"Satanism" is a term which has been used since the end of the Middle Ages to describe a number of different belief systems in a number of contexts. People claiming to be Satanists, or outsiders claiming to describe Satanism, ascribe a wide variety of beliefs to Satanism. These range from the obviously fanatiс sects to the groups of people in search of themselves; from the literal deistic worship (Theistic Satanism) to the monography of the atheistic philosopher; from a subversive ritual performance stressing the mockery of Christian symbols (most notably the Black Mass) to denying all rituals; from the claimed rediscovery of an ancient but misunderstood religion (e.g. Setianism, associated with the Egyptian god Set.
Etymology
editThe word Satan (meaning "adversary" or "accuser"), and the Arabic شيطان (shaitan), derive from a Northwest Semitic root śṭn, meaning "to be hostile", "to accuse".[1]
In the New Testament, Satan is a name thought to refer to a supernatural entity who appears in several passages and possesses demonic god-like qualities. The name is found in passages alongside Diabolos (Greek for the devil) more than thirty times, referring to the same person or thing as Satan.
The most common English synonym for Satan, "the Devil", is descended from Middle English devel, from Old English dēofol, which represents an early Germanic borrowing of Latin diabolus (also the source of diabolical). This in turn was borrowed from Greek diabolos 'slanderer', from diaballein, 'to slander': dia- 'across, through' + ballein, 'to hurl'.[2] In Greek, the term diabolos (Διάβολος, 'slanderer'), carries more negative connotations than the Hebrew ha-satan (שָׂטָן, 'accuser', 'obstructer', 'adversary') which possesses no demonic qualities in the Torah writings and is believed by many to be a great and glorious Angel who was created on the sixth day of creation.
History
editPre-Christian mythology
editChritian mythology
editIslamic mythology
editMiddle Ages
editRenaissance
editFreethinkers and the Occult
editEqually celebrated within certain, though not all, Satanic and occult circles would be ritual magician Aleister Crowley, who referred to himself as "The Great Beast 666." [3] Though not a worshiper of any deity known as Satan, his severe disdain for Protestant Christianity and his occult activities have been confused and conflated into his fame as a "Satanist".
Modern reinterpretation
edit
The most prominent and widely known Satanist in recent years (as of 2007) is, and was Anton Szandor LaVey, who founded the Church of Satan in 1966. LaVey wrote The Satanic Bible (1969) and other works which remain highly influential, though controversial, among avowed Satanists. LaVey rejected the Black Mass, cruelty to animals, or a literal deistic belief in, or worship of Satan, instead considering Satan as the human instinct within ourselves, which is what LaVeyan Satanism celebrates. He supported a view of human beings as animals, and rejected many social structures that he believed inhibit natural human instincts.
According to L. Ron Hubbard Jr. (son of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology),
[his] father thought of himself as the Beast 666 incarnate...Aleister Crowley thought of himself as such. And when Crowley died in 1947, my father then decided that he should wear the cloak of the beast and become the most powerful being in the universe... Satanism. There was no other religion in the house! Scientology and black magic. What a lot of people don't realize is that Scientology is black magic that is just spread out over a long time period. To perform black magic generally takes a few hours or, at most, a few weeks. But in Scientology it's stretched out over a lifetime, and so you don't see it. Black magic is the inner core of Scientology --and it is probably the only part of Scientology that really works. Also, you've got to realize that my father did not worship Satan. He thought he was Satan. He was one with Satan. He had a direct pipeline of communication and power with him. My father wouldn't have worshiped anything. I mean, when you think you're the most powerful being in the universe, you have no respect for anything, let alone worship.[4]
Reaction and criticism
edit- [[Satanic ritual abuse]
See also
edit
References
editFootnotes
edit- ^ "American Heritage® Dictionary: Semitic roots: sn". Retrieved 2006-05-31.
- ^ "American Heritage® Dictionary: Devil". Retrieved 2006-05-31.
- ^ The Eye in the Triangle isbn 0-56184-054-8
- ^ "Inside The Church of Scientology: An Exclusive Interview with L. Ron Hubbard, Jr". Penthouse. June 1983. Retrieved 2007-06-26.
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