? Plus, even if modern Pagans
differentiate themselves from Satanists, although why polytheism can't
handle including Yahweh, Jesus and Satan among with all the other gods of
the planet I don't know, despite a lot of *saying* how "Pagan" one is, I
feel that being brought up in a Judeo-Christian society can't help but
influence Neo-Pagan's thoughts, ethics and behaviour, despite *trying* to be
"Pagan" (whatever that is). I think Paganism(s) are a work in progress, as
is modern Satanism.
~Caroline.
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