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Subject: alt.satanism FAQ file

This article was archived around: Thu, 03 May 2001 16:28:11 GMT

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Version: 49990907 LOCATION http://www.luckymojo.com/faqs/faq.astnfcs.9907 ______________________________________________________________________ The First Church of Satan (FCoS) FAQ Frequently Asked Questions CONTENTS: Does Satan really exist? The Satanic Trinity [Gnostic] [Traditional] [Generational] Can you define "Left Hand Path/Right Hand Path?" Are you related to Anton LaVey's church? How do you compare with the Temple of Set (ToS)? Isn't Satanism a brutal religion? What about Love? Do Satanists have a moral code? Aren't Satanists "devil worshippers?" Do Satanists engage in animal sacrifice? What is the meaning of the goat and that star symbol? What are your ethics regarding love spells? Do Satanists have regular meetings? Jesus died for my sins. What has Satan done for me? Do Satanists use drugs? Do Satanists have specific role models? How can I find out if Satanism is for me? FCoS Qualifications for Priesthood Does Satan really exist? Satanists argue over the existence/non-existence of Satan as an entity. Our position is that the fight should not be about whether or not you have a relationship with a real or imagined entity. The argument/discussion should be about whether your belief system is dogmatic or non-dogmatic. If there is one tenet we hold to, it is the strong and unequivocal belief that all spiritual paths are essentially valid - mythic road maps which can lead a seeker down a similar road to the same eternal truths. This flies directly in the face of religious advocates who proselytize a One True Way approach. When you strip the Halloween mask from the face of Satanism, you are left with is "just another spiritual path" no different from any other. Traditions have not failed us, the devotee simply has to dig deeper and avoid the horrendous pitfalls of contradictory dualistic religious traditions, because "The gravest of all sins is self-deceit!" Explain the Satanic Trinity There are three schools of thought in Satanism. Each one has been adopted, corrupted and euphemised by Christians to symbolize Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Let the mask be stripped and the veil torn asunder that all may see; 1.) Gnostic Satanism (The Father) There are a race of beings far more advanced than our own who live beyond our limited linear perception of time and space. They have, down through history, been called by various names; gods, angels, seraphim, "Heavenly Father," etc. These beings possess infinite cosmic power and wisdom compared to ourselves, but they are not really supernatural per se, just more advanced - nothing more, nothing less. This includes "Satan" or "Set." This tendency to worship them is a natural reaction of our primitive minds. Hereafter, we will refer to these beings as Daemons. We have not as yet developed the cranial capacity to perceive or comprehend the perceptions they have acquired regarding the complex nature of this universe. Direct intrusion into our lives and affairs would thwart our potential growth and evolution - we must continue to struggle and be allowed to make our own mistakes, otherwise evolution is halted, as there are no lessons being learned. There is, however, a natural way in which these Daemons (or Watchers) inspire us and communicate ideas; through an impersonal device known as the Archetypal Form which exists in the realm of the collective unconscious. The collective unconscious is a psychic realm that we as humans share, and it has been developed layer upon layer for ages - the most accessible "layers" would be common to one's family, then the tribe, race, and so on. By the time we reach the bottom layer, we realize that every living thing is connected to every other living thing, throughout our world, galaxy and Universe! Even our mentors, the daemons acknowledge their origins and state, "All the gods are of the god. All the goddesses are of the goddess. And the god and goddess are of the All." The Daemon Satan, himself, venerates the miracle of creation, the dark womb from which all life has sprung. The collective unconscious has a dual aspect-it consists of instincts and archetypes. Instincts are rudimentary survival responses which have been preserved in psychic memory throughout generations of the species. Archetypes are primordial images which have evolved out of the instinctual content because we have attained a certain level of being. These primordial images are nothing less than primitive ideas and symbols, or series of symbols, which formulate our perceptions of the world and our place in it. The archetypes are also our portals to infinite wisdom, because they provide the natural way in which Daemons can communicate with humankind, behaving not unlike computer modems. This conversation occurs when the consciousness is an altered state. The particular state of mind required has a name: samadhi or Gnosis (pronounced "noe-sis"). It is the No-mind, the ain or nothing, stopping the internal dialogue. It is also one-pointedness, passing through the eye of a needle. There are two methods used to achieve gnosis; the inhibitory mode, where the mind is progressively silenced until only a single object of concentration remains, and the excitory mode, where the mind is raised to a very high pitch of excitement while focus on an idea is fixed or maintained. The latter describes the exalted state of the celebrant during a Greater Black Magical operation. There is a push/pull effect that transpires because strong stimulation eventually elicits a reflex inhibition which paralyzes all but the most central function - the object of concentration. That object could be a petition or question posed to a certain deity or archetypal form - it could be a visual of some future event. Thus strong inhibition and strong excitation end up producing the same effect - that one-pointed consciousness, or gnosis. Please note that inhibitory and excitatory techniques can be employed sequentially, just not together in the same operation. 