| | Over the years, the term Satanism or Satanists have taken on several meanings. In North America, "Satanism" is often used in a derogatory fashion. To others, a wide variety of beliefs and practices might be considered Satanic.
Definitions showing an attitude of intolerance are confusing, and can often trigger violence. In many cases, murders, shootings, fire bombings, lynchings, and even common assault has occured simply because of misinformation.
The widely accepted definition of Satanism, as used by religious historians, theologists, and by many practitioners themselves is as follows.
Satanism refers to those who either:
1. Worship the Christian devil. Although in the Middle Ages, the Christian churches taught that devil-worshippers were common, those who indeed worship the Christian devil are indeed very rare. Those that do exist appear to be solitary practitioners, and have not formed any established groups.
2. Accept Satan as a pre-Christian life principle concept worth emulating. These are religious Satanists, who follow several variations of Satanism, the largest being the Church of Satan. |
| Unfortunately, the term "Satanism" has earned a rather derogatory meaning in much of North America. The following unrelated beliefs have often been referred to as "Satanism." |
| This is an imaginary, profoundly evil religion that was invented during the late Middle Ages by the Christian church. Gothic Satanists were said to ritually kill children, boil down their bodies to make magical implements, sell their soul to the devil, break crucifixes, conduct black masses, bring hail storms to damage crops, and cause disease in farm animals and humans. They were said to totally dedicate their life to harming others.
The church's creation of Gothic Satanism gave the theological foundation for the "burning times" in which tens of thousands of religious heretics, mentally ill people, and supremely unlucky individuals were burned at the stake in Roman Catholic countries, or hung in Protestant countries.
Gothic Satanism has never existed in the past as an organized entity. It does not exist today, except in the imagination of the public, and in horror movies. Belief in the reality of Satan-worshipping witches remains widespread in North America today, particularly among conservative Protestants.
Gothic Satanism should not be confused with the Gothic sub-culture. The latter is a philosophical, musical, and cultural group that is not directly related to Satanism. However, a larger percentage of Satanists are found in this subculture than in the general population.
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| Sometimes a serial killer might claim to be a Satanist to justify his or her crimes. He or she admits guilt, but also claims no responsibility due to their being under Satan's influence. Police usually discover that the perpetrator is faking it. |
| Occasionally, news of a Satanic ritual murder will surface, complete with Satanic rituals, symbols, etc. But, after investigation, the prime cause of the murder will be found to be severe mental illness on the part of the perpetrator(s). For example, a case in Germany hit the newstands during January of 2002. The accused couple, the Rudas, talked about glowing eyes, a glowing knife used as a murder weapon, a glowing victim, "Several witnesses have testified that the couple suffered from personality disorders. They could both face long terms at secure psychiatric institutions." |
| A small number of abusive pedophiles and other child molesters have been known to use a Satanic setting in order to control their victims. These people are almost always pretending to be Satanists, and are only using the Satanic facade to further their acts. The abusers figure that if their victim should escape, that authorities would not believe their story. |
| Some musicians use Satanism to gain notoriety or publicity. Sometimes, claiming involvement in Satanism might trigger an increase in record sales. Very few bands or musicians are actually Satanists. |
| In 1975, a member of the Church of Satan, Michael Aquino, left the Church after a disagreement, and organized the Temple of Set. This follows the religion of Setianism. Members recognize a pre-Satanic deity, the Egyptian God Set as a living entity who stands separate and apart from the forces of the natural universe. He was typically portrayed as a man with the head of an animal (perhaps a hyena). Set was copied by the Chaldeans who called him Had or Hadit; this later became Shaitan, and still later the Satan of Christianity and Islam. The media have linked the Temple of Set with the Church of Satan and called both forms of Satanism. Leaders of both religious groups deny that they are related. |
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