Demon babies are conceived by Lilith, Satan's spouse from Hell, so it is written in some arcane Kabala text. She uses avatars called succubi to collect the energy created during your nocturnal emissions and other dark forms of fapping.
This energy is life energy, which means the more you fap, the more likely you'll have a shorter sex life. After you die, Lilith brings all your demon babies to show to God.
Whether you go to Hell is dependent on whether you thought of God while fapping.
Though I am of the opinion that fapping does not offend God, he being the author who created the soul. Thus fapping is the lesser evil, for fornication is supposedly a greater evil.
It isn't satanic; it's just human nature, which is anathema to a good Christian life.
Personally I believe that Lilith is not Satan's handmaiden.
My guess is, Adam couldn't put up with her and demanded a more submissive wife, which makes Eve the mother of all women who abandoned feminism for patriarchal submission to men.
Perhaps Lilith is the mother of neo-pagan feminism, though most pagans do not admit to the Judeo-Christian roots of their goddesses.
So, I don't really believe in demon babies, though Eros may be the muse of my fapping, and all Lilith is, is the Jewish guilt over fapping.
Since I am not Jewish, but Buddhist, that guilt is but suffering so fapping is the lesser of two evils. Besides, I know of a way to burn evil karma from fapping that involves dedicated chanting and a strong focus on that chanting.
YMMV
Originally posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Showing posts with label Satanism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Satanism. Show all posts
20140107
Buddhism as Non-Religion (satire)
Buddhist practice centres around meditation, and as such, is not concerned with good and evil, apart from following simple precepts which have service to others as their inspiration.
This is in stark contrast from the fanatical forms of other religions, which sometimes claim to be on the side of the ages-old religious battle between good and evil. Whether this person roots for good while that person roots for evil, good and evil is but a form of dualism. At the root of this dualism is the Western logic of "one is either good or evil; anything less than this is evil", which condemns people who see life not as either good or evil but in terms of shades of grey as being wishy-washy or, much worse, considers them to be evil.
With neo-Pagans being at odds with Christians, in popular culture they have been demonized in Hollywood, and supposedly has influenced the rise of satanic cults and counterculture fashion trends such as Goth.
However, neo-Paganism is not Satanism, nor are the deaths and ritual sacrifices done in Satan's name truly Satanic, being committed by people who may have been drug users rendered psychotic through such use.
Nor has paganism influenced Goth fashions. Rather, the reality of high school has left a few teenagers with a healthy dose of rebellion. Besides, wearing black is a powerful antidepressant.
In contrast, American Satanism, is at heart a disguised cult of ego which incorporates parts of Ayn Rand's philosophy regarding the ego combined with mantras using a dead language for theatric effect.
Thus, Satanism is not about ritual sacrifice, despite what the Catholics claim in their anti-Satanic propaganda, much of which makes up the themes of many movies (The Exorcist and its copycats).
In contrast, Neo-Pagans tend to be anti-Christian yet their practice is still within the Christian domain in that few few see the need to study deeply Buddhism of any form.
Because Buddhism teaches that good and evil are relative, and that Asian culture as a rule tends to follow a form of ethics dependent on the situation one finds oneself in (situational ethics), much of it is anathema to a strict following of the Wiccan rule to "do what you will as long as it harms none".
Buddhism itself does not teach this: instead, it explains how the mind works, and gives the one tool to control it: meditation. More than a way of perfecting oneself, the Buddhist precepts serve as a guide to help settle mental unrest. Indeed, Buddhism encourages each of us to be of service to others. While it does expect its adherents to battle evil and side with good, Buddhism does so subtly. Additionally, there is no millennialism in Buddhism.
So at its root, Buddhism provides a mind tool (meditation) used to control one's mind through non-coercive means. No one is forced to meditate, yet its use is generally encouraged only when the novice Buddhist is ready.
Yet meditation itself is useful to all religions because the more one practices meditation, the more one realizes Buddhism to be a non-religion.
When religious people of all faiths reflect on their favorite book in their holy books, and then are inspired to become caring and loving people by treating other people with compassion, I feel that they have meditated on loving-kindness.
It may be called another name, but meditation is the precious gift that helps to transform people lost in their own worlds into caring and compassionate people.
Originally posted: June 21, 2010 03:02 PM
Reference:
Grey in popular culture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey#In_popular_culture
The Greyness of Living: http://gandhara.blogspot.com/2010/06/greyness-of-living-thoughts-on.html
This is in stark contrast from the fanatical forms of other religions, which sometimes claim to be on the side of the ages-old religious battle between good and evil. Whether this person roots for good while that person roots for evil, good and evil is but a form of dualism. At the root of this dualism is the Western logic of "one is either good or evil; anything less than this is evil", which condemns people who see life not as either good or evil but in terms of shades of grey as being wishy-washy or, much worse, considers them to be evil.
With neo-Pagans being at odds with Christians, in popular culture they have been demonized in Hollywood, and supposedly has influenced the rise of satanic cults and counterculture fashion trends such as Goth.
However, neo-Paganism is not Satanism, nor are the deaths and ritual sacrifices done in Satan's name truly Satanic, being committed by people who may have been drug users rendered psychotic through such use.
