The common concept of Satanism interpreted by Christianity is the direct and blasphemous worship of the Devil mentioned within their Holy Bible. Satanists are supposedly individuals that practice secret rituals, such as Black Masses, Human Sacrifices, Bestiality, and Child Molestation; Shady characters that reside in secret Lodges and basement ritual chambers, wearing black robes, drinking human (sometimes animal) blood, and committing every sexual deviance the human mind can dream up. Myths of "Satanic Cattle Mutilations", kidnappings, entire books written on "Spiritual Warfare", and almost an infinite list of the paranoia that "Devil Worship" perpetrates.

It's not an unusual event at all, when confessing my religious alignment, that I am confronted with the odd nervous, and confused faces of everyone. The usual reply is:" But you are too nice to be one of them. I can't see you doing the things that a Devil Worshiper does!" It is at that moment, that I realize they know nothing of this religion, and probably never will. They either disassociate from me entirely, or blacklist me for life and deny me as their "friend".

Before you read on, it is important to note two things. One, Satanism and "Devil Worship" are two different beliefs entirely. And second, the chances of you knowing Satanism at all are very slim. The two are very different entities. If you expect Satanists to be the very monstrous creatures you hear about in Church or see on daytime talk shows like Geraldo, or hear from televangelists such as Bob Larson, and Jerry Falwell - you have come to the wrong place. Satanism is not any of this.

Let it also be understood, that Devil Worshipers do in fact exist. People who do actually worship the Christian Satan as listed within the Holy Bible, who do commit illegal acts as listed above. They are the confused, misguided, uneducated, and mentally deficient practitioners of inverse Christianity. These are not Satanists, but are Christians by proxy. Normally their dogma originates from every source from literary fiction, to Christian invention. Their goals and dictates focus more on blaspheming Christians rather than living as themselves, and enjoying life as a Satanist.

It also a difficult thing for people to believe that a Satanist holds no real belief in the Christian Satan, and worship in effect, themselves and their own lives. Merely using "Satan" as an archetype, symbol, and reflection of spiritual defiance. This is a religion of the flesh, and yes, the opposite of what Christianity teaches. It is often that I hear: "The greatest lie Satan has ever told, was that he does not exist." Understanding Christianity is an outright rebellion against science and reason, and not realizing that the Devil has an origin not unlike their Christ. Very much based in myth, and scripture. And that "Good" and "Evil", are relative terms as they are based on personal option, and opinion. What may be good to one, may be "evil" to another. It is a tool utilized to judge people, and put labels on them. Furthermore they do not exist. The Nazis seen the Jews as "Evil" and "unclean", and vice-versa. It is to place oneself above another, which is something social hierarchy and structure thrives on. And is why believing in such things are destructive. Satanism, on the other hand, does not hold belief in either.

A sad thing is that there are almost more branches of Satanism, than those that exist in Christianity. For which we have an easy solution to: Simply define the only actual Satanist that exists. The one that this essay will encapsulate. Many have proclaimed the rights to as many different "versions" of Satanism as they can. Everything from Gnostic, Luciferian, Deistic, "Traditional", Intellectual, and Agnostic off-shoots of a religion that has already formulated itself, but has encouraged others to reap the benefit of the label. Satanism is not now, nor ever shall be some sort of "community".

Normally there are only a few aspects that keep a Christian a member of his or her "faith". And in actuality, are the only things that keep them there. The primary mover in the religion is fear, depravation of the human ego, and inferiority. The almost exact opposite of man's natural inclination. The human animal thrives on the need to gasconade, and prospect himself. Once this need is depraved, he enters a state of anomaly, and herd conformity. This will in turn, disrupt the very fabric of his being and psychological essence. (Psychologists call this mental illness.) Maybe this will explain why Christians have been the most violent, and bloodthirsty people in history? The very depletion of their humanity, and the slow transformations into automatons has caused the animals within each one of them, to lash out of their cages at last.

Are you a Christian? And if so, do you know for a fact what is keeping you this way? For many it is what lies beyond the grave, what religionists term the "Afterlife". Most Christians are so concerned about what happens to them when they die, that most other facets of their religion fade in the process. The greatest fear in any, and all Christians is: "Am I going to Hell?" It is rare to find a person a part of this, that is not afraid of "perishing in the fiery abyss of Hades, to be in torment forever." Fear of anything will keep you far from it. And in their case it is living!

Aside from the fear of Hell there are two other things that prevent emotional, psychological, and ethical liberty: The Holy Bible, and Conformity. If you are a Christian because of these three, then chances are you are a Christian for the wrong reasons. It is time to realize you have a mind of your own, and are capable of your own decisions, without consulting John 3:16 every time you stop at a red light. So, I have created, and adumbrated the Three Christian Immures: Hell, The Bible, and Herd Conformity.

