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Why do Satanists use upside down crosses?

Adramelek

Setian
Premium Member
I am first and foremost a Setian and therefore I have no use for the inverted cross as christianity holds no meaning for me, mocking it serves no purpose. However, as I am also in a remote region of my black heart still a Satanist the inverted cross symbolizes for me the concept of the denial of Christ as savior and the love and exaltation of Self as true savior. Where the "fall" of man is actually his rise towards divinity, and a world in which up is down, left is right, evil is good, and dark is light.

Xeper.
/Adramelek\
 
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Kori Houghton

Restricted
The cross is a two dimensional representation of a cube, like the pattern used to make a very simple box. It is a geometrical symbol, like the pentagram or hexagram. There is a current fad in jewelry -- which I guess most here being guys don't know about :) -- that is a sideways cross in a bracelet or choker necklace. Dunno about its metaphysical symbolism, but am guessing it is just trend following for the majority of wearers. Just like an upside down cross was a goth accessory, rather than a statement of belief in Satan, for many who wore one.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
The cross is a two dimensional representation of a cube, like the pattern used to make a very simple box. It is a geometrical symbol, like the pentagram or hexagram. There is a current fad in jewelry -- which I guess most here being guys don't know about :) -- that is a sideways cross in a bracelet or choker necklace. Dunno about its metaphysical symbolism, but am guessing it is just trend following for the majority of wearers. Just like an upside down cross was a goth accessory, rather than a statement of belief in Satan, for many who wore one.
I curious about your statement of the cross being a fashion statement. I would estimate that most here are aware of it, and are also aware of that wearing a cross is a cultural left-over from a time of very deep superstition, and is for many people nothing more than adherence to a cultural norm that is so ingrained into our culture that few people question it.

Why do Satanists use upside down crosses if they don't even believe Jesus/Yahweh exist?
Satanism is a very strong denial of and opposition to Christianity. But I too have wondered why the upside down cross, because supposedly Peter was crucified in this manner which would, IMO, make an inverted cross a sign of even deeper subservience to Christianity as this person, like Peter, would not see themselves as being worthy of being killed in the same manner as Jesus.
 

1137

Here until I storm off again
Premium Member
It is for rejection / denial of Christ in Christianity. However, it is quite a dumb Satanic symbol as it is actually St. Peter's cross, a symbol of not even being worthy to die the same way as Christ. Satanism suffers from this tendency to ignore historical fact quite often.
 

Mindmaster

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I have no use for upside-down crosses or baphomets. As a person whom realizes the meanings of the symbols they're sort of off topic. Probably the only legit symbols we have are the Sigils of Lucifer, Inverse Pentagram, and a remotely the alchemy symbol for brimstone. I say that of course as someone that is a Devil worshiping heathen... If I don't feel they're useful I doubt the rest of this group would even care about them.
 

Adramelek

Setian
Premium Member
However, it is quite a dumb Satanic symbol as it is actually St. Peter's cross, a symbol of not even being worthy to die the same way as Christ. Satanism suffers from this tendency to ignore historical fact quite often.

That is an excellent point, thanks Doors. :D

Xeper.
/Adramelek\
 

The Sum of Awe

Brought to you by the moment that spacetime began.
A cross seems pretty anti-God itself... It's wearing a killing device that killed your God! Now upside down... Things get interesting;)
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
A cross seems pretty anti-God itself... It's wearing a killing device that killed your God! Now upside down... Things get interesting;)
I used to post on a site that had a member who is Asatru and he had a signature "Your gawd died nailed to a cross. My God carries a big hammer. Any questions?"
 

The Sum of Awe

Brought to you by the moment that spacetime began.
I used to post on a site that had a member who is Asatru and he had a signature "Your gawd died nailed to a cross. My God carries a big hammer. Any questions?"

Heh. Reminds me of this:

tumblr_ll2ryjfqc21qgq28go1_500.jpg
 

ScottySatan

Well-Known Member
Why do Satanists use upside down crosses if they don't even believe Jesus/Yahweh exist?

I've seen more catholics revering st. peter display an inverted cross than Satanists, but whatever.

Inverting symbols is common throughout human history for every culture up until the act brought lawsuits. It acknowledges the existence of the opposite of what the symbol represents. I had a recent history tour through a Victorian cemetery where 1/3 or so of the grave stones had an inverted symbol of religious significance. The most common was an upturned flaming torch.

Satanism is the opposite of christianity, so an inverted cross makes sense.

I wonder if there was ever a deliberate decision to choose a religious symbol that would be unchanged when inverted. The only non-invertible symbol that comes to mind right now is the ying-yang.

edited to add: a single form can mean more than one thing, so it is silly to suppose that everyone who uses the form means the same thing. Not everyone who inverts the cross is ignorant of st. peter.
 
