Philosophical Satanism I - Modern Satanism: The Failed Religion

The reason you see the title "reverend" before my name has nothing to do with religious or philosophical Satanism and much to do with my ability to perform weddings and civil unions here in the United States. I will always adapt the ceremony to accommodate the couple's wishes: we can perform a legal vampire wedding, atheist wedding, zombie wedding, Elvis wedding, Star Wars wedding, gay wedding, Pagan, Satanic or Christian wedding, etc. There exists an enormous wall of separation between my personal beliefs and the wants and needs of those I serve.

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[ILoveBlackMetal100]

Just so you know, Marilyn Manson is not a Satanist.

[RevJohn]

@ILoveBlackMetal100 Well, I'm sure he doesn't consider himself a Satanist anymore. That would not surprise me.

[amadeus1186]

Regardless of opinions which everyone has a right to have, Satanism is and will always be classified as a legitimate religion.

[RevJohn]

@amadeus1186 The words "legitimate" and "religion" used together is an oxymoron, just like "military intelligence" and "Church of Satan." Satanism may be a legal religion, but Satan himself will never be religious or wish to be identified with any religion devised by the talking monkeys known as humans. Religion suggests a belief system people must adhere to, rather than follow their own conscience. You can pretend to be a black sheep who stands out of the crowd, but a sheep is still a sheep.

[SunBeamsan]

@RevJohn You seem to have dismissed all 'religions' as being illegitimate. 99% of so-called Christians are indistinguishable from non-Christians in the way they carry themselves throughout life. More people have died in the name of Jesus and God, than by any other ideology sect or movement. I don't think you're in any place to talk considering your blood splattered path of zeal and intolerance.

[RevJohn]

@SunBeamsan I guess it all depends on how you define "legitimate." Organized religion often utilizes fear and guilt to separate people from their wallet. I see myself as a spiritual person who would find it insulting if someone described me as "religious."

My blood splattered path of zeal and intolerance?? One of the devil's advocates I mention in my video, Mark Twain, wrote adventure stories for little boys.

[sownzgr8]

Good video, but bad title since most ALL religions have failed.

[Russianjackhammer000]

Can I get a hail Satan??

[EvermoreDrive]

Not every person who worships "daemons" or Satan wears colored contacts, dyes their hair black, or performs rituals. There are extremists in every religion around the world, not just Satanism. There's definitely nothing wrong with that, showing passion in whatever you believe in.

A church is a place of worship, not exclusive to a singular religion. If Satanists gather together to celebrate their beliefs in a church, how can one deem this illegitimate? This video is nothing but BS.

[EvermoreDrive]

I'm not sure how one can call a religion "philosophical". Philosophy is the /rational/ investigation of truths and certain principles; religion is certainly not rational in the sense that, for the most part, reason (or science) cannot prove that Jesus or Satan exists. What about heaven? Can science, rational thought, or philosophy tell us what is proper to believe and what should be shunned?

I really don't like this video, either, for its stereotypical images and stigmas of Satanists

[rayzrblayd24]

@ILoveBlackMetal100 He admitted being a Satanist on many occasions.

[PointlessSteel]

I read an essay containing quite a similar message, but I must say, @RevJohn , that you have it all backwards as well. Membership of the CoS is meaningless. Pay 200$ if you wish, don't if you wish not. It does not matter.

There is no 'Satanic dogma'. The writings of LaVey are not rules to live your life by. If you happen to agree with them, he writes, you are a Satanist. If you disagree, you are not a Satanist.

There are no superiors in Satanism and you don't have to obey the high priest.

[FatherPatOphelia]

@amadeus1186 I wish you had said that in front of King Richard and his army of crusaders, because you deserve whatever they would have done to you.

[abby495]

Nonsense. Satanism didn't fail. It has nothing to do with Christianity. There's much untapped potential in Satanism. Non joiners could mean non conformists. You add Paganism and certain philosophies to that and you have the best religion in the world. The Satanist philosophy is the best one real advice. They stood up like Lucifer to opposition and stupidity because they had guts. Yaaaay!

[051815]

as long as u do nothing wrong there is no reason for u to be scared of hate towards you and there is no way u can keep hate out of your mind. its a human emotion dummy...just like pride lol

[Luc88Cole]

@RevJohn No, he never did consider himself as a Satanist. He was friends with Anton Lavey and influenced by some of his philosophies, but he is equally influenced by a multitude of other philosophies (e.g. Nietzsche, Sartre). He's even influenced by Christian philosophy to some extent.