Hell - The greatest mind control device ever devised, and what keeps loyal sheeple in their pews every Sunday. The fact that they are going to die, and that they don't want to go there when they do, helps them stay firmly planted in their seat, and to have their minds "opened wide" so they can correct themselves every time they "sin". You would be astonished at what this type of depravity can do to the human mind. Everything has been reported from committing suicide out of the fear of "not pleasing God", all the way to killing others in order to "Save them from Hell". (What kind of God do you have, where you have to save yourself from him?)

Even more common is their complete ignorance of the origins of the very place they fear. Little is known that Hell was a literary invention from the very times that the Old Testament were written and recorded to scripture. The very name "Hell" was actually stolen from the religion of the Pagan Nordics during the time that the prophets journeyed early Norway while formulating the OT Hel (Just one "L") was a Goddess of pain, torture, and the dead; The very daughter of Loki himself, who was also demonized by Christian doctrine. Her name was then later changed because the prophets had no way of spelling it correctly, since her name was merely spoken by the people and never written.

Not only was the above source used, but a large score of others. Think of the names used to define Hell. Hades: A Greek place of the dead from mythology later transcribed by Christian writers. Gehenna: A place outside of Jerusalem where garbage and waste was burned (i.e. fire and brimstone) Sheol: The original name devised for Hell when the first part of scripture that mentioned it was created. Tarteros: The abode of fallen angels located in the center of the Earth, told by early alchemists. ALL literary inventions from other sources. Displaying just how faulty, (like any religious device) this artifice really is.

Were you in realization that you were afraid of another religion's dogmas? That "Hell" in itself was not invented by Christianity, but Pagans? The only thing that religion thrives on, is the unknown. The solitary subject that science and reason cannot explain, and is therefore the weakest point of logic. Man needs to know; it is his greatest motivation. But where science is incapable, the esoteric and spiritual will substitute. In turn corroding the values of natural law, and blurring the edges of reasonable thinking. Making clear the difference between an ignorant, and lucid person. The afterlife itself, is where the strength of all religion lies. And the unexplained is the greatest vehicle of ignorance. As long as we do not know for sure, religion will be there and sure to tell us what to believe, instead of letting human beings search out their own explanations, and seek out their own truths. They much rather force it into your system with weekly sermons, and "conscious awareness". But when realizing you are the victim in this, or are in the middle of an esoteric pipe-dream; You are neither aware, nor conscious.

The Holy Bible - A book not as old as one would think, but one just as powerful as any other religious tome, if not the most powerful. It has caused wars, genocides, inquisitions, murders, witch trials, rapping's, disputes, and suicides. Such a strange thing that it is called "The Good Book". Not only is it filled with hundreds of contradictions, but it is the very doctrine that fuels today's religious fervor of violent, and counter-productive activities. The Bible (or buy bull) is annotated with absurdities, violence, contradictive statements, and prophecies that have gone offal. (For a large website dedicated to every contradcition found within the Holy Bible, click here.)

The power of the Bible does not rely on its content, but rather its mass acceptance. You are literally raised with the Bible's words, taught since the day you could understand English in a Christian oriented society. You are nearly inevitably forced into the reins of submissive ignorance. It is said when you are fed only one thing for the duration of your life, you become what it is. How can you break away from the only thing you know? This is the very thing that plagues any social atmosphere: You either can or cannot free yourself from this. The strong willed will overcome the weak willed. And mother nature makes no exceptions in this process.

Herd Conformity - The third most common reason for remaining Christian is the pure will of others to squeeze you into their own mold. Being "forced" into the religion itself, and being made to in some way "fit". It is also mankind's natural inclination to fit in with the others of his kind. After all he is a social animal, and requires the support of others since it is often impossible for him or her to rely on their own ability.

The populace demands to be lead, controlled, and told what to think. Our society revolves around consumers and money, so a brood of sycophants and yes-men are born into existence. Its is then said if you do not follow by what rules everyone else abides by, and purchase the ideas, and products they do, you become an outcast or social excrement.

So as a result of this many become Christian out of the fear of being rejected or not part of the average social climes. It works very mush in the way of natural gravity. The largest objects attracts the most amounts of smaller objects thus becoming much more immense than before, and soon becoming able to envelope its rivals soon after. Human beings are natural clods and matter that can be used to fuel the other masses, and readily becoming parts of a much larger whole. This works in exact opposite of human nature.

Because we have a natural urge to align ourselves with others, it often matters not which we align ourselves with, just as long as we are accepted without being rejected by the whole of society. No one wishes to "worship the Devil" in this day and age, all for the reason that Christianity is the governing religion in this country. Not only would the myths about this religion inflate, but the complete fear and Taboo generated by it would cause many to run for the hills.