Nor has paganism influenced Goth fashions. Rather, the reality of high school has left a few teenagers with a healthy dose of rebellion. Besides, wearing black is a powerful antidepressant.
In contrast, American Satanism, is at heart a disguised cult of ego which incorporates parts of Ayn Rand's philosophy regarding the ego combined with mantras using a dead language for theatric effect.
Thus, Satanism is not about ritual sacrifice, despite what the Catholics claim in their anti-Satanic propaganda, much of which makes up the themes of many movies (The Exorcist and its copycats).
In contrast, Neo-Pagans tend to be anti-Christian yet their practice is still within the Christian domain in that few few see the need to study deeply Buddhism of any form.
Because Buddhism teaches that good and evil are relative, and that Asian culture as a rule tends to follow a form of ethics dependent on the situation one finds oneself in (situational ethics), much of it is anathema to a strict following of the Wiccan rule to "do what you will as long as it harms none".
Buddhism itself does not teach this: instead, it explains how the mind works, and gives the one tool to control it: meditation. More than a way of perfecting oneself, the Buddhist precepts serve as a guide to help settle mental unrest. Indeed, Buddhism encourages each of us to be of service to others. While it does expect its adherents to battle evil and side with good, Buddhism does so subtly. Additionally, there is no millennialism in Buddhism.
So at its root, Buddhism provides a mind tool (meditation) used to control one's mind through non-coercive means. No one is forced to meditate, yet its use is generally encouraged only when the novice Buddhist is ready.
Yet meditation itself is useful to all religions because the more one practices meditation, the more one realizes Buddhism to be a non-religion.
When religious people of all faiths reflect on their favorite book in their holy books, and then are inspired to become caring and loving people by treating other people with compassion, I feel that they have meditated on loving-kindness.
It may be called another name, but meditation is the precious gift that helps to transform people lost in their own worlds into caring and compassionate people.
Originally posted: June 21, 2010 03:02 PM
Reference:
Grey in popular culture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey#In_popular_culture
The Greyness of Living: http://gandhara.blogspot.com/2010/06/greyness-of-living-thoughts-on.html
20131223
My Personal Buddhist Anarchist Creed
The following commandment is the Buddhist Anarchist creed:
Control thyself then no one controls thee.
Both the Sufis and the Ch'an/Zen Buddhists know about self control. In Islam, it is the greater jihad, greater than the lesser jihad aka "the holy war".
If the People, be they Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Neo-pagans, La Vey Satanists or even Wicca, were to practise this commandment in addition to their doctrines & dogmas, then the State would have little reason to go to war.
Corporations would be kinder, and CEOs would become patrons of artists of all stripes, be it audio, visual or kaleidoscopic AV.
Control thyself is the antidote to know thyself.
In knowing thyself, you might be blinded by the ego; merely controlling the ego is enough to see it for what it is: the root of anger, fear, and the handmaidens of desire, lust and passion.
Yet the hedonists amongst the People ask "What's wrong with desire? You sound old-fashioned."
To that, I reply "But there is much to be said for romance, and to court your lover. It helps make lust more interesting and passion become compassionate!"
If a warrior controlled himself, then no one would control him. Then he would make a fine monk to contemplate the end of war and a place for Pax Terra, which is a utopia called World Peace.
Then the military spending could be curtailed and the military men become paid volunteers to help when disaster strikes and to aid the police in ensuring the safety of the People, great and small.
Thus is it my sincere wish that the People learn to control themselves individually, so that no one controls them. In this way, the State will be the People's instrument to help perpetuate this peace to the stars.
Until then, space travel is folly because for every space walk for the People there is another for the State in secret for the good of the nation, so says the Military Industry Complex.
When the People practice self control, they will control the State and turn the swords of the Military into the instruments of peace.
How do you control yourself? First we begin with the only mind control, for the fake mind control ignores the fact that brain-washing succeeds when its victim decides to be controlled by her oppressor.
What is this mind control called? Meditation.
How is it practiced? Just Google "meditation", and with practice of it, you shall be free to control and empower yourself in harmony with the greater good.
Originally posted: November 4, 2012 at 1:52 AM
Control thyself then no one controls thee.
Both the Sufis and the Ch'an/Zen Buddhists know about self control. In Islam, it is the greater jihad, greater than the lesser jihad aka "the holy war".
If the People, be they Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Neo-pagans, La Vey Satanists or even Wicca, were to practise this commandment in addition to their doctrines & dogmas, then the State would have little reason to go to war.
Corporations would be kinder, and CEOs would become patrons of artists of all stripes, be it audio, visual or kaleidoscopic AV.
Control thyself is the antidote to know thyself.
In knowing thyself, you might be blinded by the ego; merely controlling the ego is enough to see it for what it is: the root of anger, fear, and the handmaidens of desire, lust and passion.
Yet the hedonists amongst the People ask "What's wrong with desire? You sound old-fashioned."
To that, I reply "But there is much to be said for romance, and to court your lover. It helps make lust more interesting and passion become compassionate!"
