I was linked to this wikipedia article about The Church of Satan and when reading it couldn't help but notice how much the Church of Satan's description of itself aligns with the worldview of such a large portion of modern society. Here's what stuck out to me: instead of being Other Oriented (1st commandment love God / 2nd commandment love your neighbor) its about being Self Oriented - you are your own god - you decide what works for you and that is all that matters - you are free to develop your own perspective about what is right and wrong without regard to anything outside of you. Isn't that how many people live their lives? I do what's right for me and you do what's right for you? There is no "right or wrong" about it there is just my perspective and yours? Aren't we largely driven by our own good in relationships, in politics, and in our careers? Don't get me wrong, I know many other-oriented people who prioritize their families, their friends, God - even their clients. I just really feel like there is a strong societal acceptance of living for yourself & letting others be "not my problem".
A link to the article:
An excerpt:
David Shankbone: How would you define the word Satan?
Peter Gilmore: Satan is a model or a mode of behavior. Satan in Hebrew means “adversary” or “opposer”; one who questions. Since we generally are skeptical atheists, we question all spirituality. We believe that carnality is all that exists and the spiritual dimensions are fictional. So we stand against eastern and western religions that promote fictions, according to our perspectives. So we are adversaries. Satan to us is an exemplar. When we look at how he is portrayed by Mark Twain in Letters from the Earth, or Byron, or Milton’s Paradise Lost, he ends up being an inspirational symbol to us. We say we would like to be more like that. We will not bow our heads; we will be independent. We will constantly question.
You can’t be praying to a God or blaming a devil, or anyone else, for that matter, for what happens to you. It’s on your own head. That’s a challenge for most people.
DS: What is the Church of Satan?
PG: Satanism begins with atheism. We begin with the universe and say, “It’s indifferent. There’s no God, there’s no Devil. No one cares!” So you then have to make a decision that places yourself at the center of your own subjective universe, because of course we can’t have any kind of objective contact with everything that exists. That’s rather arrogant and delusional, people who try to put things that way. So by making yourself the primary value in your life, you’re your own God. By being your own God, you are comfortable about making your own decisions about what to value. What’s positive to you, is good. What harms you, is evil. You extend it to things that you cherish and the people that you cherish. So it’s actually very easy to see that it’s a self-centered philosophy.
