No atheism talk here, just religion and fun stuff. I'm writing a 10-12 page paper comparing norse paganism with christianity and Mesopotamian polytheism.
Humanity as a whole is responsible for that, not just religions. Religion was initially used as a tool for explaining the unexplainable. Over the years it evolved from a bunch of animal gods to a bunch of anthropomorphized gods that can turn into animals, to a bunch of gods with animal masks, to a bunch of anthropomorphized gods, to raising one anthropomorphized god above all other anthropomorphized gods, to only one god. This evolved because of human thought and ego.
Slavery is just one thing. But Smor is right, there are religions that use their texts to justify how a woman should be treated, the laws in our own country, and how children should be treated.
I personally think some of those religions carry a lot of hypocrisy and sore-wounds time and time again.
I think it's messed up, but it doesn't nullify a religious belief. One can be Christian without being affiliated with a church, etc. Obviously the church is hiding it to keep the integrity of their religion. If definitive evidence came out of pedophilia in Satanism, wouldn't you be less inclined to practice? They don't want people to leave based on a few (relative) messed up people.
I'm not Christian, by the way. I'm just playing the devil's advocate.
However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)
I am not bashing anyone's religions. You can all believe in what you want. I am just giving supporting evidence that I do think that Christianity is not for me. (FMPOV no hate)
I have practiced Wicca before and like I said I have a few books on it and I also do Tarot Cards as well as Palm Read.
Personally I believe in myself, the galaxy, the sun, moon and stars.
You also have to realize it was founded on the 60's...these other religions have ancient roots. It's akin to the whole fiasco where technically the 13th amendment was never ratified and mississipi hadn't abolished slavery, and until Feb 2013, it was still technically legal. not the exact same situation, but times are different and a religion can't easily change their sacred texts like the constitution could because it would question the integrity of the rest of the texts.
So saying that Satanism is the only religion condemning those acts is just something that they COULD do because they were such a new religion.
(not defending religions that don't condemn the acts, just pointing out why it isn't as easy to change such things)
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The bible is Gods desperate propoganda that tries to convince you that Satan is evil when in reality it just shows how horrible god is.
The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them. When in another's lair, show them respect or else do not go there. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat them cruelly and without mercy. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal. Do not take that which does not belong to you, unless it is a burden to the other person and they cry out to be relieved. Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself. Do not harm young children. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.
Satanism is more of a philosophy than a structured religion..even though they do have Priests and Priestess.
Good and evil are all based on Perspective IMO. What is good for the gander might not be good for the goose. You are right. it is based individually. But Satanism is pretty much the only religion that condemns slavery, sexual abuse, and pedophilia
Oh okay, I just got confused because my post was about the abrahamic religion's God, so I didn't understand you were using a different religion to explain it.
You can't have good without evil, and vice versa, universally speaking at least. Of course all it comes down to individually is whether doing something is in the best interest of the individual, however some view those actions as bad, and some as good. That's why, in these religions at least, there is a God and a "devil".
Well, making this thread, I was just trying to look at religion objectively. I'm not looking to badmouth anyone else's gods. But looking at this at a broader scale: God was the creator, so therefore he represents order, and since Satan is the opposite of God, he represents chaos. However, chaos isn't inherently bad, it just means there is a lack of order. Everything God represents falls under the category of order, while everything satan represents falls under the category of chaos. Giving into your desires or pleasures in life is a form of chaos believe it or not!!!
People confuse Wicca and Santanism as the same thing, but it is not. Wicca does not believe in a Satan...but I believe that they have a God and a Goddess (If I remember correctly when I was studying)
Satan is the Church's best friend. He has kept it in business all these years. So unless you're talking about Satan as a mythological spirit, he really doesn't exist. He is kind of like an allegory for a specific belief if this makes sense.
"LaVeyan Satanism is a religious philosophy founded in 1966 by Anton LaVey and codified in The Satanic Bible. Its core beliefs and philosophies are based on individualism, epicureanism, secularism, egoism, and self-deification, and propagates a worldview of naturalism, materialism, Social Darwinism, and Lex Talionis. Adherents to the philosophy have described Satanism as a non-spiritual religion of the flesh, or "...the world's first carnal religion".
