NationStates Jolt Archive

The Royal Navy's decision to officially recognise a non-commissioned officer as a Satanist - allowing him to practise rituals on board ship - has been condemned as "utterly shocking".

Tory former minister Ann Widdecombe said there should be "no question whatsoever" of allowing naval technician Chris Cranmer to engage in Satanic worship practices at sea.

Ldg Hand Cranmer has become the first registered Satanist in the British Armed Forces after the captain of HMS Cumberland agreed to recognise his beliefs.

Miss Widdecombe said: "I am utterly shocked by this. Satanism is wrong. Obviously the private beliefs of individuals anywhere including the Armed Forces are their own affair but I hope it doesn't spread.

"There should be no question whatsoever of allowing Satanist rituals on board any ship in Her Majesty's Royal Navy. What they believe and do in their own home is one thing, what they do at work is the business of their employer.

"The Navy should not permit Satanist practices on board its ships. God himself gives free will, but I would like to think that if somebody applied to the Navy and said they were a Satanist today it would raise its eyebrows somewhat."

Ldg Hand Cranmer, 24, is from Edinburgh and has been in the Navy for four years, according to newspaper reports.

He was promoted to leading hand - the naval equivalent of corporal - in July last year.

He is now reportedly lobbying the Ministry of Defence to make Satanism a registered religion in the Armed Forces.

A spokesman for the Royal Navy said: "We are an equal opportunities employer and we don't stop anybody from having their own religious values."

He added: "Our policy is that, wherever practical, reasonable requests for time and facilities that do not impact on operational effectiveness or the welfare of other personnel, are met."

http://www.ntlworld.com/partners/itn/britain/1739901.php

Heh, Pretty wacky.

So long as he doesnt do anything criminal like sacrificing babies or virgin ladies, I think it's ok. Satanism has to exist or Christianity would be useless. The brouhaha about it is typical for "Christians" though who think only their religion is the best and elitist and right and supportable religion of mankind. Either acknowledge all religions or none at all.

Ann should just shut up and be proud of a country where people have the right to believe what they want. She believes in Satan too, so why the fuzz.

Yeah i read that in the paper earlier today. I don't see anything wrong with it, as long as he isn't harming others or undermining his job.

Hey, what happened to Protestant England? Going soft on Satanism now? Henry VIII wouldn't tolerate such nonsense!

:confused: :eek: :)

Personally I feel like they should just get rid of all religious practices in a military setting (at least on board ship where space is much more limited then a land base) conservation of resources.
What you do by yourself is all good … just set aside spaces like churches or whatnot.

I am sure I am not making it clear, but having the navy formally support any doctrine and set aside resources (as in space) for those practices just seems wasteful on the sometimes cramped spaces of ships.

as to the actual belief filtering ... no people should be able to believe what they want

Thing is, people dont realise that satanism isnt about like killing babies and shit. Its just a pretty mental religion that worships a figure called satan, not satan as in the devil

Since there seems to be so much misinformation on Satanaism, there are 2 basic kinds of Satanism (sometimes called Luciferianism):

1) Modern Satanism: Modern Satanists believe in Satan as purely a metaphor, symbol, and life principle. Most common type of Satanists.

2) Traditional or Spiritual Satanism: Traditional Satanists believe in Satan/Lucifer as an intelligent, self aware, supernatural being, beyond human reason, but existant none the less. Not the same as described in the Judeo-Christian bible.

Any "Satanist" whose beliefs sound as if they came directly from the Bible are most definately not Satanists, just clueless distrubed Christians.

That's the exact opposite of America's way of thinking - The US doesn't want religion associated with anything but the church.

That's the exact opposite of America's way of thinking - The US doesn't want religion associated with anything but the church.


Yo way to stereotype that is sure to get people on your side

Did you read my above post on NO religion

But I happen to be from Minnesota (USA)

But yet you say all America … bah

Ann should just shut up and be proud of a country where people have the right to believe what they want. She believes in Satan too, so why the fuzz.
Actually Ann Widdecombe should just shut up. Full stop. And she should stay still. The earth's making irregular motions in its orbit every time she sits down or moves too quickly.

Yo way to stereotype that is sure to get people on your side

Did you read my above post on NO religion

But I happen to be from Minnesota (USA)

But yet you say all America … bah

Well if your from Minnesota then you aren't even allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance in your schools because it contains the word "God".

Who cares? Satanism has been openly practiced in the US military since the 1980s. It's called "freedom of religion"... heard of it?