2.) Traditional Satanism (The Son) All creatures on the wheel of life evolve gradually, as do the souls which inhabit these forms. All life springs from the All, that dark force which permeates the Universe and sends each atom spinning; prana, orgone or cosmic energy, call it what you will - it is the Dark Mother Kali/Shiva. Beginning with the lower order of species, one particular strain will possess what could be termed a "hive soul." Take for example the monarch butterfly - there are thousands in existence, yet they collectively possess one soul. When a specie dies and is considered extinct, that collective soul forms the basis for a new specie. The hive soul will eventually see it's last (collective) incarnation and emerge as a unified individual soul. To my knowledge, there are many human souls which have come into existence this way, however, the process of Becoming does not end there! Theories regarding divergent lifelines and parallel universes are all very true. The human soul can not as yet declare it's unique existence, for it enjoys simultaneous multiple existences in these various dimensions. A perceptual blurring together of these realities and various past life recollections is avoided by a natural "cosmic buffer" which serves a pragmatic purpose; enabling one to focus and thereby benefit from the experiences, choices and lessons of his/her current lifeline. The cycle of life, death and reincarnation continues unabated for millions of years and slowly, these lifelines begin to merge until they become fully integrated and... when they do... a daemon is born! Daemons possess great cosmic power, multi-dimensional awareness, a magnified Will and a superior intellect - as a result, their lives are infinitely more complex than our own. Unlike mortals, they choose a time and place to express themselves physically. When daemons walk among us, they are born into this world in the usual fashion - there are no virgin births or "immaculate conceptions." Also, the physical body is very frail with a limited cranial capacity compared with evolution on a universal grand scale. Therefore, the daemon lends only part of his essence to a human incarnation, otherwise the concentration of prana would be too great, akin to overloading an electrical appliance. This explains why Christians have this concept of Jesus being "the son of a god." It must be stressed that, as a race, these advanced souls come infrequently - they are not at war with one another as our primitive mythologies suggest. When daemons incarnate, the "cosmic buffer" serves a slightly different purpose; by merely focussing their attention, they can retrieve information on an "as needed basis" concerning past lives, other dimensions, cosmic events... The conscious mind, in this case, is so sharp and focussed, it can easily penetrate the buffer which still serves much the same purpose; avoiding an overload of psychic sensory information. Joan of Arc was also a daemon and there were others. Lucifer is perhaps the oldest and wisest amongst them always choosing the form of a shaman, priest or healer. Since this world began, the daemon answering to the name "Loki/Lucifer/HarWer" has made his appearance fewer than four times. Lucifer is the Illuminated One, the Light Bearer, the outward physical manifestation of The Prince of Darkness. You must always remember that daemons are merely a manifestation of the future of our race. We are all inherently divine, the Co-Creators of a new age of Man! In this fashion we shall Create Gods in Our Own Image, for we are the Creator, and we are the Created. Thus, the cornerstone of our faith shall always be; "There is no god above Man." 3.) Generational Satanism (The Holy Spirit) There is a more important aspect of Satan, above/beyond any archetypal form or evolved existence - and that is the force these historical myths represent! The so-called yin, sod, prana or atma (breath of life). It is the Dark Force or animating principle which permeates and balances the Universe, the Cosmocrator! This force is also called entropy for it consumes time/space, but in doing so, new life is created. It is mythological greek Ouroboros, the serpent devouring its own tail - the alpha and the omega - the solve et coagula of existence! Wiccans refer to this force as The Goddess. Some Satanists fancy it as the Dark Mother, Kali/Shiva. In the Vedic (Tantric) tradition, the SAT (Being, The One) is manifested from the TAN (Boundless Darkness, The All) Ergo, Satan. Physicists call it dark matter. Wilhelm Reich had a name for it - orgone energy. But it is not energy, nor is it matter! However, it molds everything that is energy/matter. There is no stasis, anywhere. Satan indeed pushes everything into existence, then pulls everything back to its doom or primary essence. It Wills what man calls evil, yet causes good. Can you define "Left Hand Path/Right Hand Path?" LHP = Left Hand Path RHP = Right Hand Path LHP: Divinity permeates