If Religion requires a God then is Satanism actually a Religion?
Mental 10 and others - Merriam-Webster says "Religion - The service and worship of God and the Supernatural". You should not try to prove a point by discarding a fact.
No, religion does not require a God. Look at Buddists and Atheists. A religion is defined as:
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to ones vow
So, Satanism could be a religion if it instructs on moral and spiritual matters.
By the way . . . atheism, agnosticism, and free thought are NOT religions.
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:-)
P.S.
The only fact being discarded is that one dictionary definition is not necessarily definitive. Look at other dictionaries and the multiple definitions they contain.
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Satan demands worship, so in that sense it is a religion. But we think of religions as useful and beneficial to humanity. Some have fallen short of this, and Satanism offers rewards for those who serve him and belittle God.
Roger Morneau wrote a biography of his experience in Satan worship. It is well reading entirely. See WNW.revelado.org/cult.htm
Well Satanists can worship Satan, but Satan is not God...
Satan is the LOOSER who got his rear end kicked out of Heaven by St. Michael and the Angels.
Satan revolted against God and he got his rear end kicked, hard, and wound up in Hell. (Hardly a posh address).
So yes Satanists worship a being...a LOOSER being... but they aren't worshiping God and just because Satan gets some idiots to worship him, that does not make him God. He's still a LOOSER.
nope. Satan is only a fallen angel. the closest thing would be the stuff that Levey came up with. besides, in hell, there wont be a ruler because Satan will be enduring the same suffering as everyone one else there will be.
Im sorry, but a single definition from an abridged dictionary proves nothing.
Buddhism and Taoism,while they they certainly accept the possibility of the supernatural, do not believe in a personal deity.
There is no necessary tie between belief in a personal God and religion...the "Church of Satan",while it does not qualify as Major religion(too few members),is still recognized as religion by,among others, the US government.
Satan does not require you to worship him and it can be, if you want to, but if you ask me, god is the one who is trying to make everyone believe in him and worship him, that is ,if he is real. all of the world just about worships statues and pictures , how do you know what these gods look like. i think it`s all evil .
I simply can't read this without replying to the people going "OOO SATAN IS THE FATHER OF LIES AND DESTRUCTION!!!". That, my good sir or madam, is complete and utter excrement of the mighty bull.
I really can't see how people can just blindly follow the Bible.
Anyway, there are lots of different 'types' of Satanism. There are devil-worshipers, who believe they are the enemy of Christianity and god, if I'm correct. There are LeVayan satanists who i think actually consider themselves atheists. There are also people like theistic or traditional satanists who i think have a god.
There is also Spiritual Satanism, which i think might interest you. Go to WNW.joyofsatan.org and see. I'm not trying to preach or anything.
Depends on what form of Satanism you're referring to.
If you mean Luciferian; theistic--yes, most definitely. "Satan" is regarded as a higher force; the Satanic equivalent of the Christian "God."
In terms of LaVeyan Satanism, however, it is slightly more complicated.
However, I would say that yes, it is.
Satanism is not free of worship, as most believe. LaVeyan Satanists worship themselves, and regard themselves as their own God. You set your own lifestyle, and don't conform to something just because "everyone else is doing it." Bandwagon propaganda means nothing.
And there IS more than one definition of religion. Most would say it is any type of religious worship; Satanists "religiously" worship themselves; as a Satanist, I should know.
Therefore, yes, it is a religion. Though, you're not the first to debate the point.
However, there will never be any specific ruling as to whether it is or is not. It has been accepted legally, just the same.
If Religion requires a God then is Satanism actually a Religion?
