The Dark Side of Western Religion
By Dhyresh Mendis
Satanism
• Considered the direct opposite of Abrahamic Religions by followers of the latter and the general populace
• Has been a severely taboo topic and initiated the inquisitions and the Dark Ages
• Accusations of witchcraft has killed between 60 and 300,000 people during the Dark Ages and Inquisitions
Satanism
Satan
• Zoroaster created the first concept of Good vs Evil
• Ahura Mazda (good) vs Ahriman (evil)
• The universe was their battlefield
• Zoroastrianism was the state religion of the PersianEmpire (conquered Jerusalem)
Satan
• Hebrew for the opposer or the accuser• The Jewish form of Satan is an agent of God
who constantly argues with Him (refer Job) • Has constantly changed throughout history
from an extremely powerful foe of God (Zoroaster), to the root of all evil, to an even more powerful entity, to a rebellious hero, to an icon of business.
Historical Misconceptions
• Lucifer and Satan = one?• Lucifer (latin) means Light bringer or Morning
Star, an entity that promotes free thinking and the quest for knowledge and wisdom.
• Same as the Greek God, Phosphorus. • Morning Star because knowledge paves way
to true vision i.e : out of darkness and into light
The Reasons behind the devil’s appearance
• Dragons wings – dragons were an ancient symbol of evil
• Hooved feet and horns – from the pagan diety Pan – remniscent of a Satyr
• Two or Three pronged staff, ability to grant riches and dark beard – Hades to the Greeks or Pluto to the Romans
The Reasons behind the devil’s appearance
• Satan regained his goat-like appearance after a brief period of looking demonic after the execution of the templars in 1307 due to their worship of a pagan diety Baphomet
Anton Szandor LaVey
• Founded the Church of Satan in 1966• Wrote the Satanic bible• Bases his teachings on work from European
and Hebrew texts as well as life experience• Main Philosophy of Satanism : Do as you
please as long as no one else recieves ill effects of your actions and destroy anyone who obstructs your path
LaVeyan Satanism
• Is extremely liberal: Do as you please • States that the best friend of the church is the
Christian Devil• The Satanic Devil is not a being but a force – the
force of opposition (Newton)• Understands the carnal nature of man and thus
does not ask you to refrain unless another man is being hampered by it.
• Unholy books: The Satanic Bible, The Satanic Rituals and The Devil’s Notebook