Nature. The All is One. People rejoice in the fleshly life. RHP: Divinity opposes Nature. People seek redemption from the flesh. Are you related to Anton LaVey's Church? Anton LaVey is dead. His real name was Howard Stanton Levey, a self-loathing jew who invited Nazis and skinheads into his organization and put them in positions of power! We are being very public about our intention to maintain a Satanic organization that is not hostile and manipulative towards its own members, and we've been very concerned about the manipulative and hierarchical nature of LaVey's Church of Satan, with Blanche Barton as its new High Priest. The FCoS focuses more on individuality and diverse expressions of Satanism. Our High Priest, Lord Egan, was a member of the early Church of Satan lead by LaVey, back in the early 70's. He sees himself returning to the self empowering Satanism no longer alive in the organization lead by Ms. Barton. The connection between the FCoS and the CoS is admiration for the Satanic Bible as a strengthening book, as most members of the early Church of Satan remember it, and as many new supporters of the CoS understand that book and Satanism. Today, the elitist ego bashers and personality manipulators of the San Francisco CoS, have forgotten or subverted the original purpose of the Satanic Bible as strengthening and respecting of individuals and their autonomy of mind. Instead the CoS has used the Satanic Bible as a manipulative tool to lure members who are later bashed by superiority/inferiority games. How do you compare with the Temple of Set (ToS)? Temple of Set - (Prometheun Gnosticism) The dark force which permeates and manifests the Natural Universe is not identified with Set (Satan), but God. The purpose of Xeper is to achieve separation, isolation from the Natural Universe, a state of unique existence outside our perception of time and space. Like the Christians, Setians are dualists - their diety has an "opposite face," a physical manifestation known as HarWer (The Devil), defined as "fitful" (spasmodic, chaotic, irregular). The First Church of Satan - (Dark Gnosticism) The dark force which permeates and manifests the Natural Universe is One - there is no "other" and this is the most wonderful of all possible worlds! The Christian god is a comic book character. The process of Becoming involves the magnification and expansion of one's Will within the confines of the Natural Universe and other multi-dimensional existences - an integrated state of existence which transcends time and space. Isn't Satanism a brutal religion? What about love? Many Satanists play right into the "dualistic trap" laid out for them by the Christians, Islamics and certain Hindu sects. Since these religions preach tolerance, brotherhood and kindness, they feel dutybound to react in an adversarial manner! Perhaps the worst thing one can do is mention the "L" word (love) before a group of Satanists. The spiritual religions are psyche-denying, of that there can be no doubt - they forbid emotions like anger and lust, but in doing so they burst upon us unbridled! The evangelist forms a compulsive need for hookers, Islamic fundamentalists become an angry, bloodthirsty mob, etc... One would think that the Satanist would learn from these examples, but they don't. Hardly beyond adolescent development, many hormonally - challenged LaVeyans choose the polar opposite extreme; love is equated with weakness, hate with strength. Yet in practice, the opposite is true. The daemonic approach is to embrace the totality of human experience; love and hate, joy and despair, empathy and indifference. One cannot achieve the pinnacle of ecstacy without having first experienced the very depths of gloom - it's a simple law of nature! Yes, we live in a marvelous universe of duality, but the source of all life is the One, whose center is everywhere. Do Satanists have a moral code? Only that which was penned almost a century ago by famed poet and mystic, Aleister Crowley; Liber Oz There is no god above Man. Man has the right to live by his own law -- to live in the way that he wills to do: to work as he will: to play as he will: to rest as he will. to die when and how he will: Man has the right to eat what he will: to drink what he will: to dwell where he will: to move as he will on the face of the earth. Man has the right to think what he will: to speak what he will: to write what he will: to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build as he will: to dress as he will. Man has the right to love as he will: --- "take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where and with whom ye will!" -- AL. I. 51. Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights. "the slaves shall serve." -- AL. II. 58. Aren't Satanists "devil worshippers?" No! The difference between Satanism and devil worship is simple; Devil worshippers are nothing more than wannabe renegade Christians still drowning in the belief that to be a Satanist they must use dogma that is the reverse of Christian belief. Satanists are free thinkers, moving forward spiritually through self-exploration and spiritual stimulation. Strictly speaking, a devil worshipper is someone who worships evil as a moral absolute. The Satanist does not recognize "good and evil" per se - only cause and effect (yin/yang). Do Satanists engage in animal sacrifice? Isn't that a cheap "thrill" kill used to stimulate the emotional/magical effectiveness of an inferior magician? Traditionally, the magician would have regularly killed his own meat, as did everybody else. With