If a warrior controlled himself, then no one would control him. Then he would make a fine monk to contemplate the end of war and a place for Pax Terra, which is a utopia called World Peace.
Then the military spending could be curtailed and the military men become paid volunteers to help when disaster strikes and to aid the police in ensuring the safety of the People, great and small.
Thus is it my sincere wish that the People learn to control themselves individually, so that no one controls them. In this way, the State will be the People's instrument to help perpetuate this peace to the stars.
Until then, space travel is folly because for every space walk for the People there is another for the State in secret for the good of the nation, so says the Military Industry Complex.
When the People practice self control, they will control the State and turn the swords of the Military into the instruments of peace.
How do you control yourself? First we begin with the only mind control, for the fake mind control ignores the fact that brain-washing succeeds when its victim decides to be controlled by her oppressor.
What is this mind control called? Meditation.
How is it practiced? Just Google "meditation", and with practice of it, you shall be free to control and empower yourself in harmony with the greater good.
Originally posted: November 4, 2012 at 1:52 AM
Further Thoughts on Good and Evil
For the record, I refuse to believe the devil or satan or whoever you call this dark angel, created by God represents evil. In my eyes, even the devil's original nature is good.
For God is actually the creator of good and evil. Check the Old Testament.
As well, neither the devil nor satan actually are mentioned to in the New Testament except as statement made by Jesus and others e.g. "Satan get behind me" which implies an internal moral struggle to control egoistic impulses with respect to power and control that Satan promised if Jesus were to exercise his divine powers to control others and become "King of the Jews".
Ergo, this duality of God as representative of Good and the devil as representative of Evil is neo-Platonian and thus was influenced Christian doctrine to the point of becoming dogma. The sames goes for the concept of an immortal soul, which has almost become a doctrine which is non-Biblical.
As well, Good and Evil never existed before human existence. Rather, good and evil are concepts thought up by men, and this includes the thought of good and evil existing before man's existence. Thus, I am sympathetic to the Jewish God.
Perhaps the real reason for Jesus was God's way of making up for all the violence he either meted on humanity or got his followers to mete on other people. However, I refuse to be a martyr for Christ.
As a Buddhist, I object to the violence done in the name of Jesus. This includes child abuse done in the name of Jesus, which is not Christian.
For any fundamentalist Christian parents who subject their children to violence in the name of their God, but call it discipline do not know what discipline actually means. Indeed, discipline done in anger too is violence.
Hopefully from this little rant of mine you can understand that a parent who disciplines their child in anger is not doing God a favor.
What has this to do with good and evil? Well, I tend to believe that a person is capable of great evil yet also of great good.
Even so, I also believe that if a person who is good shall become a good person, so too may a bad man, once he turns over to the cause of good, be it as a Christian, Jew, or Muslim, as well as a Buddhist, a Hindu, a pagan, a Wiccan, or even a La Vey Satanist.
Originally posted December 20, 2012 at 0310H
For God is actually the creator of good and evil. Check the Old Testament.
As well, neither the devil nor satan actually are mentioned to in the New Testament except as statement made by Jesus and others e.g. "Satan get behind me" which implies an internal moral struggle to control egoistic impulses with respect to power and control that Satan promised if Jesus were to exercise his divine powers to control others and become "King of the Jews".
Ergo, this duality of God as representative of Good and the devil as representative of Evil is neo-Platonian and thus was influenced Christian doctrine to the point of becoming dogma. The sames goes for the concept of an immortal soul, which has almost become a doctrine which is non-Biblical.
As well, Good and Evil never existed before human existence. Rather, good and evil are concepts thought up by men, and this includes the thought of good and evil existing before man's existence. Thus, I am sympathetic to the Jewish God.
Perhaps the real reason for Jesus was God's way of making up for all the violence he either meted on humanity or got his followers to mete on other people. However, I refuse to be a martyr for Christ.
As a Buddhist, I object to the violence done in the name of Jesus. This includes child abuse done in the name of Jesus, which is not Christian.
For any fundamentalist Christian parents who subject their children to violence in the name of their God, but call it discipline do not know what discipline actually means. Indeed, discipline done in anger too is violence.
Hopefully from this little rant of mine you can understand that a parent who disciplines their child in anger is not doing God a favor.
What has this to do with good and evil? Well, I tend to believe that a person is capable of great evil yet also of great good.
Even so, I also believe that if a person who is good shall become a good person, so too may a bad man, once he turns over to the cause of good, be it as a Christian, Jew, or Muslim, as well as a Buddhist, a Hindu, a pagan, a Wiccan, or even a La Vey Satanist.
Originally posted December 20, 2012 at 0310H
Comments on Satanism versus satanism
Preamble: this article is about Satanism as the religionists view it, and how I use the term.
My use is to point to the truth of the possibility that Christians, Jews and Muslims might be "worshipping" Satan when their doctrines lead to hate crimes committed against gays and people "living in sin".
E.g. It is satanic for Jews to cheat Gentiles. Likewise it is satanic for Salafis to kill Coptic Christians while excusing their violence as "will of God".
A religionist who kills is only exercising the will of man. That in itself is not satanic. It is when a person who errs hides behind a deity who is apart from man most of the time.
