NationStates Jolt Archive

Yes, another religion thread, but more a comment on the way people talk about it. But most of these threads stem from white middle class Christians. (It's an assumption I know, but a reasonably accurate one, I'm sure.) I hear about why I'm dammned to hell a lot, and I hear why every other religion is evil. Look, it's fine that you believe that. I personally agree with a lot of what Jesus says. But I also agree with Buddha, Mohammed, Lao Tzu (especially Lao Tzu) and the list goes on. It's fine to be what you are, but blind promotion and threats aren't really going to convert anyone. I hear people tell me to read the bible. That's fine. But I tell those same people to read the TaoDeJing (or however you want to spell it) and they completely reject the idea.

Have a good read up on other people's religions before you critisise it. Yes it's good to have faith, but it's also good to have variety. Listen to people and what they have to say. Don't just critisise their ideas because they are different. If there really is a God up there, he doesn't exactly want you to push your ideas onto others. Isn't that the idea of faith? That people have to choose? Let them choose, don't make them.

Well that's the end of my rant. It probably won't do anything, but if it makes at least one person think, and decide, then maybe it was worth it.

Huge note point: This isn't directed entirely at Christians either. I'm talking about people in general. Sorry to use a blanket term.

I agree. I've try to learn from different religions before I say my own views what I think about them, and I've read many different Bibles. In the end I've chosen Satanism, and when I suggest people to read the "Satanic Bible" they always reject the idea.

Anyway, this looks like a begining of another religion fight! So bring it on!

Posted by Satanist, Lord Medivh

Hmm.. Satanism is more like humanism.

IMO, they just call it Satan just to piss Christians off.

Silly silly book. The much touted yet uninfluential Church of Satan had very little to do with the actual biblical/christian model of Satan, lucifer, old saint nick, whatever, and was more about low-end magic for dummies and indulging selfishness, and the church was nullified in bankruptcy court, and besides... Anton LaVey was clearly bonkers.
Calling oneself a Satanist merely to outrage your catholic grandmother is as low of the cool scale as you can get. Ok? Anyway, Satanism, Its like cheering the loser. Explains the chic factor for failing yuppies and teen angst goth wannabes. Theres not even a consensus on doctrine its all fodder for lifestyle posers. If i get Satan mad at me do i go to heaven? Duh.

Hmm.. Satanism is more like humanism.

IMO, they just call it Satan just to piss people off.

True, will get alot more people mad. But that's not the only reason...

1.Satan means "adversary" or "opposition" or the "accuser", and Satanism is about being against all religions that condone man of his natural instincts.

2.Humanism is not a religion. It is simply a way of life with no ceremony or dogma. Satanism has both ceremony and dogma.

3.Satanism differs greatly from all other "white-light" religions.

Posted by Satanist, Lord Medivh

and if you look under the rocks and plants, and take a glance at the fancy ants
and maybe try a few...

Most religions are nothing more than great branding and, ultimately, socially efficient memes.
And I respect them all as such.

Hmm.. Satanism is more like humanism.

IMO, they just call it Satan just to piss Christians off.

Satanism is just called so because it is the complete opposite of Christianity.

Hmm.. Satanism is more like humanism.

IMO, they just call it Satan just to piss Christians off.
The previous typo will be corrected eventually, right???

EDIT: Unless, you happen to be the Levey type advocating a crypto-Randian fantasyland?
And what would that comment have to do with the topic?

Satanism is just called so because it is the complete opposite of Christianity.

Uh no. Not according to 'satanism' that they claim themselves to be today.

Their not anti-christ per se. Their anti-religion.

The previous typo will be corrected eventually, right???

EDIT: Unless, you happen to be the Levey type advocating a crypto-Randian fantasyland?
And what would that comment have to do with the topic?

Not me. Imperial Dark Rome. Well, I was expressing my opinions concerning Satanism. (Sorry for threadjacking) And I don't advocate to Levey. I'm a Christian. I don't like what they are doing, but I won't infringe on their rights to worship or do whatever they want.