that in mind, he must have been pretty dulled to the experience of killing when it came to a sacrifice, so I can't see that the "thrill kill" applies to traditional magic. This concept is modern and due to our removal from the killings in which we all participate (unless you're veggie). I won't be surprised if it happens in isolated cases, but that's a separate issue. The phobia surrounding the sacrifice is hysteria, based in the main from our culture's phobia of ritual and occult in general. Our take is that in the medieval witchcraft/magical traditions, animal sacrifice was a continuation of a pagan practice whereby the god was in reality "fed" by the slaughter. The word "Psychodrama" was not around, and for us to force our magical theories on others is a bit presumptuous. Santeros insists that the sacrifice is necessary, and by all accounts their magic is indeed powerful. The second point - the denigration of the magician who requires the sacrifices. I see this as a covert attempt to moralize the issue. What offends here is the taking of an "innocent life" to attain one's selfish needs. In nature, an animal kills in self-defense or for food - that is why we strictly enforce the following rule; "You kill it, you eat it." We strongly believe that adolescents who "thrill kill" the neighborhood dog, cat, rabbit, squirrel, etc., in the name of Satan should be forced to eat the carcass of the animal (properly cooked, of course!) Society, in general, is out of touch with nature and out of touch with reality. Its time to wake-up and smell the coffee... What is the meaning of the goat and that star symbol? The Sigil of Baphomet. The five symbols (one at each point of the Baphomet) are five Hebrew letters: Lamed (L), Vau (V), YOD (Y), Tau (Th), and Nun (N). These letters spell out the Hebrew word Leviathan (LVYThN). 1. The Leviathan is associated with the Ouroboros, or Serpent eating its own tail. This element of the Baphomet is derived from the Ophites who used the Serpent as a symbol of Wisdom. The Serpent represents the big-bang/crunch of the Cosmos (the simultaneous creation/destruction). 2. The Star itself comes from the Pythagorean school of Mathematics. Many have missed the association of Pythagoras' name with Python (another form of the Serpent Leviathan). In fact, one of the more Esoteric derivants of Baphomet is "Baphe-Metis", that is, Initiation into Wisdom-Measurement. 3. The Goat is Pan, the symbol of nature itself. These three elements represent the Trinity, the three clans or schools of thought united under one symbol. Today, these people are known as Satanists, i.e., Tanists, SAT = "The One", TAN = "Darkness" (that which is invisible). The three clans are: (1) Pan/Arcadia - the goat (2) Ophite Jews - the Hebrew letters for LVYThN (3) Pythagorean - the pentacle, or pent-alpha, most commonly called the pentagram. With two points up, the Pentagram symbolizes the natural and healthy venting of emotion. The one point down is the Lightning bolt or ENTROPY which produced the spark of life as we know it. You will notice that the center of the star resembles a house. Regarding the one-point-up (actually this star is truly "inverted") we say that the "house" is upside-down. The sigil of Baphomet is not a legal trademark or corporate logo as others would have you believe! Why? Because it was not created in this century! Anyone can use this symbol - it is in the public domain, just like the christian crucifix or jewish star of david. If any person or organization threatens to sue you for using, advertising, posting or merchandising items displaying this symbol, please report it to us immediately! They are perpetrating fraud and will be dealt with swiftly and severely. What are your ethics regarding love spells? Magic spells can be thrown any number of ways and it is delineated in the updated version of Satan's Bible. Also... you brought up a very important point: What I'm about to do is give you information based on years of practical experience, not "theory" or some Wiccan Rede based on half-truths...Yes, you can throw spells to force people to fall in love with you, but if you do it to the wrong person, you will be very very sorry! First you must do a spell to attract "the perfect soul-mate" someone who is hand-picked by Lucifer himself (I'm not kidding). I know a witch who did this. When she met the right man, it was at a social gathering - out of the corner of her eye she kept seeing the witch goddess Hecate doing an exotic dance around him. Everytime she looked directly at him, she was gone! The witch knew this to be the sign she was waiting for - it wasn't a mere hallucination. Her heart was beating - he was rich, handsome and wanted nothing to do with her! But... the very fact that they were compatible spiritually? This gave the witch a clear advantage - the overwhelming force of nature was in her favor! She did a spell forcing him, binding him to her and it worked - he phoned her the next day. They have been together for 15 years (a true story). Love spells are very tricky. You might think you've found the right man, ignored all the warning signs and wind up in and out of divorce court or even worse, destroying yourself over the wrong person. Do Satanists have regular meetings? More and more Satanism is coming out of the closet and it will soon go public. This will happen in Salem, Massachusetts (USA) sometime in the near future. A difficult road lies ahead, but the future of Satanism will be as an alternative mainstream religion. In the meantime, private meetings will be held