LOL

Proportionally higher attendance than the second day of the convention, from the look of it. More ethnic diversity, too.


"let us demand that individuals be judged by their concrete actions" is a little peak at the Randian undertones of a lot of Satanic groups, though. This guy seems OK but a lot of Satanists are basically Objectivists with a sense of humor.

*horns up*

"Let us stand now, unbowed and unfettered by arcane doctrines born of fearful minds in darkened times. Let us embrace the Luciferian impulse to eat of the Tree of Knowledge and dissipate our blissful and comforting delusions of old.
Let us demand that individuals be judged for their concrete actions, not their fealty to arbitrary social norms and illusory categorizations. Let us reason our solutions with agnosticism in all things, holding fast only to that which is demonstrably true.
Let us stand firm against any and all arbitrary authority that threatens the personal sovereignty of One or All. That which will not bend must break, and that which can be destroyed by truth should never be spared its demise. It is Done. Hail Satan."

Oh C'mon. He's using the tune of "The Lord's Prayer" for his satanic hymn...

Hilarious.

I think it depends on the branch of Satanism. I've read the Satanic Bible and it pretty much boils down to "you only go around once and everyone is in it for themselves; selfishness is the human condition so get yours but try to have fun while you do it (now here's some pseudomystical mumbo jumbo to freak out the squares)" - not much different than objectivism, but with the goal being fun and self indulgence rather than forming a gated community and waiting inside while the world burns (which was Manson's plan too, incidentally - maybe Manson was John Galt all along!).


But my understanding is there was a big schism in the last decade or two between the LaVey satanists and the variety of Satanaists (I forget if they have their own label of choice) who are focused on protecting the separation of church and state, and secularism in general. Those are the Satansists who do stuff like this, and they seem to be more like the Church of the Sub Genius but with an agenda.


I've only met the LaVey type and they have ranged from charmingly dorky to (in the case of the successful ones) cloyingly self absorbed and arrogant.

Between my general experience of them and that sequence in Satanis where LaVey sits by approvingly while one of his followers talks at length about molesting her son (because she is sexually liberated and was helping with his sexual education so it's totally OK and means she's a good mother) I've got some pretty strong reservations about the LaVey strain.

I'm converted now.

I've heard there's a branch or two of "satanists" that are just using to actually drive the separation of Christianity as the inherent part of state-function using these equality measures to allow satanism. Basically like tongue-in-cheek atheists

I've always wondered how many honest to God (lol!) Satanists exists and how many are just trolls.

The irony of all this is that none of these people would ever give a crap about stepping foot into a city council meeting and praying if not for the religious right's self-appointed control and entitlement for their religious horseshit to be shoved into public affairs.

Which, while I do think it's complete and utter attention whoring on the part of these guys, it's very much a bunch of stupid people trying to make a good point. I tried to explain this to my mom, who lives in Oklahoma, a couple years ago when the local Satanists were trying to erect a Satanic monument right beside the ten commandments monument in OKC. It wasn't because the Satan worshipers are trying to oust Jesus and take over the country...it's because you have to either accept it all or not allow any of it.

And frankly I'd prefer the latter. You have church, and home, and damn near any other time. School and government functions are for just that, schooling and governing, not for your religious exercises. Pray and dance around animal sacrifices on your own damn time.