A Satanist explains "being your own god"

[Bitterfly]

Theoretically, God is the only creature who would not value anything as greater than himself. Though I've said elsewhere that a characteristic of Satanists includes having a healthy amount of self-esteem, this may have been a little inaccurate in terms of Satanic ideas.

Magister Nemo once wrote, "Having self-esteem is esteeming to give a value to the self." Why value anything against yourself? You are the center of your existence.

Perhaps this is fanciful; a human being's sense of self-worth fluctuates depending on internal and external dynamics. But it points to a somewhat attainable ideal.

There are exceptions perhaps in extreme, rare, hypothetical situations in which you have to choose between your life and the life of a loved one perhaps. But this is what is meant.

 

[darkendless]

Theoretically, God is the only creature who would not value anything as greater than himself. Though I've said elsewhere that a characteristic of Satanists includes having a healthy amount of self-esteem, this may have been a little inaccurate in terms of Satanic ideas.

Magister Nemo once wrote, "Having self-esteem is esteeming to give a value to the self." Why value anything against yourself? You are the center of your existence.

Perhaps this is fanciful; a human being's sense of self-worth fluctuates depending on internal and external dynamics. But it points to a somewhat attainable ideal.

There are exceptions perhaps in extreme, rare, hypothetical situations in which you have to choose between your life and the life of a loved one perhaps. But this is what is meant.

Self esteem, individuality and self respect i think are our most important assets as satanists.

Without them we'd be nothing. Thats why we're not christians. We are ourselves, we respect ourselves and from self esteem stems confidence in ourselves and our decisions. The importance of such qualities are under rated in my christian dominated society of fools and sheep.

 

[Bitterfly]

Some Satanists have the utmost contempt for Christianity and other spiritual religions, but I find as I become older and wiser I have discovered that it's not worth concerning myself over them. Perhaps such contempt of Christianity was useful back in the era in which Anton LaVey lived; I wasn't around in the first part of the century, LaVey was, and from what I read Christian influence was much stronger in those days.

Satanists who were forced into a religious lifestyle and bitterly resent it or are currently trapped in a repressive religious environment do not require my approval to feel the way they feel even if they do have it. But I find as the world becomes more and more secular (who knows if the trend will continue; I certainly hope so) it's important to remember two things: 1. Some of the wisest men and women in history believed in god and 2. It isn't spiritual religion that we are against per se, but the weakness and stupidity that spiritual religions tolerate and enable.

I apologize for going off topic and for giving my opinion when it wasn't asked for.

 

[darkendless]

Some Satanists have the utmost contempt for Christianity and other spiritual religions, but I find as I become older and wiser I have discovered that it's not worth concerning myself over them. Perhaps such contempt of Christianity was useful back in the era in which Anton LaVey lived; I wasn't around in the first part of the century, LaVey was, and from what I read Christian influence was much stronger in those days.

I strongly disagree with the christian based society i live in and their morals. I deeply resent the education i recieved about Jesus in high-school and the firm authority it was spoken with, as if we were never challenged to find our own way to the source. As i grow up i resent things less, but i'm constantly aware of social trends ingrained via religion. I hate it.

Then again, i just stopped caring. I'm too busy these days to worry about what the Christians do. The only contact i make with their following is here.

Satanists who were forced into a religious lifestyle and bitterly resent it or are currently trapped in a repressive religious environment do not require my approval to feel the way they feel even if they do have it. But I find as the world becomes more and more secular (who knows if the trend will continue; I certainly hope so) it's important to remember two things: 1. Some of the wisest men and women in history believed in god and 2. It isn't spiritual religion that we are against per se, but the weakness and stupidity that spiritual religions tolerate and enable.

The struggle over morality from christian denominations (prop 8, condoms in Africa) is a testament to the failings of mainstream christianity. The stupidity of the heirachy is finally being exposed for what it is. Ultimately i was a satanist before all of this, but its amusing to watch the rigid structure of these once great forces shake. It is the rigidity of these structures that draws my resentment. Its as though free thinking is discouraged, and change can only come through revelation, not thinking outside the square.
The most famous men of faith were famous because they maintained equilibrium between reality and spirituality. Many fools these days are far too caught up in the latter. They made their own decisions based on what was on the table, not what a book told them.

I apologize for going off topic and for giving my opinion when it wasn't asked for.

Opinions are great. In this section of the forum (which i visit rarely these days) theres nothing better than to discuss opinions. I like to broaden my horizons.

 

[Bitterfly]

The struggle over morality from christian denominations (prop 8, condoms in Africa) is a testament to the failings of mainstream christianity. The stupidity of the heirachy is finally being exposed for what it is. Ultimately i was a satanist before all of this, but its amusing to watch the rigid structure of these once great forces shake. It is the rigidity of these structures that draws my resentment. Its as though free thinking is discouraged, and change can only come through revelation, not thinking outside the square.
The most famous men of faith were famous because they maintained equilibrium between reality and spirituality. Many fools these days are far too caught up in the latter. They made their own decisions based on what was on the table, not what a book told them.

That is a new way of looking at all of the historical figures like Ben Franklin and Marcus Aurelius whose writings I love.

A get a lot of flak from Satanists on other forums for being too apologetic for spiritual religions, but I choose to think like that so I don't waste any energy thinking about them than I need to, and I'm naturally inclined towards it because I have a cheery disposition.

Thanks for posting; always nice to meet someone in this little corner of the forum who isn't a kook

 

[darkendless]

That is a new way of looking at all of the historical figures like Ben Franklin and Marcus Aurelius whose writings I love.

A get a lot of flak from Satanists on other forums for being too apologetic for spiritual religions, but I choose to think like that so I don't waste any energy thinking about them than I need to, and I'm naturally inclined towards it because I have a cheery disposition.

Thanks for posting; always nice to meet someone in this little corner of the forum who isn't a kook

The men responsible for the maths, physics and chemistry i do were mostly christians as well. Isaac Newton being the most famous. The man was at least a century before his time.

I generally don't have a problem with spiritual religions as long as i do not get involved. As a huge fan of science and engineering it often pains me to talk about certain things with people of religions like Islam and Christianity. Its like theyre putting the bible over their eyes when i explain things to them.

I enjoy meeting satanists who havn't discovered the path through music, and think that satanists are all like the members of these bands. Although i found satanism thorugh music, i wised up quick after my rebel stage