a "quick" love hate exploration of LaVeyan Satanism [church of satan / the satanic church / christianity / our world]

Disclaimer: I pre-apologize for any offense upon any individuals or groups mentioned in this writing. This article is best suited for individuals with at least an intermediate knowledge of the topics covered and able to take my biased view. I will mix unverified facts and personal opinions together on whim in my various points. Finally, I do not speak on behalf of any specific organization. This is all to encourage free thinking and expression.

A few years back, I was in transition or perhaps looking to for an addition to my beliefs. So, I began searching about different religions. At this point, I was not exposed or even aware of philosophy. So out of sheer internet randomness, I ran into Satanism. That is, chat rooms with people who claimed to be satanist. Many or most of them were absolute punks. But in hindsight, they had valid reasons. A decent majority of them were the LeVeyan variety and roughly half of them provided links and information into the LeVayan way. So I read and contemplated. And in the true American fashion, inquired, debated, and sought to offend these LeVeyan satanists to test them. Surprisingly to me at that time and now, they were robust and self correcting in the event of flaws. But enough of history.

Currently, I identify with Christianity and will give a few associations and points in this view. I do retain a previous belief, but will not mention since it is out of scope of this article. So why am I compelled to affirm LeVayanism? That is where I get concrete with my love and hate relationship. I will now use the general term Satanic, Satan, Satanists, and Satanism in lieu of LeVayanism.

I hate the church for many reasons. I have suspicions that they are "evil", seeking and will somehow gain world power, and a potentially real physical manifestation of Satan himself and hell.

My own Christian influenced belief suggests that this earth is the grounds for both heaven and hell. We have elites that live in complete bliss of wealth and power.(Eagles anyone?) Upper, middle, or working class families that live in a white picket fence bubble with every domestic checkbox marked in completion. In contrast, do we not have massive bloody wars? Never ending war zones, ghettos, epidemics of disease and famine? The Satanic way can easily fit, proliferate, and encourage all these circumstances.

One of the main roots of Satanism is self servitude. I feel that the self serving doctrine is destructive in the end. The real kicker is that major satanic "priests" claim that most people are self serving anyway and therefore the Satanic shadow is already deployed and growing. I thoroughly believe that many or most people are self serving animals with no real regard for others. But then again, I'm close to an area where people have $400,000 in raw cash in their sweaty fists to have a $800,000 home, a 2mpg suv, some import race car, a 200" flat screen, custom pool, 2 children, and retirement. Even if the Church of Satan did not exist, this world is an increasingly self-serving. In the Christian view, this is the proliferation of demons and the damned within the realms hell in areas such as greed and lust.

I hate the fact that the Satanic beliefs are both robust and clean. In many forms, their presence constantly rears it's head. Self-servitude has always been humankind's first priority. Satanists can both benefit and keep their hardcore image and attitude without violation. The Church of Satan does not have major scandals involving massive wars and pedophiles. While I identify with Christianity, I actually fear Christians. I have personally experienced countless times where Christians still end up either malevolent in nature, absolutely self serving, a professional douche bag, or had zero moral impact on their lives outside of their Sunday attendance. What ever happened to WWJD? It is if I have to treat the average Christian with the same suspicion as some random jack on the street. Even worse, it is as if one hand is holding a dove and the other a dagger. Is this a unified religion or is it just a bunch of country clubs scattered about? What doors get slammed shut if you are not a WASP? I have contemplated a few times, would this world be better under true Satanic rule? Darned(G-rated version) insipid serpent playing with me.

I respect and see wisdom in the Satanic church. Honesty, diversity, community, contribution, tolerance, individuality, and knowledge are all traits that generally create improvement and positive morals. Very practical stuff. I have a few favorites that I will gab about.

Honesty. Oh blessed honesty. I have already suggested at this one indirectly. Satanists regard this with the term "brutal honesty". Blunt and pointed in the same time delivered quickly. I laugh at this feature as long as i'm not on the receiving end. Personally, I prefer a more patient and padded form of honesty. Regardless, this is such an important belief and almost extinct in modern society. Lies and bullhooky(G-rated version of what I really want to say) is the way things work. For example, is it ok to be a jerk in nature or a scumbag? It is your right and freedom. But many jerks will behave that way only to their adversaries, competitive equals, or individuals of lower class or rank. To people that serve their interests, current and prospective mates, people in a higher occupational rank, or friends these jerks will perhaps be the utmost charismatic angels or submissive sheep. These individuals know that they are a jerk  to the core, but will not admit it to serve their own interests and maintain what ever upright image that they want to project. Some of them want to be known as a saint. But regardless, they must hide their punk nature and lie in certain situations and circumstances. And not only lie and hide only to those close, but to the own self. Not being able to openly admit your feelings and conduct. Hide thy true nature and lie about in the same time. Disgusting junk piled upon junk. This can apply to your any ambitious friendly neighborhood chum to people of high places. Can we find any more instances of bullarky and dishonesty? Dating? Politics? Jobs? Class? Every single one of these can be cleaned up instantly if honesty was a priority.

Knowledge. This is one of the most impressive and influential aspect that I am grateful for. Many Satanists will use this as a weapon in a fashion that I have both received and learned from. That is, don't ask a Satanist to teach you about Satanism. If you do, a core Satanist will perhaps chaste you for being ignorant or lazy. Want to be a guitar star? There are maybe 3 different ways to go about it. The first way, toss thousands of dollars in lessons and gear. Or second, look for some person to spoon-feed("give me da hook up") you all the lore, tricks, studio, and gear. Third, actually pick up a guitar and expend time and effort. Isn't it funny how knowledge and honesty can be tied together? Oh wait, he is great and famous because he is a musician. You can make big bucks taking up the a piccolo instead of a hip-hop-hippity-hop-they-never-stop turntable. whatever

Before I lose patience and interest, I will cover diversity, individuality, and tolerance in one quick sweep. Diversity and individuality is needed to encourage knowledge and prevent a bland or robotic world. You can't really learn anything ground-breaking following in someones footsteps. In turn, with diversity and individuality will come elements that are unpleasant. That is where tolerance comes into play. A Satanist must tolerate thy adversaries for they foster improvement. Perhaps one must tolerate someone who is infernally bothersome whether it be aesthetic, disposition, or personal belief system.

So there you have it. Not just love it or hate it, I have both. But I think that is what Satan had in mind. Before I forget, I will express sadness on the passing of Mr. LeVay, he gave me a temporary breath of fresh air from the constant bullarky about and pushed forward concepts that still haunt and stimulate me to this day. He was never out to impress anyone, but his potential was mostly untapped.