THE
ARCANE
ARCHIVE

a cache of usenet and other text files pertaining
to occult, mystical, and spiritual subjects.


TOP | RELIGION | SATANISM | TEMPLE OF SET

are Wiccans, Satanists?

To: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.satanism
From: tyagI@houseofkaos.Abyss.coM (tyagi mordred nagasiva)
Subject: Re: are Wiccans, Satanists?
Date: 4 Dec 1994 10:46:56 GMT

[from alt.pagan: Balanone@tefnut.astaroth.sacbbx.com (Balanone)]

On Nov 11, 1994,
MoonWolf wrote to All
re: Re: are Wiccans, Satanists?

M> In regards to the idea that Satanism is a belief that
M> predates  Xtianity by thousands of years...

M> Granted, there have been "organised religions" based on the
M> concept of "light" and "dark" that may predate Xtianity, but
M> have any of  them called their "prince of darkness" by the
M> name of "Satan?"   So far as I understand in comparative
M> theology, Lucifer is a product of the Xtian pre-creation
M> story, with Satan being one of the many names of this fallen
M> angel.

M> If you would prefer to equate Satan with Satyr's and the
M> ilk, then please state so, but when referring to events
M> ending "thousands of years before Christ," please cite
M> documented references - the only things that I know were
M> written in this time period are in cave paintings of
M> prehistoric men.  

M> On the other hand, if Satanism is to be defined as a belief
M> in Satan, then would not Christism be defined as a belief in
M> Christ?

You've hit the big problem in this discussion: terminology.

It might be more accurate to say, without mentioning the "S" word,
that Left Hand Path religions have been around for several thousands
of years (well documented in the Egyptian priesthoods, most notably
the Priesthoods of Set and Amn, and apparently some in the Northern
religions as well though I know less about them). However, I don't
know anyone who talks about Prince of Darknessism or Left Hand
Pathism as a religious grouping. They've always just been one of many
religions active in their time.

As Christianity grew in power, it redefined those religions it completed
against as various forms of Satanism and Demonolatry, and since they
could not admit to a multitude of religious truths, they generally
painted these religions as worshipping Christian demons and Satan.
*All* Pagan religions suffered from this slander, and the Left Hand
Path religions were no exception.

Most of Paganism wants nothing to do with Christianity's Satanism,
but much of the Left Hand Path movement and its religions recognize
that there are elements of anti-Christian Satanism that relate with
Prince of Darknessism. Satanists cherish individuality, freedom from
oppression, creativity, pride, creature comforts and pleasures, and
other Christian sins which are highly regarded by the Left Hand Path.
Therefore, those aspects of modern Satanism are welcomed as part of
the Left Hand Path.

This increases the terminology problem. Because we live in a mostly
Christian-influenced society, where the strongest curse is "damn you
to Hell," and because there is no generic term for Prince of
Darknessism, the term "Satanism" expands to fill that need.

Christians certainly don't recognize much difference between anti-
Christian Satanism, Setianism, Luciferianism, Prometheanism,
Odhinnism, etc. It's difficult enough for them to recognize that there's
any difference at all between Left Hand Path Paganism and Right
Hand Path Paganism. Similarly, a goodly number of Pagans find it
difficult to see any difference between various modes of modern Left
Hand Path Paganism and the subset known as Satanism.

If anyone here could suggest a good term for Prince of Darknessism, it
might spread and resolve the issue. But since no one has yet found
such a good term, we let "Satanism" represent the multitude of Left
Hand Path paths in modern western civilization.

Balanone
   PP

FidoNet:  Balanone at 1:203/444.15
Internet: Balanone@tefnut.astaroth.sacbbx.com


The Arcane Archive is copyright by the authors cited.
Send comments to the Arcane Archivist: tyaginator@arcane-archive.org.

Did you like what you read here? Find it useful?
Then please click on the Paypal Secure Server logo and make a small
donation to the site maintainer for the creation and upkeep of this site.

The ARCANE ARCHIVE is a large domain,
organized into a number of sub-directories,
each dealing with a different branch of
religion, mysticism, occultism, or esoteric knowledge.
Here are the major ARCANE ARCHIVE directories you can visit:
interdisciplinary: geometry, natural proportion, ratio, archaeoastronomy
mysticism: enlightenment, self-realization, trance, meditation, consciousness
occultism: divination, hermeticism, amulets, sigils, magick, witchcraft, spells
religion: buddhism, christianity, hinduism, islam, judaism, taoism, wicca, voodoo
societies and fraternal orders: freemasonry, golden dawn, rosicrucians, etc.

SEARCH THE ARCANE ARCHIVE

There are thousands of web pages at the ARCANE ARCHIVE. You can use ATOMZ.COM
to search for a single word (like witchcraft, hoodoo, pagan, or magic) or an
exact phrase (like Kwan Yin, golden ratio, or book of shadows):

Search For:
Match:  Any word All words Exact phrase

OTHER ESOTERIC AND OCCULT SITES OF INTEREST

Southern Spirits: 19th and 20th century accounts of hoodoo, including slave narratives & interviews
Hoodoo in Theory and Practice by cat yronwode: an introduction to African-American rootwork
Lucky W Amulet Archive by cat yronwode: an online museum of worldwide talismans and charms
Sacred Sex: essays and articles on tantra yoga, neo-tantra, karezza, sex magic, and sex worship
Sacred Landscape: essays and articles on archaeoastronomy, sacred architecture, and sacred geometry
Lucky Mojo Forum: practitioners answer queries on conjure; sponsored by the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
Herb Magic: illustrated descriptions of magic herbs with free spells, recipes, and an ordering option
Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers: ethical diviners and hoodoo spell-casters
Freemasonry for Women by cat yronwode: a history of mixed-gender Freemasonic lodges
Missionary Independent Spiritual Church: spirit-led, inter-faith, the Smallest Church in the World
Satan Service Org: an archive presenting the theory, practice, and history of Satanism and Satanists
Gospel of Satan: the story of Jesus and the angels, from the perspective of the God of this World
Lucky Mojo Usenet FAQ Archive: FAQs and REFs for occult and magical usenet newsgroups
Candles and Curios: essays and articles on traditional African American conjure and folk magic
Aleister Crowley Text Archive: a multitude of texts by an early 20th century ceremonial occultist
Spiritual Spells: lessons in folk magic and spell casting from an eclectic Wiccan perspective
The Mystic Tea Room: divination by reading tea-leaves, with a museum of antique fortune telling cups
Yronwode Institution for the Preservation and Popularization of Indigenous Ethnomagicology
Yronwode Home: personal pages of catherine yronwode and nagasiva yronwode, magical archivists
Lucky Mojo Magic Spells Archives: love spells, money spells, luck spells, protection spells, etc.
      Free Love Spell Archive: love spells, attraction spells, sex magick, romance spells, and lust spells
      Free Money Spell Archive: money spells, prosperity spells, and wealth spells for job and business
      Free Protection Spell Archive: protection spells against witchcraft, jinxes, hexes, and the evil eye
      Free Gambling Luck Spell Archive: lucky gambling spells for the lottery, casinos, and races