Upload
jonas-burke
View
18
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The Dark Side of Western Religion. By Dhyresh Mendis. Satanism. Considered the direct opposite of Abrahamic Religions by followers of the latter and the general populace Has been a severely taboo topic and initiated the inquisitions and the Dark Ages - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
The Dark Side of Western Religion
By Dhyresh Mendis
Satanism
• Considered the direct opposite of Abrahamic Religions by followers of the latter and the general populace
• Has been a severely taboo topic and initiated the inquisitions and the Dark Ages
• Accusations of witchcraft has killed between 60 and 300,000 people during the Dark Ages and Inquisitions
Satanism
Satan
• Zoroaster created the first concept of Good vs Evil
• Ahura Mazda (good) vs Ahriman (evil)
• The universe was their battlefield
• Zoroastrianism was the state religion of the PersianEmpire (conquered Jerusalem)
Satan
• Hebrew for the opposer or the accuser• The Jewish form of Satan is an agent of God
who constantly argues with Him (refer Job) • Has constantly changed throughout history
from an extremely powerful foe of God (Zoroaster), to the root of all evil, to an even more powerful entity, to a rebellious hero, to an icon of business.
Historical Misconceptions
• Lucifer and Satan = one?• Lucifer (latin) means Light bringer or Morning
Star, an entity that promotes free thinking and the quest for knowledge and wisdom.
• Same as the Greek God, Phosphorus. • Morning Star because knowledge paves way
to true vision i.e : out of darkness and into light
The Reasons behind the devil’s appearance
• Dragons wings – dragons were an ancient symbol of evil
• Hooved feet and horns – from the pagan diety Pan – remniscent of a Satyr
• Two or Three pronged staff, ability to grant riches and dark beard – Hades to the Greeks or Pluto to the Romans
The Reasons behind the devil’s appearance
• Satan regained his goat-like appearance after a brief period of looking demonic after the execution of the templars in 1307 due to their worship of a pagan diety Baphomet
Anton Szandor LaVey
• Founded the Church of Satan in 1966• Wrote the Satanic bible• Bases his teachings on work from European
and Hebrew texts as well as life experience• Main Philosophy of Satanism : Do as you
please as long as no one else recieves ill effects of your actions and destroy anyone who obstructs your path
LaVeyan Satanism
• Is extremely liberal: Do as you please • States that the best friend of the church is the
Christian Devil• The Satanic Devil is not a being but a force – the
force of opposition (Newton)• Understands the carnal nature of man and thus
does not ask you to refrain unless another man is being hampered by it.
• Unholy books: The Satanic Bible, The Satanic Rituals and The Devil’s Notebook