All's Quiet on the Western Front. (ritual, beliefs, doctrine, experience)

[lamplighter]

Seems Satanists are one of the least politicaly active groups around, why you hear about secularists and christians bickering all the time. But maybe fundie christians have more to fear from secularists and there evil logic. Though one would think the fundie christians would be more proactive in trying to prevent satanism from spreading. So do satanists keep there beliefs hidden sticking to a label of just atheist/theist or do you experience conflict on a regular basis?

[Ðanisty]

It really depends on a lot of things. I don't just tell everyone that I'm Luciferian. I want to get to know people first and I want to make sure I won't end up in a situation where it will have a negative impact on me (like at work). It also depends on what approach you take when you tell people. If you just tell them you're a Satanist (or Luciferian or Setian) and don't explain things, it's going to cause problems. You have to be tactful. As far as politics goes, I think most Satanists have similar political views as atheists (especially since most Satanists are atheists).

Trust me though, there are a lot of fundie Christians out there not only trying to eradicate Satanism, but everything they associate with Satanism including Wicca.

[IanAlmighty]

Satanists aren't secretive at all.
It seems few people really care about Satanists or Satanism- it's too easy to dismiss anything related to the dreadfull "S" word.

[lamplighter]

Hey I understand about being tactful when it comes to telling whom about your belief. I for one have made the mistake of discussing my belief at work, and sufferd the consequences here in Mississippi. Though I understand many are atheist, I thought maybe satanists had more progress goals for there beliefs. Like in Kansas I heard of someone nearly getting arrested, because he was btrning the frey off some rope and some neighbor thought he was practicing a satanic ritual.

[IanAlmighty]

In Kansas, the cops would probably shoot you for wearing a pentagram.

[RevOxley_501]

Originally Posted by lamplighter

Hey I understand about being tactful when it comes to telling whom about your belief. I for one have made the mistake of discussing my belief at work, and sufferd the consequences here in Mississippi. Though I understand many are atheist, I thought maybe satanists had more progress goals for there beliefs. Like in Kansas I heard of someone nearly getting arrested, because he was btrning the frey off some rope and some neighbor thought he was practicing a satanic ritual.

as far as that goes, i am a Christian living in the Bible belt---i get the dirtiest looks from Christians over the slightest differences in doctrine---and this is why i try not to be like that, i want to be able to befriend the satanist as i have many times, and anyone from any other religious background. I know what it's like to be hated over something as personal as religion, im not gonna add to the problem if i can help it

[Ðanisty]

Originally Posted by IanAlmighty

Satanists aren't secretive at all.
It seems few people really care about Satanists or Satanism- it's too easy to dismiss anything related to the dreadfull "S" word.

Don't confuse secrecy with discretion. If it is smart of a Satanist to be discrete than it wouldn't be very Satanic to announce a Satanic affiliation...self-preservation above all those things.

[lamplighter]

Exactly, it wouldn't be thought of as very smart to widely proclaim that your a satanist say in Oklahoma. Anyway even as an agnostic I'm greatly annoyed I have to hide my belief for self preservation more often than not, and couldn't imagine what it's like for a satanist. I certainly can't avoid confrontation with the religious right, but I try to inform as many open minded people as possible about secularism. I figure every christian that understands, is another step closer to true religious freedom.

[Dr. Nosophoros]

I would say that most "satanists" I have come across claim themselves to be ardent Libertarians, I wouldn't say it's a lack of being politically active but a lack of attention from the media/therefore lack of public awareness that "satanists" are politically active. Let's be honest, if a political party was denoted by media as the "satanic" party (even though it may make up a small percentage, as it does in society) would that not spell political suicide for the parties involved? Smear is easy, even easier when a word that already has a lot of baggage is applied (and if you think for a minute it wouldn't be used for political gain by others you are very naive) but that does not mean those that denote themselves so are not active in one group or another.

[Mike182]

if no one minds me chiming in here.... i suspect the political situation of Satanists as a group is rather like Pagans as a group. as a group of people we don't get involved, we have no group political goal to achieve so why would we as a group of people get involved?

Satanists and Pagans on an individual level however are often actively involved with politics, we have our opinions and we vote and we go to rallies and demonstrations and we campaign for the issues we really care about just like everyone else.

i just don't want anyone to walk away from this thread reading "satanists aren't politically involved" and assume that individual satanists don't care about politics