Althouse: "Satanism as a vessel for symbolic rationalism is a bad, overly abrasive strategy for those who strive for a secularist world."

May 19, 2014

"Satanism as a vessel for symbolic rationalism is a bad, overly abrasive strategy for those who strive for a secularist world."

"I personally disagree with the tactic. But these soft-core Satanists have every right to challenge theism in whatever fashion, so long as their strategy is not based on intimidation or the provocation of violence."

16 comments:

Wince said...: Although Harvard did not prohibit the event, allowing it as an expression of student free-speech rights, the campus group - the Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club - pulled its support, forcing relocation at the last minute to the nearby Hong Kong Restaurant and Lounge.

I had a few satanic episodes after drinking scorpion bowls at the Hong Kong back in the 1980s.; 5/19/14, 5:20 PM
YoungHegelian said...: A consecrated host, believed by Catholics to be the body of Christ, was not used in the ritual.

No consecrated host, and I'll bet no menstrual blood or semen to defile it with either.

A chick in lingerie, and not all the participants naked.

Have these people no sense of ritual? I mean, really, there is nothing more boring than a low-church Black Mass. Either have a sense of tradition or just stay and home and read Aleister Crowley, people! Kidz these days couldn't summon up Beezlebub if their immortal souls depended upon it!; 5/19/14, 5:23 PM
MDIJim said...: Oh, I agree. They have every right to hold a Satanic Mass and should be ignored as the silly teenagers they are. Still, why do they not mock Islam?

The answer to that question is known but not stated. Despite all the protestations that Islam is a religion of peace, non-believers fear that it is a religion of unchecked fury towards those who would question it.; 5/19/14, 5:30 PM
rhhardin said...: Satinism on the other hand is a weaving cult.; 5/19/14, 5:36 PM
traditionalguy said...: The elemental spirits are under Satan's rule. So maybe he can assist folks who bow to him. He is a cooperative evil one and wants to share his power over men.

Or maybe Satan comes not but to steal, kill and destroy. Oops.; 5/19/14, 5:52 PM
Fandor said...: Let them have their way.
They can all go to hell.; 5/19/14, 5:57 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: At various SF clubs, where I've partied with Devil-horned implant types, I used to think about this stuff. About how some people fool themselves into thinking that, because they oppose Christianity, they should "join" those going to Hell. One problem, though:

Atheists can't be into Satanism because - DUH - no God/No Satan.

They're still part of the problem - of belief.

An atheist sees the bloody fairytales for what they are, learns something about the quizzically contradictory nature of existence - and, thus, to watch his or herself - and then drops participation in the apocalyptic for (ahem) real pursuits. Like busting con artists.

Houdini, James Randi (who's gay, BTW) and many others, discovered the rush found in justice, when sunlight finally hits a lie, is a worthy alternative to blind worship.; 5/19/14, 6:10 PM
furious_a said...: Never, ever read aloud from a scroll for summoning Satan or his lesser demons, even as a joke.
--"Top 10 Lessons from Horror Movies", #3.; 5/19/14, 6:50 PM
MikeD said...: TCE seems to be channeling the non-sensical "Beat" (beatnik) poets of the late 50's. Sounds profound, means nothing! Yes, I was there.
Atheists are always demeaning/disparaging Judeo-Christian beliefs yet,seldom the Buddhist nor, the even more mock-able, Hindu religion. We won't go to Islam, as they're afraid they'll be murdered.
BTW, these people were not Satanist, just a bunch of intolerant kiddies ragging on Catholics.; 5/19/14, 7:32 PM
YoungHegelian said...: A very good friend of mine from college (gone on to his eternal reward at too young an age, sadly) became a priest for one of the Eastern Rite Churches in communion with Rome.

After some years, he had a very unpleasant falling out with his parish, and essentially walked away from it.

Well, he wanted to be a priest for somebody, and the Romans & Orthodox wouldn't touch him, so he thought: I'll try the Episcopalians.

After hearing about his attempt to join the Episcopalians, I called & left a message on his answering machine in my most official voice: "Mr. C., this is Mr. J. from the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. In checking out your references, there is a Mr. YH who claims that in college he witnessed you on top of Monte Sol dancing in a circle around a bonfire with three naked coeds chanting 'Satan is Lord! Satan is Lord!' Would you like to comment on these charges, Mr. C.?"

He called me back and said with a sigh "Oh, YH, if you could prove it really happened, it could only help my case with the Episcopalians."; 5/19/14, 7:41 PM
Illuninati said...: Here's the real problem:
Fox News's Emily Walker says that if she had tried to hold a ceremony at Harvard mocking Islam, it never would have been permitted..."Would Harvard support me and would the Muslim community acknowledge that the protest is my right?" she writes. "As a former Harvard undergraduate student, I doubt it."

One does not need to accept Catholic theology to recognize the important role the Catholic church played and still plays in founding and sustaining Western Civilization. It is unclear whether these specific atheists are deliberately trying to destroy Western civilization by favoring Islam or whether they are simply cowards. Either way it is appropriate that they worship the prince of darkness since darkness is their agenda.; 5/19/14, 9:00 PM
William said...: How do you make fun of a clown convention? Some institutions are self marginalizing.; 5/19/14, 10:22 PM
William said...: Not Satanists. Harvard.; 5/19/14, 10:22 PM
MaxedOutMama said...: What's funniest about this:
It should be noted that members of the Satanic Temple don't really worship Satan so much as they embrace atheism and point to Satan as a literary symbol of their humanist views.

Is Satan really a good emblem of humanism? This is the oddest idea!; 5/19/14, 10:25 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Unknown,

"TCE seems to be channeling the non-sensical "Beat" (beatnik) poets of the late 50's. Sounds profound, means nothing! Yes, I was there."

Obviously, because I have no idea what you mean.

"Atheists are always demeaning/disparaging Judeo-Christian beliefs yet,seldom the Buddhist nor, the even more mock-able, Hindu religion. We won't go to Islam, as they're afraid they'll be murdered."

I could correct you - show you every post I've done mocking every religion - but, being a lying racist conservative, you'd do like all the rest and simply ignore the truth, and then start a new lie to spread about me. I think that means I'm being effective.

BTW - contrary to conservative lies, I've been laughing at Islam for years. I know that fact will make your poor widdle bwain expwode - as you think it's the ultimate trump card, or something, in a debate nobody else is having - but I'm hoping for it.

"BTW, these people were not Satanist, just a bunch of intolerant kiddies ragging on Catholics."

Is there another description for Satanists than that?; 5/20/14, 9:47 AM
Static Ping said...: If they were really worshiping Satan, then they are publicly declaring that they are evil. And not some cartoony over the top villain evil or misunderstood, bad childhood evil, but Hitler, real deal, balls to the wall evil.

If they are really atheists using Satan as a symbol of mockery, they don't seem especially bright. Even casual believers and non-believers tend to know who Satan is and that he's bad news. They are the morons in horror movies that think evil is a toy. Even if Satan is not real, one does not celebrate evil.

Either way, it comes across as (no pun intended) bad faith.; 5/20/14, 10:31 PM