From: NocTifer (tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com) Kali Yuga 49950419 I'd appreciate feedback on the following from this Elist. >Newsgroups: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.religion.wicca,alt.satanism,alt.pagan >From: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (tyagi/TOKUS) >Subject: Asshole Satanism (TOKUS; Was Re: Some Neutral Ground Here...) >Date: 14 Apr 1995 15:05:56 -0700 > > Kali Yuga 49950414 > > > The Mean "Mr. Scratch" writes: > > |...why does our set of beliefs attract so many adolecent assholes? > > My favorite subject. :> I love how you write, Mr.Scratch! > > 1) Satanism is not a single 'set' of beliefs. Like most religious complexes > it is comprised of many different and varied concepts and practices which > may be contended and defended by those who associate with the label. > Some (me, for instance) don't even require the adherence to any stable > ideas in terms of ethics or metaphysics. > > 2) Adolescence is a difficult time in life. It is a time when a youth is > venturing forth, attempting to throw off the yokes placed upon hir by > hir parents (usually she is not sufficiently potent to also throw off > the yokes of the surrounding culture). It is therefore a BETWEEN-time, > a time of uncertainty, of personal assertion, rebellion and anguish. > > 3) Satanism is one of a number of symptom-cults whose existence indicate > the adolescence of the passing of the dominant Christian culture. That > is, among a number of Neopagan groups/cults/sects, Satanism represents > a throwing off of the old guard, a challenging to established norms, > most specifically, a grasping firmly to that power, that adolescent > angst in the cause of individuality and freedom. > > 4) The term 'asshole' is often used to denigrate those whose angry and > contrary ways are difficult for us to oppose or work with in some > comfortable fashion. The appellation 'adolescent' to this (a common > English usage) indicates a difficulty on the part of the speaker > with the vivifying, rebelliousness of youth and its refusal to > conform to the established norms. > > The reason that 'so many adolescent assholes' are drawn to Satanism is > that its root source incorporates both socially-condoned and socially- > condemned behaviors, refined by discipline from the latter to the former > in the case of maturity born of experiment and philosophic exploration. > > To reject these individuals from our midst is not only an attempt to > deny their very real emotions (something which men are typically trained > to do in at least American culture anyway), but also to deny the fact that > we have *all* had the experiences and feelings which they make plain and > parade before us to our lasting discontent. Our unsettlement betrays > our *own* lack of maturity, and the way we interact with these young > adults exemplifies the degree of our wisdom as a culture and as individuals. > > > |Certainly the more intellegent of us shake our heads and roll our eyes, > |whenever some social-reject does something obnoxious in the name of > |"Satanism". > > It is much easier to make a show of impatience and supposed 'maturity' > through labelling of something and rejecting it as a group or individual. > It is much more difficult to engage it directly, attempt to connect with > with it, absorb it (or hir, as the case may be), enjoining a mutual and > serious educational exchange. > > > |(I must add here, that "asshole-Satanism" has a well-spoken defender; > |Tyagi. His occasionlly-convincing arguements aside, I will speak my own > |opinions here.) > > I am happy to be associated with the asshole-Satanism. This is in part > the basis of the name of my division of the Order of Kaos (TOKUS), a > clear reference not only to 'assholes' but also to the kissing upon the > ass required by Satan to initiates. As above, so below. > > > |Satanism is shocking. It is designed to be shocking. It is supposed to > |be a bucket of anti-dogmatic icewater in the face of the *practitioner*. > > While I agree with this, I also think it extends beyond the 'practitioner'. > It can and will become a social trigger of transformation if/when sufficient > numbers of people begin to adopt the major elements. If not, then there > will be other attempts using different labels (like 'Witch', 'Warlock', > 'Sorceror', 'Criminal', or 'Dilettante', depending on the culture). > > > |fuss, but they extinguish themselves quickly. Sometimes they grow up. > |sometimes they just get bored and move on to something else. Sometimes > |they go to prison. And sometimes they even re-convert to the > |Christianity they were rebelling against, and make an even BIGGER fuss > |about the rest of us that were not so foolish. However it happens, I say > |good riddance. In any case, while they make a lot of noise, they dont last > |very long, and so should not be considered representatives of Satanism. > > Actually, I *do* think that they are representatives of Satanism -- they > are representative of the BEGINNINGS of the Satanic path within the lives > of the serious and most powerful. Their power drives them to extremes > beyond the ability of society to condone, beyond even the culture of > so-called 'Satanists', and yet it is still a practice of Satanism. > > > |Those that have an understanding of the history, symbology and a keen > |grasp of will, those who understand the creative and powerful > |cause-and-effect of the Black Arts; they should be considered the true > |representatives. Those who have accomplished. > > I agree that these are examples of mature Satanists. If you need to > see goal-points to characterize the entirety, then look to these, surely, > but do not let us make the same mistake as countless other religions > and wash out the path for the goal. Many many times within religious > communities the goal is promoted as the path and therefore the very > core of the Formula is extinguished, only to reappear in other sects, > other manifestations. > > This is what has happened in all of the varities of the Great Martyrdom > Cult over time and within Satanism it could be avoided if we are careful. > > tyagi nagasiva > tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com > The Order of K@s Under Satan > ---------------------------- > > ...If Dr. Aquino would put the whole CoS breakup behind him, consider > it a "learning experience," and go on with his work, I think we'd all > be the better for it. Aquino has certainly proven himself to be a > profound thinker on other subjects; I'm usually fascinated by > everything he has to say _except_ when it deals with Anton Szandor LaVey. > > kfilan@delphi.com : alt.satanism EOF NocTifer (tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com) ---------------------------------------