Let's first turn to Wikipedia's definition of Satanism.
May 15, 2005 1403H: Satanism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Satanism is a religious and philosophical movement whose adherents recognize Satan as an archetype who all humans have some characteristics of, and Satanists celebrate aspects of human nature represented by the Satan archetype. Many Satanists do not worship a deity called Satan, or one by any other name. Unlike many religions and philosophies, Satanism generally focuses upon the spiritual advancement of the self, rather than upon submission to a deity or a set of moral codes.
Many contemporary Satanists eschew traditional religious beliefs, attitudes and worship in favor of more egoistic worldviews and practices such as magick. Groups or individuals described in some sense or another as Satanic can largely, though incomprehensively, be described as belonging to one of two unofficial sub-groupings: Philosophical Satanism or Religious Satanism.
Commentary: Satanism is more harmless than most Christian sects.
...To the Satanist, One is One's own God, and He disdains rationalist, secular humanistic beliefs which abhor the existence of the supernatural, only to promote a sterile life grounded in the 'real world' alone and in working towards the altruistic advancement of His fellow man while neglecting His own gratification and amusement. Obviously, philosophically Satanic thought has had a long history before LaVey's Church (indeed, self-centered egotism is probably as old as civilization itself), though it was the notion of Satan as the idealistic, self-seeking black sheep which inspired the title in spite of contemporary Christianity (which views him as evil because of these qualities).
Comment: Think of Satanism as magico-religious rationalization called by Ayn Rand, "selfishness".
...the Serpent in Genesis [encouraged] mankind to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, saying "Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."*, with the clear implication, coinciding with the beliefs of all Satanists, that mankind should know what is better for itself than any God which would forbid knowledge and self-government. Because of the common position that their faiths are in fact very old, or the oldest, Religious Satanists sometimes refer to themselves as "Traditional Satanists" and Philosophical Satanists as "Contemporary Satanists".
Comment: This is symbolic of Truth.
...The existence of large networks of organized Satanists involved in illegal activities, murder, and child abuse is occasionally claimed, often by fundamentalist religious movements. Those claims have never been substantiated and are widely believed to be false. See conspiracy theories.
Comment: ritual sexual abuse however may occur within the institution of the healthcare system, along with ritual physical abuse not only by doctors and nurses, but also by people in authority. Thus, the conspiracy theory by fundamental Christians of ritual Satanic abuse is actually a repressed memory of abuse within their own denominations and within the Establishment itself.
Thus, Satanism is about the ego, rather than about rising above selfishness to try to get to know Truth in the form of Oneness with God.
The truth that Satan represents is God = Man, rather than the eternal truth that God = Man + "Life, the Universe and Everything."
While both Truths are valid, each in their own way, the Superior man will let his head be his guide on any matters of the heart arising from the synthesis of each of them.
Thesis = Truth of Oneness
Anti-thesis = Truth of Selfishness
Synthesis = Oneness and Selfishness are light and dark aspects of Truth
In various Gnostic sects, the Serpent was praised as the giver of knowledge. Sometimes Satan was also referred to, under the names Lucifer or "the light-bringer". Some Gnostics claimed that the being declared God by Christians and Jews was in fact Satan, known as the Demiurge.
Comment: this gives a less sinister view of Satan than Christians are wont to do.
The Confusion about "Satanic"
There are many groups which are commonly misconceived as Satanic. There are two common definitions of a Satanic religion:
* Any religion that does not follow the Christian religion or recognize Jesus Christ as explained in Christian dogma.
* Any religion that consciously recognizes and worships "Satan," usually referring either to a "dark" deity (similar to the Christian Satan, though usually lacking the evil or unnaturalness associated with it) or a conceptual Satan, often referring to a so-called "true" nature of Mankind.
The first definition is most commonly used by fundamentalist Christians, and is the source of much disagreement about whether a religion should be considered Satanic or not. The most common targets of these claims are Neo-Pagan religions, such as Wicca and Ásatrú.
It is also common to see Christian denominations or even Judaism and Islam referred to as Satanic based on interpretations of the first definition. Among these Christian groups are usually the less traditional ones, such as the Mormons and other smaller sects. Also, it is not unheard of for Catholics to refer to Protestants as Satanic, and vice versa, though this is more uncommon.
Comment: Ignorance is used as a tool to misuse a term out of fear. In the case of Christians using the term "satanic", this has led to a lot of really stupid things like witch hunts.
Within the limited Christian definition, I practice a New Age Satanism by calling my religious beliefs, "Shinto-Buddhist-Hindu-Christian New Age philosophy".
Update March 12, 2013 0716H
What I actually practice is a layer of traditions, none of which are Christian, Jewish or Muslim.
Update December 23, 2013 2120H
Comment: I define satanism as behavior which leads to evil karma e.g. people expressing anti-gay sentiments are behaving like homophobes. This leads to a backlash where pro-gay activists, both gay and heteronormative criticize monotheists who are conservative about sexual mores.
However, my use of the term "satanism" is actually the closest Christian term for evil karma, which arises when confusion and conflict result from actions we do.
My use of the term "satanism" is inaccurate since Buddhists do not believe in satan or God.
