Let's be honest, can Satanism really stand on its own, without Christianity or the other Abrahamic religions? The word "satan" itself is merely about opposition. It is reactionary and needs to define itself against something. I mean, what is the point of opposition if you're not opposing something? Now, I realize that it can be taken many different ways, but I'm hitting a wall in my view of Satanism that I have hit before. That is, I'm having trouble seeing the value in something, be it a label or concept, that is defined around being opposed to something. It just starts to seem a bit vacuous to me. Rebellion and opposition is all well and good when there's a point. But it's empty when they are taken on as ends in of themselves.
Now don't get me wrong, I like Satan. He is certainly the hero of the Biblical narrative in my eyes when he is viewed in the Romantic way - the Promethean hero who saw a species full of potential but being held back by an unjust ruler and he frees them to decide their own destiny (this of course associates Satan with the Serpent). That is what drew me to Satanism in the first place and my concept of Satanism was based around the earlier Romantic view. (I have my issues with the Satanic scene, but I won't get into that here.)
But even that depends on a dualistic struggle against an opponent and self-defines as such. Even if you try to remove Yahweh from your personal paradigm and ignore Christianity, you are still left with the Abrahamic baggage that comes along with the very mantle of Satanism. This can be self-limiting, whether you are atheistic or theistic although the reasons why it can be self-limiting for atheists and theists may differ. What happens if or when Christianity isn't the mainstream paradigm of the West anymore? We are getting closer to that day, especially in Western Europe. When humanity moves on from the Abrahamic religions (which I think will happen eventually, even if far off into the future), what will become of Satanism then?
It's not that my core beliefs have changed, it's just that I'm questioning the label and symbolism I wish to wrap them in. I'm not really seeing the value of defining myself as an adversary. Not that I'm not an adversary towards various things, people, groups, etc., I just question labeling my personal spiritually as such.
There are some people who view Satanism as just the "bottom rung" of the Western Left Hand Path, for it is what you're going to come across first when you begin to explore the LHP. Usually people new to the LHP are coming from Christianity and so that is the symbolism they most respond to, so Satanism is a "no brainer" there. But what about when you want to move past that?
As for me, I'm considering more Luciferianism or Setianism. I agree with much of what Setians believe. I've never been much into Egyptian religion but I realize that Setianism isn't Kemetic Recon. Much of my beliefs are already influenced by Setianism, as it is and I do respect Set and understand much of the symbolism. It is helpful that it can stand on its own, regardless of the current social or religious paradigm. As for Luciferianism, I've always enjoyed the archetype of the Light Bearer, which is a very protean concept that can be applied to various things.
So, we'll see.
Now don't get me wrong, I like Satan. He is certainly the hero of the Biblical narrative in my eyes when he is viewed in the Romantic way - the Promethean hero who saw a species full of potential but being held back by an unjust ruler and he frees them to decide their own destiny (this of course associates Satan with the Serpent). That is what drew me to Satanism in the first place and my concept of Satanism was based around the earlier Romantic view. (I have my issues with the Satanic scene, but I won't get into that here.)
But even that depends on a dualistic struggle against an opponent and self-defines as such. Even if you try to remove Yahweh from your personal paradigm and ignore Christianity, you are still left with the Abrahamic baggage that comes along with the very mantle of Satanism. This can be self-limiting, whether you are atheistic or theistic although the reasons why it can be self-limiting for atheists and theists may differ. What happens if or when Christianity isn't the mainstream paradigm of the West anymore? We are getting closer to that day, especially in Western Europe. When humanity moves on from the Abrahamic religions (which I think will happen eventually, even if far off into the future), what will become of Satanism then?
It's not that my core beliefs have changed, it's just that I'm questioning the label and symbolism I wish to wrap them in. I'm not really seeing the value of defining myself as an adversary. Not that I'm not an adversary towards various things, people, groups, etc., I just question labeling my personal spiritually as such.
There are some people who view Satanism as just the "bottom rung" of the Western Left Hand Path, for it is what you're going to come across first when you begin to explore the LHP. Usually people new to the LHP are coming from Christianity and so that is the symbolism they most respond to, so Satanism is a "no brainer" there. But what about when you want to move past that?
As for me, I'm considering more Luciferianism or Setianism. I agree with much of what Setians believe. I've never been much into Egyptian religion but I realize that Setianism isn't Kemetic Recon. Much of my beliefs are already influenced by Setianism, as it is and I do respect Set and understand much of the symbolism. It is helpful that it can stand on its own, regardless of the current social or religious paradigm. As for Luciferianism, I've always enjoyed the archetype of the Light Bearer, which is a very protean concept that can be applied to various things.
So, we'll see.