Find It Quick Handbook on Cults and New Religions by Rhodes Ron

Author:Rhodes, Ron [Rhodes, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736935814
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Published: 2005-08-01T00:00:00+00:00

Beliefs

The following synopsis is representative of what many Satanists believe in regard to the Bible, God, Jesus, humankind, sin, salvation, rituals, and the afterlife.

The Bible. Satanists view the Bible as a book of fables and full of contradictions. They say it enslaves and oppresses people, thwarting any sense of independence and individuality. Satanists refuse submission to it (they refuse submission to any holy book). In place of the Bible is The Satanic Bible, written by Anton LaVey. This book claims no final authority but rather is just a guide.

God. Satanists differ in their understanding of God. Many do not believe in God, holding instead that man is his own deity.11 Others believe that both God and the devil eternally exist, equal in power, and that Satan may eventually conquer God. Still others view God as a force in the realm of nature that can be harnessed by satanic rituals.

Jesus. Satanists differ in their understanding of Jesus. Some believe he existed but was an embarrassing failure—a wimp with no spine, always talking about meaningless things like love and forgiveness. Others deny that Jesus ever existed and claim he is a popular myth that has no historical basis.

Humankind. Humankind is supreme. Many Satanists are unrestrained hedonists who seek self-fulfillment, self-indulgence, and self-exaltation. Even if self-gratification infringes upon or harms another human being, it is still good.

Sin and Salvation. Satanists believe human beings are not fallen in sin and therefore do not need to be saved. They believe Christianity invented sin so it could “stay in business.”12 Jesus was certainly no Savior. Satanists consider the idea that he died on the cross to redeem humankind to be an outrageous myth. Instead of focusing attention on being “saved,” Satanists focus on self-indulgence in the present life.

Rituals. Satanists perform a variety of perverted rituals. Some are sexual, involving sexual intercourse, homosexual acts, oral copulation, or masturbation. Others involve slashing various parts of the body to inflict pain, allegedly raising sexual ecstasy to increasing heights. Still others engage in animal sacrifices so that the Satanist can harness the “life force” released in the vicinity of the dead animal. All such rituals have the goal of empowering the one performing the ritual. Some who believe in a personal devil think such sacrifices move the devil to grant their desires.

The Black Mass is probably the most controversial of satanic rituals. This perverted ritual involves suspending a crucifix upside down, reciting the Lord’s Prayer backward, and engaging in depraved sexual acts with a naked woman on an altar.

The Afterlife. Satanists understand the afterlife variously. Some deny the afterlife exists, suggesting that since this life is all we have, we should “live it up.” Others believe in reincarnation, looking forward to unending lifetimes to indulge carnal appetites. Still others believe Satan will overcome God in the end, and the afterlife will involve serving Satan in his kingdom of hell. Still others believe that both Satan and all Satanists will be judged by God and suffer eternal torment. They nevertheless choose

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