Indeed the closest Buddhists get to the archetypes of good and evil is with respect to karma. A person is not inherently evil to a Buddhist. Rather, what we create determines whether the karma is evil or good. Ultimately this is not a judgement call that determines one's path in the afterlife.
Evil karma does not doom a Buddhist to the Hell Realms, nor does good karma lead to the Pure Land. Why? Because one would also have to include the karmic seeds stored in the Alaya Consciousness.
According to Buddhist folklore, a tally of good and evil karma is made by Yama or a representative he chooses to determine the destination of a person after death. However, because each of us does not know the amount of good and evil karma which came with each of us at birth, it would be impossible to determine what awaits us at death.
Speculation about one's destination in the afterlife is moot. It might even keep us from attaining rebirth in a Pure Land, if we cling to the idleness of such speculations.
Hence the term "satanism" refers not to satan or God but to the evil resulting from actions which harm oneself and/or other people. Karma is not such a big deal, be it evil or good. It is more satisfying to meditate on karma than to worry about one's destiny in the afterlife.
This is why for me as a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist, my destination in the Pure Land of Bliss is guaranteed when I confirm that destination through Nembutsu practice.
Thus the use of "satanism" and "satanic" is to make it easier to understand that evil karma is not sin but the potential confusion and conflict due to the actions a Buddhist creates that harm self and/or others, such as lying, theft, hating someone, and other acts which range from childish to downright vile.
In contrast, good karma is not due to luck but rather, to the potential understanding and "good vibes" arising from moral act such as helpfulness and giving charity.
Thus it is possible for monotheists to act in a satanic manner when their proselyting against homosexuality and common-law marriage leads LGBTIQ people of the rainbow to abandon their religion of birth for a more humanistic lifestyle free of the hangups of religion i.e. conservatism.
My use is to point to the truth of the possibility that Christians, Jews and Muslims might be "worshipping" Satan when their doctrines lead to hate crimes committed against gays and people "living in sin".
E.g. It is satanic for Jews to cheat Gentiles. Likewise it is satanic for Salafis to kill Coptic Christians while excusing their violence as "will of God".
A religionist who kills is only exercising the will of man. That in itself is not satanic. It is when a person who errs hides behind a deity who is apart from man most of the time.
Let's first turn to Wikipedia's definition of Satanism.
May 15, 2005 1403H: Satanism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Satanism is a religious and philosophical movement whose adherents recognize Satan as an archetype who all humans have some characteristics of, and Satanists celebrate aspects of human nature represented by the Satan archetype. Many Satanists do not worship a deity called Satan, or one by any other name. Unlike many religions and philosophies, Satanism generally focuses upon the spiritual advancement of the self, rather than upon submission to a deity or a set of moral codes.
Many contemporary Satanists eschew traditional religious beliefs, attitudes and worship in favor of more egoistic worldviews and practices such as magick. Groups or individuals described in some sense or another as Satanic can largely, though incomprehensively, be described as belonging to one of two unofficial sub-groupings: Philosophical Satanism or Religious Satanism.
Commentary: Satanism is more harmless than most Christian sects.
...To the Satanist, One is One's own God, and He disdains rationalist, secular humanistic beliefs which abhor the existence of the supernatural, only to promote a sterile life grounded in the 'real world' alone and in working towards the altruistic advancement of His fellow man while neglecting His own gratification and amusement. Obviously, philosophically Satanic thought has had a long history before LaVey's Church (indeed, self-centered egotism is probably as old as civilization itself), though it was the notion of Satan as the idealistic, self-seeking black sheep which inspired the title in spite of contemporary Christianity (which views him as evil because of these qualities).
Comment: Think of Satanism as magico-religious rationalization called by Ayn Rand, "selfishness".
...the Serpent in Genesis [encouraged] mankind to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, saying "Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."*, with the clear implication, coinciding with the beliefs of all Satanists, that mankind should know what is better for itself than any God which would forbid knowledge and self-government. Because of the common position that their faiths are in fact very old, or the oldest, Religious Satanists sometimes refer to themselves as "Traditional Satanists" and Philosophical Satanists as "Contemporary Satanists".
Comment: This is symbolic of Truth.
...The existence of large networks of organized Satanists involved in illegal activities, murder, and child abuse is occasionally claimed, often by fundamentalist religious movements. Those claims have never been substantiated and are widely believed to be false. See conspiracy theories.
Comment: ritual sexual abuse however may occur within the institution of the healthcare system, along with ritual physical abuse not only by doctors and nurses, but also by people in authority. Thus, the conspiracy theory by fundamental Christians of ritual Satanic abuse is actually a repressed memory of abuse within their own denominations and within the Establishment itself.
Thus, Satanism is about the ego, rather than about rising above selfishness to try to get to know Truth in the form of Oneness with God.
The truth that Satan represents is God = Man, rather than the eternal truth that God = Man + "Life, the Universe and Everything."
While both Truths are valid, each in their own way, the Superior man will let his head be his guide on any matters of the heart arising from the synthesis of each of them.