in member's homes and occasionally rented facilities. Jesus died for my sins. What has Satan done for me? Satan, my dear, has not insulted your intelligence by even considering such an ineffectual and ecologically unsound act. Dead Sea Scrolls recently translated, allude to the fact that Jesus didn't either. Of course, if you really believe that Jesus did choose to die for you instead of running off with Mary M. for a lifetime of bliss, then I have a neat toll bridge that I'll sell you cheap. Did you ever notice how fast an old god dries up when a new one is sold to the public? Jehovah was far too much trouble to fool with, so today, only a few hanger's on even remember his name. Do Satanists use drugs? Most practicing Satanists are also Black Magicians or Wizards of one level or another. Obviously, it is not wise to fool around with the gross and elemental powers of the universe while on a bum trip or fuzzy in the head. Satanists need total control of every thought and action when at risk and cannot condone the limiting effects of drugs, or for that matter, alcohol. Focus, Intent and Will are adversely affected by substance abuse and are therefore avoided. There are some psychedelic substances which give the magician insight and open psychic channels, but the results are short-lived and do not encourage discipline. Generally speaking, drugs and magic do not mix! Harmless mind-altering substances like marijuana, peyote, even alcohol may be used on rare occassion in recreational and/or traditional ceremonial settings, but the Satanist should always observe strict rules regarding moderation. The First Church of Satan advocates the legalization of all drugs and the immediate closure of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) government offices in the United States. Why? We believe in personal responsibility. Mortals must be given right to choose - to make their own mistakes and suffer the consequences of their own actions. Do Satanists have specific role models? The saints of our religion have been those great men and women who were the "movers and shakers" of their day - those great philosophers and inventors who helped reshape the way in which we view our world - the paradigm shifters! We proudly present this partial list of names; Ayn Rand, Camille Paglia, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Friedrich Nietzsche, H.L. Mencken, Wilhelm Reich, Nikola Tesla, Bertrand Russell, Oscar Wilde, Madonna, George Carlin ... and many more! How can I find out if Satanism is for me? If it really matters to you, and you really want to know, then you have but to ask. In the dark of night, and with a open mind, say out-loud and really mean it, "Satan, I want the truth." Now, don't expect a burning bush experience, but over a period of time, events will transpire and chance meetings will occur so that one day, you will realize that the truth has been there all along. Of course, you will be as a judge, compiling many pieces of information and experience into a whole. When the process is complete, you will then have to weigh the facts and make an informed decision. The answer you receive from Satan, using the above stated method, will be the "truth" you are seeking, but it will be your truth! When one begins "channeling messages" for others to read, then canonizing said documents, he no longer has a special relationship with the Prince of Darkness having betrayed his basic evolutionary premise, self-determination. A solid line of demarcation exists between gnostic self-enlightenment and the evangelical tenets of a self-appointed "pontiff." Our contribution to Satanism? Being able to carry the movement to this next level. First Church of Satan Qualifications for Priesthood Those who aspire to the FCoS priesthood MUST submit a 300 word essay (minimum) entitled "Why I Wish to Represent the FCoS." Considering the current profile of those who represent the CoS in California, we have become a bit leery of those chosen to represent us. We will be looking for those who possess "people skills" and the ability to communicate ideas, along with a basic grasp of the Satanic philosophy. Of course, you must first become a member! Greater Black Magical skills, the fact that you can quote Nietzsche verbatim, pronounce enochian or speak Klingon fluently will hardly be a deciding factor. We wish to know what is inside your HEART first and foremost - all other issues are secondary. Once you are chosen for the priesthood, charters for local covens will be granted. You may become as public or as private as you wish and we will alert you to new members in your area. Let us say that the FCoS is an organization whose time has come. It is particularly geared to those individuals whose foundations and stature are firm enough to interact with all sorts of other abstract thinking and logic and yet not lose their own balance or identity. The question is never whether the FCoS is big enough for an individual. The question is more likely: "Is the individual big enough for the FCoS?" The history of the FCoS is being written at this very moment. Watch it change the face of Satanism. Satan Lives! The All Is One!! the Daemon Egan High Priest, FCoS The First Church of Satan "Friendly Satanists... real people!!" FAQ: http://churchofsatan.org/faq.html Faces: http://churchofsatan.org/priesthood.html Read Satan's Bible Online! (under construction) http://churchofsatan.org/bible.html --------------------------------------------- posted to usenet as: "FCoS FAQ 5-1-99CE" by "the Daemon Egan" <egan@churchofsatan.org> EOF