What I have noticed with any religious, political, or socially inclined group is that when faced with a confrontation, or conflict - the response from the defender/aggressor is always: "If that's true then you never were a Christian,Satanist,Democrat, (add yours here)." All in some way to make the person feel inferior through being separated from his/her clan or den of former association.

Notice the behavior of wolves. When one member of the pack causes trouble with the dominant male, or in some way disturbs the entire fabric of the group - that wolf is then neglected, or separated from the group (if not killed first). Like all things with the human animal, our behavior can easily be traced back to that of those in the wild. We too, when faced with a sort of disturbance by a particular person, it is in our sheepish nature to follow along with the majority of what others say - and proclaim that person "not part of the group."

With everything in life, most of all is pretentious, fake, or put-on. Manipulation is practiced by almost every living thing. This includes social integration.. When you are involving people together in a large enough group or social climate it is bound for conflict. This most often occurs from lowered expectations, disillusionment, or just plain disappointment for not getting their way. But when engaged in mental, verbal, or psychological conflict the rules are instaneously done away with. And there are no holds barred.

How often is it that you see when couples break up, that one will usually say to the other "You were never really that good in bed anyway", or "You really are rather ugly to begin with."? Part of the ostricization process. When making enemies both sides see it as important to disband with one anthers egos as quickly as possible to make way for many hurled verbal stones. No one wants to be on the receiving end of any such thing. But like a flag pole, the ego, once built up to extreme heights, is swayed the most easily. (The bigger they are the harder they fall theory.)

So, when the fight breaks out, normally what will happen is both sides will start by trying to hit his/her opponent where it counts, finding what they see as the persons most egotistical strong-points. Each one trying to state the "awful truth" while the other trying to beat them to it. If a physical fight doesn't break out there will be some animosity there for a good long while after the first few conflicts, and that will never subside.

Not only do the combatants try to weaken each other in their own eyes, but those of others as well. Anything to break down the persons emotional barrier and somehow make him or her feel lesser than oneself. This is to make the "outcast" even less appeasing in the eyes of other members of the den. Completing the alienation process if possible, and causing the inevitable rejection of the person. Easily planned from the start. All in the form of simple ego-feeding false machistic fronts.

Conformity is a weak supplement of this ego. Satanism thrives on its qualities, so when caught in a situation of mass conformity it quickly becomes depleted, and you in turn, become counter-productive. Religions like Christianity serve to break down your sense of self-worth and much rather have you partake in a mass assimilation as opposed to being yourself as much as possible. It is true that you will be part of a large group regardless of what you do, but it is more important to be a part of a "pack" instead of a herd.

Mistake of the Biblical God: It is said "God is perfect, and knows all before it occurs. The fate of man before it has begun." This is about to be illustrated otherwise. It is a known fact within the dictates of the Bible, and the flawlessness of the God within it, that he has in fact made a mistake.

Let's "pretend" for the moment that The Holy Bible was literary fact, and that the creation of the universe as described inside did take place. Keeping in mind that "God" had in fact created the planets, life, and all else within seven days. And he has also known all before it has happened, and the fate of man before his beginning.

In this process he creates "free will" in order to make man more "free" and unbound by his own rules. Lucifer (who's name was stolen by the formulators of the Old testament from early Romans) apparently had this ability also. Noting that it should not be in him to serve man, but to have man serve him - thus rebelling against God, and declaring that he shall "build a throne higher than his, and that man shall bow before him instead." In this event Lucifer becomes banned from Heaven by the Archangel Michael at the command of God, and rejects him from Heaven into the flames of Hell (Also a stolen name); And casting all of his cohorts into this place along with him.

Sometime after this at about the time Adam and Eve have become to know of the garden and it's many delights, Lucifer, now become "Satan" through his transformation by God ascended up on the Earth to tempt man and to cause him to fall in retribution of what God had done to him for having pride. He cunningly had Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit, and caused the entire fall of mankind. And through it all God seems to have quite a surprise attitude about things. Actually asking Adam and Eve what they have done, as if he had no idea. Then actually punishing them for his own doing - the creation of the very free will which caused Satan's rise to power. God, as a result, creating Hell, punishing mankind, and allowing Satan's existence because of a mistake he had in truth made. Punishing man for something he had done, instead of repairing it or changing his own creation with which he had complete control over. (or so we thought.)

Of course this may be nothing more than a creation epic designed to explain what man cannot on his own, as he had no applicable science at the time of its writing, but at least it would do to be without loop hole after loop hole. Those who have the courage, and competency to search into the origins of this religion, I am sure left the Bible's credibility far behind in the dust. No God would surely be so incompetent to actually fall victim to his own ignorance; no God like that could exist. The simple fact that a being capable of all emaculate creation actually fell victim to his own folly is absurd, and therefore not credible.