Thesis = Truth of Oneness
Anti-thesis = Truth of Selfishness
Synthesis = Oneness and Selfishness are light and dark aspects of Truth
In various Gnostic sects, the Serpent was praised as the giver of knowledge. Sometimes Satan was also referred to, under the names Lucifer or "the light-bringer". Some Gnostics claimed that the being declared God by Christians and Jews was in fact Satan, known as the Demiurge.
Comment: this gives a less sinister view of Satan than Christians are wont to do.
The Confusion about "Satanic"
There are many groups which are commonly misconceived as Satanic. There are two common definitions of a Satanic religion:
* Any religion that does not follow the Christian religion or recognize Jesus Christ as explained in Christian dogma.
* Any religion that consciously recognizes and worships "Satan," usually referring either to a "dark" deity (similar to the Christian Satan, though usually lacking the evil or unnaturalness associated with it) or a conceptual Satan, often referring to a so-called "true" nature of Mankind.
The first definition is most commonly used by fundamentalist Christians, and is the source of much disagreement about whether a religion should be considered Satanic or not. The most common targets of these claims are Neo-Pagan religions, such as Wicca and Ásatrú.
It is also common to see Christian denominations or even Judaism and Islam referred to as Satanic based on interpretations of the first definition. Among these Christian groups are usually the less traditional ones, such as the Mormons and other smaller sects. Also, it is not unheard of for Catholics to refer to Protestants as Satanic, and vice versa, though this is more uncommon.
Comment: Ignorance is used as a tool to misuse a term out of fear. In the case of Christians using the term "satanic", this has led to a lot of really stupid things like witch hunts.
Within the limited Christian definition, I practice a New Age Satanism by calling my religious beliefs, "Shinto-Buddhist-Hindu-Christian New Age philosophy".
Update March 12, 2013 0716H
What I actually practice is a layer of traditions, none of which are Christian, Jewish or Muslim.
Update December 23, 2013 2120H
Comment: I define satanism as behavior which leads to evil karma e.g. people expressing anti-gay sentiments are behaving like homophobes. This leads to a backlash where pro-gay activists, both gay and heteronormative criticize monotheists who are conservative about sexual mores.
However, my use of the term "satanism" is actually the closest Christian term for evil karma, which arises when confusion and conflict result from actions we do.
My use of the term "satanism" is inaccurate since Buddhists do not believe in satan or God.
Indeed the closest Buddhists get to the archetypes of good and evil is with respect to karma. A person is not inherently evil to a Buddhist. Rather, what we create determines whether the karma is evil or good. Ultimately this is not a judgement call that determines one's path in the afterlife.
Evil karma does not doom a Buddhist to the Hell Realms, nor does good karma lead to the Pure Land. Why? Because one would also have to include the karmic seeds stored in the Alaya Consciousness.
According to Buddhist folklore, a tally of good and evil karma is made by Yama or a representative he chooses to determine the destination of a person after death. However, because each of us does not know the amount of good and evil karma which came with each of us at birth, it would be impossible to determine what awaits us at death.
Speculation about one's destination in the afterlife is moot. It might even keep us from attaining rebirth in a Pure Land, if we cling to the idleness of such speculations.
Hence the term "satanism" refers not to satan or God but to the evil resulting from actions which harm oneself and/or other people. Karma is not such a big deal, be it evil or good. It is more satisfying to meditate on karma than to worry about one's destiny in the afterlife.
This is why for me as a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist, my destination in the Pure Land of Bliss is guaranteed when I confirm that destination through Nembutsu practice.
Thus the use of "satanism" and "satanic" is to make it easier to understand that evil karma is not sin but the potential confusion and conflict due to the actions a Buddhist creates that harm self and/or others, such as lying, theft, hating someone, and other acts which range from childish to downright vile.
In contrast, good karma is not due to luck but rather, to the potential understanding and "good vibes" arising from moral act such as helpfulness and giving charity.
Thus it is possible for monotheists to act in a satanic manner when their proselyting against homosexuality and common-law marriage leads LGBTIQ people of the rainbow to abandon their religion of birth for a more humanistic lifestyle free of the hangups of religion i.e. conservatism.
20121005
Satan and Man's Potential for Evil
"Satan is cool" — George Carlin
I wonder if George ever heard of the UK band, Satan. :p
No matter.
Since I'm Buddhist, I am open to the LaVey form of satanism, which is a symbolic interpretation.
Anything else which involves unnecessary violence and deluded people totally missing the point is diabolism.
Satan is cool but being a supernatural entity, he can only make suggestions about exploring the dark side of morality, and man's potential for evil.
Oh, and I don't worship satan. As a Buddhist, I view him as the monotheistic version of Mara, who represents human temptation.
As well, the Bahá'í view of satan is closest to my view:
"This lower nature in man is symbolized as Satan — the evil ego within us, not an evil personality outside." - Abdu'l-Bahá
In Buddhism, the demon Mara was conquered by the Buddha. Yet Buddhists view demons differently from the way they are in the West. Being nuisances, their purpose is to distract the Buddhist from practising the Dharma, the Buddha's teachings.
Likewise, I view satan as a pest rather than the actual embodiment of evil.
