A Redefining of Satanism.

[Black_Bird]

The root of the word "Satan" comes from the old Hebrew word for adversary. Satan is everything that is adversarial in nature.

When Christianity was in its infancy, many whom converted brought their own beliefs and ideas into the religion, changing it ever so slightly. There were a few whom even took the words and works of Jesus Christ and applied them to a whole new set of ideas and philosophies, creating a esoteric off shoot of mainstream Christian beliefs. These were the Gnostics; their beliefs were based, not only on the standard Bible which we know today, but also on other books which were decided to be "false" by the early Church.

The Gnostic were deemed heretical and were driven underground, killed, and silenced anyway possible. The surviving information and philosophy, passed on in secret in a distorted and often confusing form, later became seed from which occultism would bloom during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Occultism then became, and is sometimes still today, the root of much Christian opposition.

Because of their own intolerance, they created what was before merely an imagined enemy. Their decision to be adversarial against all things that didn't fit their specifications created their adversary.

Those who choose to be intolerant are Satanist. Those whom worship their own intolerance above all else, practice Satanism. It's about time we start to realize this.

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

What is the church position on Chemistry?

 

[Angel]

Hi BB.

 

[Sillyman]

What is the church position on Chemistry?

Test the solubility of the unbeliever?

 

[Black_Bird]

Oh, yeah, BTW... This awesome av I'm wearing. Angel made it for me. Isn't she great.

Now do you see what I had in mind for this?

 

[phrodeau]

Occultism may have had roots in Gnosticism, but it certainly wasn't the only source.

I think it's interesting and revealing to realize that to the ancient Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and Norse, the Judeo-Christian culture was only one god away from Atheism.

 

[Black_Bird]

Occultism may have had roots in Gnosticism, but it certainly wasn't the only source.

No, it wasn't... but it is the main ingredient.

I think it's interesting and revealing to realize that to the ancient Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and Norse, the Judeo-Christian culture was only one god away from Atheism.

You mean two.

 

[Sillyman]

Taking that the word occult means "hidden" technically any underground thing could be called occult. While this would certainly qualify Gnosticism, it would also qualify a good number of other practices, both good and bad.

 

[Darowyn]

Tracing the authentic gnostic tradition is almost impossible because the first thing that a mystical order must do in order to gain credibilty is to acquire an ancient mythology. Any would be guru needs to devise a story explaining how their own revelation derives from the builders of the Pyramids, the Rosicrucians, the Cathars, Knights Templar, followers of John the Baptist etc.
The more ambiguous the tradition the more useful it is as a source, since no-one can check it.
However, at the time, the eighteenth and nineteenth century explorers of the mysteries thought of themselves as Platonists, relating to the Classical tradition rather than the Christian Gnostics and Cabbalists. You also need to be aware that there are cultures in which the ancient tradition is continuous - Judaism and Hinduism for example. They have their own occult aspects and approaches.
My personal view is that Satanism is a juvenile reaction against religous repression. It implies a total belief in a White bearded God, but doesn't like it.
Wicca, animism, nature worship, is a whole different system. Just because the Christian puritans mixed them up, does not mean that they have any connection in realityt.

 

[Black_Bird]

Tracing the authentic gnostic tradition is almost impossible because the first thing that a mystical order must do in order to gain credibilty is to acquire an ancient mythology.

I wasn't trying to give an accurate history lesson; I know there is much more to the story then what I have wrote.

My personal view is that Satanism is a juvenile reaction against religous repression. It implies a total belief in a White bearded God, but doesn't like it.

I'm not even talking about that type of Satanism. You are reading all of the flashy words, but not taking the time to read the whole thing. You've missed the point.

 

[phrodeau]

It is a little tricky to follow your reasoning, BB. You start by putting Occultists in opposition to Christians, when they are both branches of the same tree. And you've redefined Satanism as worshipping intolerance.

I'm an adversary of intolerance. What should I be called?

 

[NightFlier]

When Christianity was in its infancy, many whom converted brought their own beliefs and ideas into the religion, changing it ever so slightly. There were a few whom even took the words and works of Jesus Christ and applied them to a whole new set of ideas and philosophies, creating a esoteric off shoot of mainstream Christian beliefs.These were the Gnostics; their beliefs were based, not only on the standard Bible which we know today, but also on other books which were decided to be "false" by the early Church.

Not trying to be a smartass here, but in the churches infancy there was no Bible. The Bible was commissioned by Charlemagne, if I remember my History Channel correctly. Please feel free to correct me if that is wrong. And that was hundreds of years later(again feel free to correct). Before that Christians had no formalized set of texts to worship from. Beliefs and practices varied widely for reasons you have already covered. That was why the Bible was commissioned. And many of them are not considered "false", they just didn't make the final edit. Not defending, just pointing out.