Satanic religions and stolen theology
When young people leave their family homes, they run into the difficult task of trying to discover who they want to be. It’s common for people to cut their hair, dye it a different color, maybe get a tattoo. However, all too often, they also decide to switch their religion or abandon it entirely.
This is especially true when young adults are trying to escape the oppressive Christianity that their parents imposed on them. Rather than seeking solace in another Christian belief system, it is becoming more common for these young individuals to gravitate towards Satanic or spell-based ideologies.
The most concerning one to me is what is known as modern or Atheistic Satanism, which, in and of itself, is quite the oxymoron.
Followers of Atheistic Satanism would most likely claim to follow the current Satanic Temple or the Church of Satan who both use Satan as a metaphor for desirable human traits, such as wisdom, curiosity and rationality.
Some individuals claim to not be an organized religion. The Church of Satan states, “Since the Satanist understands that all Gods are fiction, instead of bending a knee in worship to — or seeking friendship or unity with — such mythical entities, he places himself at the center of his own subjective universe as his own highest value.”
Instead they promote themselves as a set of ideas that promote self-improvement, political activism and love to “those who deserve it.” However, the problem with this is that the Satanic Temple does, in fact, claim to be a religious organization if it benefits them.
“The mission of The Satanic Temple, a religious organization, is to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice and undertake noble pursuits.”
When Texas passed their current and most restrictive abortion law since the legislation prior to Roe v. Wade, S.B. 8, the Satanic Temple took a stance, urging their followers who wished to receive an abortion to refer to the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
In this way, many who are self-described atheists and people who do not believe in any god yet subscribe to Satanism were to claim religious intolerance to their “Satanic Abortion Ritual” to fight the new law.
So many Satanists defend themselves and their beliefs on the grounds of having nothing to do with Satan. However, what I think is so often overlooked is the fact that Satan does not care whether you believe in him or not.
I’ll admit I was tempted by the colored candles and the spells my sister got a hold of when I was struggling with faith. But they failed to erase the fear and hurt I was experiencing in that season of life.
Satan does not really even desire worship. His only desire is to cause you to stop believing in God. Therefore, any worship of the self, a cause, those self proclaimed desirable human traits described in the Satanic Temple’s Seven Tenants or anything other than God is pleasing to Satan, and thus, Satanic.
The Church of Satan states, “To us, Satan is the symbol that best suits the nature of we who are carnal by birth…”
So, we’ve determined that Atheistic Satanism is a religion that worships human thought, reason and noble causes. Yet, even as many followers claim to be opposed to Christianity and the values Christians hold, they believe in a multitude of Christian values.
The first tenant of the Satanic Temple is awfully reminiscent of the way God repeatedly instructs His people to love one another so far as to even love and forgive your enemies. They claim the empathy and benevolence that first belonged to Christ.
The Satanic Temple states, “One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason.”
All four of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, tell of repeated instances where Jesus was overcome with compassion for someone and healed them of their ailments. An example is in Matthew 14:14, “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”
Additionally, the greatest form of sacrifice and the noblest of deeds is described in the Christian Bible in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Just like how Jesus laid down his life for the rest of humanity.
Therefore, you cannot be an Atheistic Satanist without subscribing to Christian values. You cannot deny God, make yourself your god or worship human reason without carrying out the mission of Satan.
Another very popular and growing set of beliefs is Wicca, a modern take on paganism. I saw this one take hold of quite a few people I thought were Christians back in my freshman year of high school.
I’ll admit I was tempted by the colored candles and the spells my sister got a hold of when I was struggling with faith. But they failed to erase the fear and hurt I was experiencing in that season of life.
The Church and School of Wicca self-describe as not being based on a single tradition, but, “on a composite system of spiritual and magical beliefs resting firmly on five supports.”
In their fourth support called, “family traditions”, they state that, “The Church is not a dinosaur unable to adapt; it is a vital, growing and dynamic entity.”
I point out this support because I believe that many, including myself, have struggled with very trying circumstances in life. In a world where there is seemingly no stability; an unstable, ever-changing worldview does not seem comforting.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe the Christian church ought to (and does) adapt to the times. However, the core Christian doctrine remains firm, constant and reliable.
Wiccan beliefs are not absent of a godhead, though. They recognize that a deity exists, but they allow for any type of god or goddess, even multiple gods/godesses. They call this, “syncretic or inclusive monotheism.”
I have been told that there is no physical or tangible proof that the Christian God exists or that He is God. However, the Church and School of Wicca define gods in terms of human authority and that, “without human attention, they would never have existed and would cease to exist.”
One tangible piece of proof for the existence of the Christian God, at least in relation to Wiccan thought, is us and that we were created. The Wiccan worldview fails to address one of mankind’s most fundamental questions: Where did we come from?
Just like Satanism, though, Wiccan tenants also borrow some of their philosophy from Christain values. They value goodness and not bringing harm to anyone. They aim to learn and improve.
These are good values to instill in our lives, and I don’t want to discourage anyone from having those values. Yet, I see a troubling consistent pattern throughout these religions and practices.
They preach doing good in order to receive good. You are to give love to those who deserve it. These are self-serving practices, and not what I would pick as a description of love.
The Church and School of Wicca states, “Always keep in mind the Law of Attraction, therefore what you do good will come back to you…”
I have been told by someone that they were surprised that my bisexual friend did not hate me for how I view marriage and relationships through Christianity. They thought I held hate. I’m sure some people will take what I’ve written to think that I hate Wiccan and Satanists.
The Christian belief system that I view my life through does not call for me to have any hate in my heart. I am supposed to follow the example of Jesus and offer a self-sacrificial love to even those who hate me.
I did not set out to scorn those who may be questioning their Christian backgrounds due to poor experiences with corrupted church leaders or prideful family members.
The negative experiences many have with Christianity often are not a result of a fault in God or Christ. They are the fault of human hardness of heart to represent this self-sacrificial love and acceptance of Christ.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” – 1 John 4:7
Because of this, many feel ostracized by the church. As flawed human beings, members can forget that we, as Christains, are just as undeserving of God’s grace as anyone else.
I merely want to encourage those people to be cautious about dismissing Chrisitanity as a whole. I would recommend reading about Christianity on their own; maybe try attending a few different on-campus church groups or speak to Christians around them to gain their own experiences related to Christianity.
And to Christains who have stumbled across this, as well, I hope you feel encouraged to reach out to those around you who may be struggling with faith. Give them positive experiences. Love them as Christ has loved us.
Some may even just be struggling with the intricacies of Christian theology, and haven’t the support to help them understand. Even those of us who call ourselves Christians have trouble sometimes.
The Lord, Jesus Christ, was sacrificed for sinners, and we are all, my friend, sinners.
Matthew 9: 10-13 reads: “10 And Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he (Jesus) heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but the sinners.”