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Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
I wonder if there was ever a deliberate decision to choose a religious symbol that would be unchanged when inverted. The only non-invertible symbol that comes to mind right now is the ying-yang.
Some stars can also be like this, such as the Star of David which will look the same standing on any point since it is composed of two equilateral triangles.
 

blackout

Violet.
For some of us,
the actual act of turning things over,
any'thing... and every'thing...
is practically a religion in and of itself.

So many angles to things.
New reveal'ations with every turn.
Turn it over, lay it on it's side...
what do you see there now?
 

Adramelek

Setian
Premium Member
Some stars can also be like this, such as the Star of David which will look the same standing on any point since it is composed of two equilateral triangles.

From the Ceremony of the Nine Angles in the "Satanic Rituals":

"From the Sixth Angle is the sleep of the Daemons in symmetry, which doth vanquish the Five but shall not prevail against the Four and the Nine.
From the Seventh Angle is the ruin of symmetry and the awakening of the Daemons, for the Four and the Nine shall prevail against the Six.
From the Eighth Angle are the Masters of the Realm, who raise the Temple of the Eight Trihedrals unto the Daemons of Creation, whose seal is at once four and five and nine.
From the Ninth Angle is the Flame of the beginning and ending of dimensions, which blazeth in brilliance and Darkness unto the glory of Desire."


Xeper.
/Adramelek\​
 
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atropine

Somewhere Out There
I use the upside down cross; I am a Satanist.

However, the reason I use it is quite simple... I also practice Vodou. It is a symbol of Saint Peter, and in Vodou, Saint Peter represent Papa Legba. Papa Legba is the holder of the keys, the guy you must impress in order to open the gates to the other Lwa. See what they did there? ;) Also, when you look at the list of places Saint Peter is apparently a patron of:

Saint Peter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Las Vegas? Hell yeah.

But eh, maybe I don't count, in that case. I do sometimes use the cross, for the irony of it all.
 

jasonwill2

Well-Known Member
Why do Satanists use upside down crosses if they don't even believe Jesus/Yahweh exist?

When I see or hear of a Satanist using an inverted cross, it makes me want to slam my face into a wall. It is a Catholic symbol. It bugs the hell out of me when I see this. I am tempted to say that only fake wanna-bes and shock rockers use inverted crosses, but apparently a number of people I respect here use it occasionally, so I will refrain from explicitly saying that. I guess it could have some symbolic value but it is very stereotypical in my mind.


Because Satanism is a reaction to Christianity, and therefore mocking it makes perfect sense.
NO NO NO NO IT IS NOT A REACTION, at least not per se.


It is for rejection / denial of Christ in Christianity. However, it is quite a dumb Satanic symbol as it is actually St. Peter's cross, a symbol of not even being worthy to die the same way as Christ. Satanism suffers from this tendency to ignore historical fact quite often.

As do all religions, but you are right about Saint Peter's cross.


I've seen more catholics revering st. peter display an inverted cross than Satanists, but whatever.

Inverting symbols is common throughout human history for every culture up until the act brought lawsuits. It acknowledges the existence of the opposite of what the symbol represents. I had a recent history tour through a Victorian cemetery where 1/3 or so of the grave stones had an inverted symbol of religious significance. The most common was an upturned flaming torch.

Satanism is the opposite of christianity, so an inverted cross makes sense.

I wonder if there was ever a deliberate decision to choose a religious symbol that would be unchanged when inverted. The only non-invertible symbol that comes to mind right now is the ying-yang.

edited to add: a single form can mean more than one thing, so it is silly to suppose that everyone who uses the form means the same thing. Not everyone who inverts the cross is ignorant of st. peter.

What makes you think that we are the opposite? We are somewhat in terms of morality, in that we value our "flesh" and believe in our "own understanding", but saying that we are the opposite implies that we are a religion of hate, murder, and a bad sense of tasteful dress along with many other atrocities that are commonly associated with stereotypical Satanism.

Satanism is pragmatic realism to me.

I use the upside down cross; I am a Satanist.

However, the reason I use it is quite simple... I also practice Vodou. It is a symbol of Saint Peter, and in Vodou, Saint Peter represent Papa Legba. Papa Legba is the holder of the keys, the guy you must impress in order to open the gates to the other Lwa. See what they did there? ;) Also, when you look at the list of places Saint Peter is apparently a patron of:

Saint Peter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Las Vegas? Hell yeah.

But eh, maybe I don't count, in that case. I do sometimes use the cross, for the irony of it all.

A perfectly valid reason to use the cross, but practicing voodoo as well as Satanism must have some very... interesting effects to say the least, at least according to my understanding of Voodoo.
 
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