For evil is an impediment to Enlightenment when it leads to disrespect of the Buddha, his teachings, and fellow Buddhists.
Indeed, we all make choices, and the fruit of those choices ripen in our life. That fruit is called "karma". Choices which harm us are deemed "bad", "evil", or "negative", while choices which do not harm us are deemed "good" or "positive"; but choices which have no consequence are deemed "neutral".
To me, "Satan is cool" means "the potential for evil in human beings is fascinating". Yet such fascination would not lead me to worship satan.
Instead, my open-mindedness regarding Satan as the symbol of rebellion is tempered by my adherence to Buddhist ethics.
For I hold no belief of evil as a supernatural entity because it violates the Buddhist principle of non-self (anattā), the illusion of "self".
Belief in satan is to worship him. In not believing in satan, I show respect in Buddha's teaching that all things, including "self", are temporary.
Given that satan was invented by men as symbolic of the potential for evil in people, he has no existence in this world, for such inventions are temporary.
Still, the potential for evil in people is fascinating.
I wonder if George ever heard of the UK band, Satan. :p
No matter.
Since I'm Buddhist, I am open to the LaVey form of satanism, which is a symbolic interpretation.
Anything else which involves unnecessary violence and deluded people totally missing the point is diabolism.
Satan is cool but being a supernatural entity, he can only make suggestions about exploring the dark side of morality, and man's potential for evil.
Oh, and I don't worship satan. As a Buddhist, I view him as the monotheistic version of Mara, who represents human temptation.
As well, the Bahá'í view of satan is closest to my view:
"This lower nature in man is symbolized as Satan — the evil ego within us, not an evil personality outside." - Abdu'l-Bahá
In Buddhism, the demon Mara was conquered by the Buddha. Yet Buddhists view demons differently from the way they are in the West. Being nuisances, their purpose is to distract the Buddhist from practising the Dharma, the Buddha's teachings.
Likewise, I view satan as a pest rather than the actual embodiment of evil.
For evil is an impediment to Enlightenment when it leads to disrespect of the Buddha, his teachings, and fellow Buddhists.
Indeed, we all make choices, and the fruit of those choices ripen in our life. That fruit is called "karma". Choices which harm us are deemed "bad", "evil", or "negative", while choices which do not harm us are deemed "good" or "positive"; but choices which have no consequence are deemed "neutral".
To me, "Satan is cool" means "the potential for evil in human beings is fascinating". Yet such fascination would not lead me to worship satan.
Instead, my open-mindedness regarding Satan as the symbol of rebellion is tempered by my adherence to Buddhist ethics.
For I hold no belief of evil as a supernatural entity because it violates the Buddhist principle of non-self (anattā), the illusion of "self".
Belief in satan is to worship him. In not believing in satan, I show respect in Buddha's teaching that all things, including "self", are temporary.
Given that satan was invented by men as symbolic of the potential for evil in people, he has no existence in this world, for such inventions are temporary.
Still, the potential for evil in people is fascinating.
20050521
Spirituality Scares the Ignorant Masses
It's amazing that when faced with even a mention of spirituality, the ignorant ridicule the messenger.
My suspicion is that the unenlightened have persecuted the enlightened more often in history than we care to admit.
This may be at the root of the persecution of Gnostics since the Third Century by the Church.
It may even explain the Inquisition (jealousy of the syncretism of Judaism, Islam and Christianity in Spain) and modern-day Protestant myths about other sects and religions, especially the myths about "satanism."
Little does the average Christian know that satan has been bound since the Christ's death. For Christ dealt with the devil's work and bound him.
To believe that satan is bound is supported by Christian doctrine; to believe otherwise - that a personification of evil walks among us is a myth of mass media and diabolic fear-mongering.
Persnally I don't believe in satanism, I believe in Buddhism, and its traditions are free of belief in satan.
For the concept of non-self suggests that satan does not exist, being a spiritual being purported to "live forever" i.e. an exceptionally long time described as "immortal".
Since immortality as a form of permanence is impossible due to the Buddhist concept of non-self, satan does not exist except as an archetype or a symbol of Christian dualistic thought (the symbol of evil versus God as symbol of good).
For I do not view satan as a personification of evil but as a symbol of diabolism.
Within the confines of reality, satanism is a mass media myth that people believe in either for "thrills" or social control.
Regarding social control, belief in satanism helps solidify group dynamics within a religious organization provided checks and balances are observed to prevent abuse of power by religious leaders.
However, it is diabolism to abuse the trust of members of religious bodies including any groups of religious instruction formed by Christians in positions of authority, whether it is a home meeting or a church.
To further emphasis my point on diabolism, I present this website called Children of the Matrix, and its page on "Spiritual" satanism and "christian" conmen for review.
Please note how important maintaining disbelief when viewing it as it may induce a strong denial regarding the topic material.
Any suspension of disbelief that promotes antipathy towards Christianity is not my intent as I do not believe a religion is responsible for what "wolves in sheep's clothing" do behind closed doors.
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/biggestsecret/matrix/matrix16.htm
Commentary:
Note: see http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net for disclaimer. This article appears to be propaganda.
