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From: Michael.Aquino@125-430.astaroth.sacbbx.com (Michael Aquino)
Date: 06 Nov 94 23:31:09 
Newsgroups: alt.satanism
Subject: Re: Xtian role
Message-ID: <c54_9411071719@astaroth.sacbbx.com>
X-FTN-To: Turtle Dragon
Lines: 31

TD> There is no formal Satanism..  Have you seen any people on alt.satanism
TD> who have the same opinions???  If there is to be some mass religion I
TD> wouldn't care what people worship as long as it embodies progress.
TD> No, Satanism embodies self decision, and strength.  A large number of
TD> people seem to enjoy being Sheep and Slaves (as they are referred to in
TD> their bible)...  so Satanists should live their philosophies and try to be
TD> in a position to benefit from the sheep's wants/need to be manipulated.

Satanism began as a Christian propaganda myth, became a plaything for a few
groups of decadents in the last couple of centuries, and enjoyed a brief
decade as a sincere religion 1966-1975. Thereafter, by any reasonable
definition of the term, it ceased to exist:

(1) The Temple of Set rejects the imagery, mythology, and iconography of
Judaeo/Christianity, including that of Satan, demons, Hell, etc.

(2) Anton LaVey now insists that he is a mere materialist and hedonist who
uses "Satanic" terminology only for dramatic convenience - a stance imitated
by his current devotees.

(3) Random self-proclaimed "Satanists", both in this newsgroup and elsewhere,
treat the entire subject as simply a means for getting attention and "seeming
different". Beyond use of the words "Satan" and "Satanism", the entire subject 
evidently means little or nothing to them.

I think that this presages the gradual disintegration of the significance of
these terms into mediocrity and ultimately irrelevance; and perhaps that is
for the best. The Temple of Set exists in different universes, and the zenith
of Satanism twenty years ago served its purpose with dignity and distinction.
It is more our task to preserve that experience as it was, and less to try to
recapture or revive it past its time.