Satanism's bad rap

[nuk]

First of all, I'm an atheist. I believe that there are no supernatural beings, good or evil. But I do like to argue about them.
I'm also a separationist, and it annoys me to no end that Bible clubs can be sanctioned at public schools. So often when they make an announcement about gathering around the flag pole for a prayer over the PA system, I make a comment to my students about the need for a Satanism club to balance out the God club. Mostly, this provokes laughter, and sometimes it offends, but never has it caused the formation of a Satanism club.

I wonder, is their any real cause to be more revolted by Satanism than Christianity? According to the Christians, there's no end to the evils of Satanism. But the Christians are the enemies of Satanists - of course their propoganda is going to paint the Satanists in a bad light, and the Satanists are such an oppressed group that I never get to hear anything from their point of view. A Satanist, if given the chance, could make the Christians look like an evil cult: "They practice cannibalism! Their god has murdered entire populations, and threatens his followers with eternal torture if they disobey him."

Personally, I'm inclined to give Satanists the benefit of the doubt. They've never tried to brainwash me, steal my tax dollars, or use primetime TV to tell me I'm mentally ill, unlike certain other cults.

[Avatar]

Firstly, welcome aboard Nuk. Always a pleasure to see somebody new in The Close.

Second, I'm pretty much in agreement with you, especially about the need to have some kind of balance.

I'm minded of a quote, although I can't remember who by, (Heinlein? Wilson? Satre?) which says, "God has millions of salaried staff. The opposition has none."

And finally, if you'll look down the page a ways, you'll see that there is actually a (fairly) recent topic about the subject. You're more than welcome to revive it, (when they drop in here, they drop fast), if you want, but I'm sure that folks will be equally happy to restart the discussion here, so it's not essential.

Hope you have fun, and that you'll be a regular contributor to The Close. (P.S. Hile Troy's Think Tank is just around the corner, would love to see you in there too.)

Take it easy

--Avatar

[[Syl]]

Yeah, reminds me of my comment around here back when there was all the talk about posting the Ten Commandments in schools. My point was that they should be written in Biblical Hebrew, thereby being an historical and lingual subject and actually have a place in education.

[The Pumpkin King]

That's quite an interesting way to think of things...I haven't thought of it that way before.

But, in that respect, it makes perfect sense. With separation of church and state, if one is going to sanction one religion's club, it should allow any other legitimate religion too.

[Nathan]

if one is going to sanction one religion's club, it should allow any other legitimate religion too.

any other legitimate religion? Aren't all religions legitimate? Shouldn't everyone get the chance to put forward their views? For countries that are so big on freedom of speech there's been a lot of supression (particularly of communism) over the years.

[The Pumpkin King]

if one is going to sanction one religion's club, it should allow any other legitimate religion too.

any other legitimate religion? Aren't all religions legitimate? Shouldn't everyone get the chance to put forward their views? For countries that are so big on freedom of speech there's been a lot of supression (particularly of communism) over the years.

What I meant by "legitimate religion" is like, most anything is fine, but it's probably not all that legitimate of a thing if someone decides one day that they want the school to sanction and fund a club that worships them, and only them. Just 'cause they decided that when they woke up the morning before.

Now, if for some reason, this had a lot of followers, maybe.

But, eh, I guess you can get my point from what I've said.