Katryna Mae Ann T.

Torres

2011-10972

BS Biology

TFE1

Welcome to The Other Side

Thesis Statement: I. There is a big misconception between the kind of Satanism seen by the public and the

true nature of Satanism. A. The most common image popular to many is only the image given by the

infamous illuminati group which worships Satan as a god. B. C. Satan represents a lot of things but mostly stands for worldly desires. The true essence of Satanism is to satisfy man's pleasures.

II.

The Church of Satan was founded by Anton Szandor LaVey on April 30, 1996 along with

the creation of the Satanic Bible, which has then influenced the beliefs of people in all parts of the world. A. B. II. jlkjlkj Satanism in the Philippines can be traced back to djfhsdjk

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A lot of people, especially the Christians, view Satanism as a shadowy cult, worshipping Satan, the force that goes against God. People tend to stereotype the Satanists as evil and diabolical. They are people who do rituals, summon devils and other entities, and harm and hurt others for some unknown reason. This, however is not entirely true. As John wrote in his blog, "Ignorance sometimes makes us believe in something." Some are usually afraid to associate or concern themselves about it and that if they did, they would become as soiled and sadistic as the image the mainstream media had exposed to them. The Satanism that popular culture is familiar with is just the image that is projected by Hollywood, some pretentious metal bands and teenagers who use Satan as an excuse for their criminal acts (Benj). In reality, Satanism is a belief or philosophy that is, in the broadest sense, dedicated to the acceptance of the nature of man being a carnal beast by birth ("Church of Satan: Welcome"). Satanists do follow or worship Satan but this Satan takes many forms. In the "Satanic Bible", similar to the "Holy Bible" of the Christians, Anton Szandor LaVey wrote the Nine Satanic Statements: 1. 2. 3. 4. Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence! Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams! Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit! Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted

on ingrates! 5. Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek!

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6.

Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for

psychic vampires! 7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often

worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his divine spiritual and intellectual development, has become the most vicious animal of all! 8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical,

mental, or emotional gratification! 9. Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in

business all these years! Although Satanism is of different kinds, such as Theistic Satanism which believes in the existence of two supreme beings, God and Satan, and Atheistic Satanism which believes otherwise, it is built on the same guiding principle. The essence of the Satanism is the indulgence in pleasureenjoying life in materialistic point of view. Engaging in pornography, succumbing to greediness, enjoying drugs and vices, and other forms of man's worldly desires are a thumbsup in Satanism and a thumbs-down in the Christian doctrine for it is from the act of the Seven Deadly Sins in which these satisfactions are obtained. Nevertheless, this doesn't always mean that Satanists are evil for being bad and being good are relative. Becoming a Satanist does not always entail having to hurt others or as Benj had stated in his blog, to destroy the world and to kill as many Christians as [one] can.

Satanism is a concept in which there is no specific beginning. It is assumed to have started even from the ancient civilizations. However, the first above-ground organization in history devoted to Satan is the Church of Satan, founded by LaVey on April 30, 1996.