Satanism is More than Humanism
https://www.dpjs.co.uk/humanism.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2002
#comparative_satanism #humanism #psychology #religion #satanism
The starting point for understanding Satanic philosophy towards mankind and our place in the universe, and Satanic morality, is to examine Humanism. But Satanism is more than Humanism. Satanism is religious and anti-religious, and has religious symbolism, ceremony, ritualistic and dogmatic aspects whereas Humanism is largely devoid of these.
1. Humanism: A Truly Worthwhile Belief System
What is Humanism? According to the Council for Secular Humanism, a well known and respected Humanist organisation, Humanism is:
- A conviction that dogmas, ideologies and traditions, whether religious, political or social, must be weighed and tested by each individual and not simply accepted on faith.
- Commitment to the use of critical reason, factual evidence, and scientific methods of inquiry, rather than faith and mysticism, in seeking solutions to human problems and answers to important human questions.
- A primary concern with fulfilment, growth, and creativity for both the individual and humankind in general.
- A constant search for objective truth, with the understanding that new knowledge and experience constantly alter our imperfect perception of it.
- A concern for this life and a commitment to making it meaningful through better understanding of ourselves, our history, our intellectual and artistic achievements, and the outlooks of those who differ from us.
- A search for viable individual, social and political principles of ethical conduct, judging them on their ability to enhance human well-being and individual responsibility.
- A conviction that with reason, an open marketplace of ideas, good will, and tolerance, progress can be made in building a better world for ourselves and our children.
“Secular humanists accept a world view or philosophy called naturalism, in which the physical laws of the universe are not superseded by non-material or supernatural entities such as demons, gods, or other "spiritual" beings outside the realm of the natural universe. Supernatural events such as miracles (in which physical laws are defied) and psi phenomena, such as ESP, telekinesis, etc., are not dismissed out of hand, but are viewed with a high degree of skepticism.”
The social scientist Asbjørn Dyrendal humorously refers to Satanism as2:
Humanism with horns
There is nothing here that contradicts the Satanic view of the world. Humanism is thoroughly productive and down to Earth, an all-round force for goodness, intelligence, intelligent and non-mystical morality that is based on reason. Many Humanists dismiss Satanism if they come across it. Some find it disturbing, some find it stupid, but most find it pointless. Which is fine, Humanists are in general skeptical and intelligent to an admirable degree. There's no improvement to be had in their outlook. However Humanism does not fulfill all the needs of all people, religious imagery and ritual satisfy our psyche in obscure ways that Humanism lacks and Satanism offers. In the modern secular world, such things are not acknowledged as useful to all people. And indeed they're not.
2. The Religious Trappings of Satanism
2.1. Ritual and Symbolism
#christianity #psychology #satanism
“Humanism is not a religion. It is simply a way of life with no ceremony or dogma. Satanism has both ceremony and dogma.”
"The Satanic Bible"
Anton LaVey (1969)3
Book of Lucifer 3:paragraph 22
Satanism cannot be arrived at through pure logic, unlike Humanism, as Satanism requires religious imagery and therefore requires the knowledge of previous religions.
“Some people have an inherent need for ceremony, ritual and dogma in their lives. As the modern world disposes of organized religion, the historical provider of these elements of life, people are taking up alternative religions. The instinct towards symbolism is a result of our evolution through a pre-literate phase of development both in history and as an infant. Satanism provides ritualistic and dogmatic trappings without the waffle of many other religions.”
“It has never been enough for us to be atheistic - we have learned how to smash religious ignorance by beating them at their own game, using the Christians' own manufactured fears to destroy them.”
"The Devil's Notebook" by Anton LaVey (1992)4
2.2. A Functional Equivalent to Religion
Some Satanists are sure that Satanism is a religion. Some are sure it isn't. What do professional religious academics think? Social scientists who have studied Satanism have often commented on the humanistic slant, to the extent that they are sure that Satanism has distinct non-religious components. Asbjørn Dyrendal says "There are many definitions of "religion" by which at least rationalist Satanism ought to be excluded"5. Others say Satanism is still an equivalent to a religion:
“Satanism is a substantial and functional equivalent to religion. [...] Some groups within the sub-stream are easily identifiable as religions, with doctrine, practice, community and organization; others are more on the mystical, spiritual or philosophical side.”
"Contemporary Religious Satanism" by Jesper Aagaard Petersen (2009)6
2.3. Final Comments
Humanism shares materialistic views and ethical methodology with Satanism and we have the same opinions on the emptiness of religion. Satanism is religious whereas Humanism is not due to the religious symbolism, ceremony, ritualistic and dogmatic aspects of Satanism. Satanism is also Left Hand Path, Humanism is not. For these reasons, although Satanists themselves are not strictly "religious" in most senses of the word, Satanism is clearly a religion although the differences in metaphysics are so extremely opposed to what is classically considered 'religious' that some take to calling Satanism the unreligion, which is a term I find appealing!