Illuminati is a code word for the 1 percent that want to profit from mass media propaganda.
With regard to the charges again Prescott Bush, I looked up the Union Banking Corporation and found this article on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Banking_Corporation
The bulk of the article linked in this article is wrong about the Bush family.
"Rumors about the alleged Nazi 'ties' of the late Prescott Bush ... have circulated widely through the internet in recent years. These charges are untenable and politically motivated. Despite some early financial dealings between Prescott Bush and a Nazi industrialist named Fritz Thyssen (who was arrested by the Nazi regime in 1938 and imprisoned during the war), Prescott Bush was neither a Nazi nor a Nazi sympathizer.”
However, they are right in criticizing Billy Graham for manufacturing the religious propaganda of "the immortal soul", which is a syncretism from neo-Platonic sources that the early Church fathers borrow, and then instituted as dogma.
This particular syncretism gets condoned by resorting to the Bible to back up a pagan idea called "immortality". Immortal life is not mentioned in the Bible but "eternal life" in heaven with Jesus is mentioned in that strongly symbolic chapter called "Revelations".
I do not endorse anything David Icke wrote, as the link regarding Children of the Matrix is his work of art, and looks like he cherry picked all the dirt on his targets of derision regarding the richest people of America.
Conspiracy theories like this are great for people who have biases against American organized religion, rich people, and televangelists. I don't believe anything that I can't find anything to debunk. It's not propaganda to give people choices, for it's important to not make a choice but to dance like David.
YMMV
Originally written: May 21, 2005 at 1052H
Edited and updated: February 4, 2013 at 1017H
My suspicion is that the unenlightened have persecuted the enlightened more often in history than we care to admit.
This may be at the root of the persecution of Gnostics since the Third Century by the Church.
It may even explain the Inquisition (jealousy of the syncretism of Judaism, Islam and Christianity in Spain) and modern-day Protestant myths about other sects and religions, especially the myths about "satanism."
Little does the average Christian know that satan has been bound since the Christ's death. For Christ dealt with the devil's work and bound him.
To believe that satan is bound is supported by Christian doctrine; to believe otherwise - that a personification of evil walks among us is a myth of mass media and diabolic fear-mongering.
Persnally I don't believe in satanism, I believe in Buddhism, and its traditions are free of belief in satan.
For the concept of non-self suggests that satan does not exist, being a spiritual being purported to "live forever" i.e. an exceptionally long time described as "immortal".
Since immortality as a form of permanence is impossible due to the Buddhist concept of non-self, satan does not exist except as an archetype or a symbol of Christian dualistic thought (the symbol of evil versus God as symbol of good).
For I do not view satan as a personification of evil but as a symbol of diabolism.
Within the confines of reality, satanism is a mass media myth that people believe in either for "thrills" or social control.
Regarding social control, belief in satanism helps solidify group dynamics within a religious organization provided checks and balances are observed to prevent abuse of power by religious leaders.
However, it is diabolism to abuse the trust of members of religious bodies including any groups of religious instruction formed by Christians in positions of authority, whether it is a home meeting or a church.
To further emphasis my point on diabolism, I present this website called Children of the Matrix, and its page on "Spiritual" satanism and "christian" conmen for review.
Please note how important maintaining disbelief when viewing it as it may induce a strong denial regarding the topic material.
Any suspension of disbelief that promotes antipathy towards Christianity is not my intent as I do not believe a religion is responsible for what "wolves in sheep's clothing" do behind closed doors.
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/biggestsecret/matrix/matrix16.htm
Commentary:
Note: see http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net for disclaimer. This article appears to be propaganda.
Illuminati is a code word for the 1 percent that want to profit from mass media propaganda.
With regard to the charges again Prescott Bush, I looked up the Union Banking Corporation and found this article on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Banking_Corporation
The bulk of the article linked in this article is wrong about the Bush family.
"Rumors about the alleged Nazi 'ties' of the late Prescott Bush ... have circulated widely through the internet in recent years. These charges are untenable and politically motivated. Despite some early financial dealings between Prescott Bush and a Nazi industrialist named Fritz Thyssen (who was arrested by the Nazi regime in 1938 and imprisoned during the war), Prescott Bush was neither a Nazi nor a Nazi sympathizer.”
However, they are right in criticizing Billy Graham for manufacturing the religious propaganda of "the immortal soul", which is a syncretism from neo-Platonic sources that the early Church fathers borrow, and then instituted as dogma.
This particular syncretism gets condoned by resorting to the Bible to back up a pagan idea called "immortality". Immortal life is not mentioned in the Bible but "eternal life" in heaven with Jesus is mentioned in that strongly symbolic chapter called "Revelations".
I do not endorse anything David Icke wrote, as the link regarding Children of the Matrix is his work of art, and looks like he cherry picked all the dirt on his targets of derision regarding the richest people of America.
Conspiracy theories like this are great for people who have biases against American organized religion, rich people, and televangelists. I don't believe anything that I can't find anything to debunk. It's not propaganda to give people choices, for it's important to not make a choice but to dance like David.
YMMV
Originally written: May 21, 2005 at 1052H
Edited and updated: February 4, 2013 at 1017H
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