1. Satan as Rebel Hero: Henry Tichenor & the Radical Anti-Religious

Part 1 of a 3-part talk presented at SkeptiCamp DC on October 3, 2010. Views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizers of SkeptiCamp DC.

Kevin I. Slaughter and Robert Merciless speak on a new edition of book titled The Sorceries and Scandals of Satan, written by freethought advocate and socialist agitator Henry M. Tichenor. Originally published almost 100 years ago, the book is a scathing assault on Christianity, casting Satan as a rebel hero. Merciless gives an historical perspective of the author and elaborates on the themes of the book. Slaughter gives a more poetic and literary framework of Tichenor's use of Satan as an advocate of liberty and reason by showing he is among some of the greatest thinkers and writers ranging from Shakespeare to H.L. Mencken, Ragnar Redbeard to Saul Alinsky.


Henry M. Tichenor was a writer and magazine editor prominent in the socialist and freethinking movements during the Progressive Era of American history. His writings frequently condemned organized religion, Christianity in particular, as a tool used by the upper classes to maintain control over the working class. In the realm of opposition to religion, he has been ranked beside Clarence Darrow and Madalyn Murray O'Hair as a leading American freethinker of the twentieth century.


In "The Sorceries and Scandals of Satan", Tichenor employs the figure of Satan as a literary symbolic character to represent rebellion against tyranny — a symbolism with a robust tradition in literature and political works. In his book, the character symbol of Satan is employed as a foil against which to compare the horrors of organized religion, especially Christianity. More importantly, however, Tichenor reminds us all that there was a time in American history that open skepticism and opposition to religion was a major facet of social political discourse so Americans certainly should not shy away from it today. Vocal opposition to religion is not novel or new.


What is new is the Underworld Amusements republication of this important work. This edition uniquely includes a valuable and critically acclaimed foreword by Robert Merciless which details Tichenor's biography as well as the times and trends which shaped his penetrating writing.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• skepticamp
• socialism
• satanism
• atheism
• progressive age
• Mark Twain
• Rules for Radicals
• Benjamin DeCasseres
• Anton Szandor LaVey
• freethought history
• blasphemy
• Haldeman-Julius

[AKILTHEMCTV]

YOU WANT THE MILK BUT NOT THE COW THAT PRODUCED THE MILK OK VERY LOGICAL....hmmmmmmmmm



[mecawenl]

@AKILTHEMCTV the thing is, we just celebrate the SOCIAL part of the holiday, we indulge and promote pleasure for others and ourselves, not the religious part of it, we dont care, we see an opportunity to enjoy ourselves and we take it, probably you should research ur facts about satanism etc... before "pointing any fingers" at us like you say.

[AKILTHEMCTV]

im not a christian i am a muslim so that you know........i just thought it was very hypocritical of anti religious people to still celebrate how ever one does it...and still hold these anti religious sentiments.......organized religion i understand but i think when u point the finger you have 3 pointing right back at yourself in my opinion

[dekuben]

@AKILTHEMCTV

Xmas is fun:

# People spend time together.

# Get an excuse to indulge.

# Give gifts without suspicion.

The main argument against it is if done incorrectly xmas is not fun.

Participants ruin xmas due to unwarranted beliefs about how they should enjoy xmas.

Also the UK is secular so it is a public holiday here.

What kind of adult needs to be part of a group so that they can justify enjoying themselves?

Please answer my question, I am intrigued.

[8mmDevil]

@AKILTHEMCTV - Is it funny? Is it hypocritical? Many Christians have rejected Christmas, some still do. Much of the holiday is borrowed from Pagan customs.

[AKILTHEMCTV]

it's funny how the most "NON religious" anti ORGANIZED RELIGION people still CELEBRATE one of the BIGGEST RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS IN THE WORLD.... XMAS....."PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH"  but i guess its not rational to organize your hipocrasy