And the people->Christian. Yup that was a typo.

I'm a Christian. I don't like what they are doing, but I won't infringe on their rights to worship or do whatever they want.
Respect and apologies based on that comment alone.

People usually look at India when searching a religion that works, wich make me kinda confuse, because, really, spiritually, they seem to be perfect, but politically and economically they are a mess (kinda like brazilians ourselves, y´know? We are very happy, spiritual, creative people who let any politician party over our smiling corpses).
There is this story Joseph Campbell tells in one of his books ("The Power Of The Myth" I believe) that is like, they made a conference beetween buddists and christians and the priests from both religions couldn´t get along and there was a lot of discussion; but the monks (from both also) got along preety well and realized that their religions was preety much the same.
So, the thing is, (and campbell says this a lot of times):
1st - The bible (or whatever religious book) can´t be faced as a history or factual book; it is there to help you with your spiritual life and not to teach you how the world was created.
2nd - Priests and just about anyone who go in public talk about religion (ourselves included) are more politicians then actually someone who understands religion.
Priests just don´t know what the hell they are talking about, they don´t help you to be a happy and good-willed (<- this word exists?) persons as much as they make rules and such. Really, when an homossexual comes to a priest and say "I´m confused, I need help", he should say something like "Well, when jesus was in the desert, the devil tried to confuse him, but he simply couldn´t do it, because jesus had a clear view that he was doing the best for people, so if you do your best, there´s nothing to be confused about", but instead, the priest would go all life "OMFGWTF!!!!!111!1! GET OUTTA TAH HOUSE OF GAWD YAH DEVIL!!!11!1"
So, ahn, to sum it up, I think religions (any of them) CAN help you to live a VERY happy life, you just gotta look for the spiritual answers in its teachings and stop thinking it is a law/history book.

Edit: sorry if there is any typo or something, english is not my mother language and I often writes words that I think are right, but aren´t.

Joseph Campbell's analysis of mythology is fascinating.
His interviews with Bill Moyers were very influential on me as a teen.

Joseph Campbell's analysis of mythology is fascinating.
His interviews with Bill Moyers were very influential on me as a teen.

I´m a teen and YES, they ARE very influential! :D

There's one book that really frames Campbell's entire vision:

The Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Most influential, revolutionary mindscape I've ever read about, and probably ever will.

Joseph Campbell's analysis of mythology is fascinating.
His interviews with Bill Moyers were very influential on me as a teen.

oooo!! I remember his series on PBS LOL! I uhh err 'disovered' it one night I was kinda bored and took LSD (this was looong ago...10 years or so) but it was so fascinating I was glued to my tv. :D

I did watch the other episodes not on ANYTHING and felt much the same way.

I remember his series on PBS LOL! I uhh err 'disovered' it one night I was kinda bored and took LSD.
And my first translation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead that I read was actually titled "The Psychedelic Experience" by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert. :p
Those were the days...

There's one book that really frames Campbell's entire vision:

The Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Most influential, revolutionary mindscape I've ever read about, and probably ever will.

I will look for it. Thanks. :)

Those were the days...

Indeed they were. LOL! :D

I will look for it. Thanks. :)
I'd strongly suggest starting with the Robert Thurman version (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553370901/qid=1107682514/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-1073825-8018326?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), instead of "The Psychedelic Experience". (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0806516526/qid=1107682616/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-1073825-8018326) ;)

Joseph Campbell's analysis of mythology is fascinating.
His interviews with Bill Moyers were very influential on me as a teen.
Ditto

Hmm.. Satanism is more like humanism.

IMO, they just call it Satan just to piss Christians off.
Yeah, they do. Not the most creative way of pissing them off, but it works.

I found "To Reign in Hell" by Steven Brust quite good. And of course Heinlein's Job: a Comedy of Justice is always a good read.