The Black Dragon Speaks!

Of course Lucifer is the Prince of Darkness: Even the smallest light will govern the Darkest corners of the Universe.

Intolerance; What Can Be Done? Act!

Some years ago as I was sitting in a Christian Church (Assembly of God) the Minister said something that has had a profound influence in my life. He said, “Satan sits on the doorsteps of many a church, crying his eyes out. You see, he is getting blamed for so much he did not do.” He went on to let us know that we must take responsibility for our actions and responsibilities. It is this sense of personal responsibility that is at the heart of the Left-hand path.

Satan and devils may be the defining idea of Christianism, more so than Christ. Truth is, money is what the Church of Constantine hungers for. Anton LaVey has said, Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years! It saddens me to think that this is all too true. To make sense of such a statement would require an understanding of Satan from the Christian perspective, which is what I believe LaVey was originally arguing from. Yet I have heard some Pagans blaming him for their sins, too. Satan is adverse to passing the buck to another lest we should wise up and become better than we are.

Biological tolerance occurs when we expose an organism to the stress, either of an exotic environment, or an exotic component added to their native environment. Then, as Frederick Wilhelm Nietzsche said, “Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärken.” In other words, the best way to learn tolerance for our fellow human is to be involved with them. Going to a café where there are “strangers” — experiencing strange colors, languages, even strange beliefs — can develop tolerance.

Think about it; the places in the world where tolerance is strong are those with diversity galore. Sure, large populations have other problems. Yet, intolerance for minor differences is less of a going concern.

The first step toward war and genocide begins with a lie. That lie usually says something like, “They are not human, therefore we can kill them and take their stuff.” Maybe they do not rationalize it in that sort of language. Maybe no one rationalizes it until someone pulls the trigger. Truth is, a thought can manifest as a word, and a word can become an action. Can you really call someone a subhuman demon if you are looking them in the face?

For some strange reason, I frighten some sorts of religious fascists. I am Gay, Satanic Pagan, and a SatyaGrahi. Why are they afraid, I wonder? Of all those, SatyaGraha frightens them the most. Twice a foreign agent tried to conquer Russia; twice they failed because of nonviolent actions on the part of the Russians. (Basically, they ran, took everything with them, and waited for winter.) Great and powerful Khans and half-naked lawyers throw down their weapons and ask only that those in power behave themselves with other people’s lives; the powerful respond with incredible violence — more violence than when faced with violence — and throw their leaders into jail without due process. Some Pagan hears me call myself a “Satanist” and they get all wigged out. I have a cure for the “Wiggs”; Let’s have coffee sometime. Rather, coffee sometimes, ice cream on others, have a couple of rip-roaring arguments, and maybe a zap or a visit to someone’s deathbed together. If we do this enough times, maybe, we will recognize each other — Christian, Pagan, Satanist, Buddhist — as humans, struggling for meaning, struggling to exist.

We can blame the Cosmic Boggie man all we like for our short comings, yet who are we really lying to? Like alcohol, Satan does not make us do anything. He may make it easier to violate some code of ethic or taboo by giving us a plausible excuse. This would be good if the ethic or taboo is more harm than good. What if the taboo has a point? Like alcohol, if we use her as such we will bury those feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and worthlessness that alcohol is so good at drowning. The trouble is that in time those drowned feelings will float, and even learn to swim. Alcohol knows only what its chemical awareness makes of us; Satan, however, will first laugh at us for abusing her gifts, then accuse us with the terrible truth that we tried so hard to ignore. It is well said, He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into you. Many fight a terrible war against the monstrous Shadow that is within each of us. Yet like so many phantoms, an honest look will dispel most of that Shadow, and she will become the guardian of innocence she is meant to be. If we are honest, and like ‘Iob learn from our adversary, our adversary will soon become our advocate. You see, the Shadow of Satan is the Christ. Why else are both called “The Morning Star?”

Yes, it is difficult. It doesn’t get any easier if you drown. (Tantric Proverb)