Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber
I nominate Tyrion Lannister, god of wine and tits.I nominate one who inspires what is best in life, ie, Krom.
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Baphomet statue unveiled at Arkansas state capitol.
- Thread starter Father Heathen
- Start date
GoodbyeDave
Well-Known Member
If they were actual Satanists, I would naturally sympathise with their claim to have their religion treated equally with others. But a visit to their web-site reveals them as atheists. What is it with USian atheists who can never call themselves what they are? Satanist, Humanist, Pastafarian. The use of "humanist" misleads no-one, but "satanist" does. But then "they only do it to annoy, because they know it teases." As I've said so many times, they are just as bigoted and tiresome as the Christians they campaign against.
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber
Are you aware that many Buddhists (including some here on RF) are atheist? I has nothing to do with atheists being reluctant to call themselves atheist. Atheism on its own defines absolutely nothing beyond the lack of belief in a god concept.
Not really. The Temple of Satan believes all citizens are equal before the law (unlike the Christians they "campaign against"), they have nothing comparable to Exodus 22:20 or Deuteronomy 13:15, and unless provoked they are pretty much very strongly "live and let live."
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber
And how are they not "actual" Satanists? Most Satanists are Atheist or Agnostic.
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
With Buffet!
Dunno, I think this is a matter of opinion. Most theistic Satanists are aware how crazy other people are and keep it on the down low. The reality is there are probably way more of them than anyone thinks. You can't compare it on the typical markers like books, personalities, or groups. There are certainly as much or more as there are Church of Satan members just based on my digging around on the Internet through the years.
I don't particularly get into this 'Real Satanist' debate much because it's rather futile. Satanists of any sort follow their own callings and while they may start atheistic they may well end up theistic. My disagreement with them lies only on the issue of Satanism being about Satan first, after that we share much.
I find irony in any of those groups presuming they are Satanic authorities, however, or the assertion that many of them have that they invented Satanism. Religious Satanism has been around for a long time before atheism was even really a thought. (Atheism, as in people calling themselves that only exists since the 18th century. Before that it was just an insult people called someone... ) At first, it was merely mating pagan horned gods with Christian ideology but after that it was something that happened frequently behind closed doors. In the middle ages on, there was always someone working with Satan either directly or indirectly. I have a book of old records from the 12th and 13th centuries that have many cases recorded and all their details. Outside of the cloven coven, I could see where the majority see these public Satanists as fakers and edge lords. When I was younger, I probably felt that way as well. I just ultimately realized that theistic Satanism is about Satan, not winning the popularity contest and I refocused my energies.
nPeace
Veteran Member
What more could I expect.
Stanyon
WWMRD?
My 2 ¢.
Thank you
While Baphomet is a creepy figure in of itself, it's even
more so with the two cheesy kids attached to it.
In any case, this should teach Arkansas legislators not to erect religious figures on government property.
I understand that they had to make concessions due to the state of things and that is fine but I thought it would have been funnier if, however briefly it stood, was that red spray painted mannequin with the boner and Devil horns.. the kid thing around that would definitely be weird, we are not perverts you know.
That workers "man card" is intact
GoodbyeDave
Well-Known Member
Some years ago, I remember a pope (John Paul II?) remarking in passing that Buddhists are atheists. He got a letter of protest from the President and Prime Minister of Ceylon, denying this. Even more years ago, wanting to check some facts, I consulted a book on Buddhism, not by a western academic, but by a senior Thai monastic. He too denied that Buddhism was atheistic and asserted that those westerners who claimed to be atheistic Buddhists would not be accepted as Buddhists in Thailand. You can put on a officer's uniform, but the real test is whether anyone salutes you.
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber
So what of all the Buddhist, Eastern or Western, who are atheist and find no such inherent irreconcilable incompatibility?
GoodbyeDave
Well-Known Member
Find me a reasonable number of Thai, Burmese, Sinhalese, etc Buddhists who are atheists and I might start to take you seriously. But as I said, the test of whether the westerners who claim to have converted to Buddhism have actually done so is surely one of acceptance by "cradle Buddhists". Imagine a man who asked to join a church and said "by the way, I don't believe in God" — would he be justified in condemning them for showing him the door and insisting on his right to call himself a Christian? Thomas Jefferson believed in God and accepted Jesus as an ethical teacher but, rejecting the divinity of Jesus, he refrained from claiming to be a Christian.