Tag: religion

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Satansplain #081 – The Satanic Rituals, part 2 of 3

In this second part of a 3-episode exploration of The Satanic Rituals, hear a closer examination of the book’s extensive introductions, plus the infamous Black Mass, “Masonic” ceremony mysteries tracing back to the Knight’s Templar, the Islamic-condemning rituals of the Yazidis, and the ritualized Seventh Satanic Statement, “Das Tierdrama”.

00:00 – Intro
01:35 – The Satanic Rituals: Introduction
03:50 – The Satanic Rituals: Concerning the Rituals
07:08 – Concerning the Rituals (continued)
11:03 – The Black Mass
17:40 – So why is it there?
23:50 – Ceremony of the Stifling Air
26:11 – Pilgrims of the Age of Fire
32:07 – German Lore: Das Tierdrama

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Satansplain #080 – The Satanic Rituals, part 1 of 3 (introduction)

In 1972, Anton Szandor LaVey released The Satanic Rituals, the companion book to The Satanic Bible. Yet it seems to be the one book of LaVey’s which Satanists often pay the least attention to. Satansplain presents a 3-episode exploration of The Satanic Rituals. Part 1 starts with a preliminary debunking of common Satanic ritual misconceptions, an overview of the “whys” and “hows” of Satanic ritual, some history on the book itself, an initial peek into the book’s contents, and a look at the general underlying human urge for ritual.

00:00 – Intro
03:49 – Reminder: Satanism is not Inverted Christianity
09:18 – Humans dig ritual / Annoying Questions We Get
13:18 – Explaining metaphors to the idiots who still don’t get it
20:13 – Excerpt from “The Rite Stuff”
22:04 – Infernal Names, John’s Letter
28:09 – The Satanic Rituals: About Publishing
31:17 – Reminder: Don’t Die a Group Ritual Virgin
34:50 – The Satanic Rituals: Release

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Satansplain #072 – Myth of Satanic Denominations (“No, it’s not like Catholics vs. Protestants”, part 2)

Continuing from the previous episode, a look at whether various “Satanic” groups can really be called different denominations of Satanism, with a particular look at groups formed after 1966, especially in the age of the Internet. No, it’s still not analogous to Catholics arguing with Protestants.

00:00:00 – Intro
00:02:15 – Review of episode 71, and why the Catholics vs. Protestants is still a bad analogy
00:07:25 – Why I don’t say “LaVeyan”
00:09:15 – Summary of episode 72, and “de facto Satanists”
00:14:26 – Dictionary argument and “Satanism is just any religion about Satan, right?”
00:18:54 – Summary of After 1966 – Theistic LHP Religions
00:23:04 – The Deism-to-Atheism Conspiracy Theory
00:31:15 – Non-theistic Satanic groups and Cevin Soling’s tax shelter (a.k.a. The Satanic Temple)
00:37:49 – Even more pseudo-Satanic groups I’ve seen
00:41:11 – No, these groups haven’t “evolved” anything
00:45:33 – Eco Satanism example, and collective action
00:48:43 – Rising up / Ecumenicalism
00:51:23 – Other lame reasons, e.g. wanting to do crime
00:55:06 – Other excuses: missing the boat on parts of Satanism, conspiracy theories of “Theistic LaVeyans”
00:57:27 – The Internet and the ease of declaring your own denomination/org
01:00:30 – Closing Remarks

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Satansplain #065 – Satanism vs. Humanism

A look at Satanism and humanism, their similarities and more importantly their differences. Though to do that, we’ll have to first unpack some bigger topics, such as what makes a religion a religion in the first place. Also, some listener mail about Satanists and social media, as well as Satanic baptisms.

00:00 – Intro
01:21 – The Satanic Bible: “Humanism is not a religion”
02:27 – Satanism is a religion. Non-theistic religions exist. Yes, really.
05:16 – Atheism is not a religion. Neither is monotheism.
06:18 – Dogma: Why the Boy Scouts is not a religion
08:32 – The Dogma of Satanism
10:44 – What do we mean by “Humanism” / Renaissance humanism
13:27 – Secular humanism
15:33 – Similarities: Atheism and Freethought
17:24 – How Satanism and secular humanism differ (myth of “The Greater God”, etc.)
29:09 – Satanists on (or aren’t on) social media
33:40 – Satanecdote: Spam from da Hood
35:35 – Getting a Satanic baptism
40:22 – Bill M. is Marq Torien?

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Satansplain #035 – Marilyn Manson, Marijuana, and Satanism

Answering listener mail about Marilyn Manson, marijuana, and other topics. Also, Bill gives his thoughts on his recent appearance on Comedy Central’s “Tooning Out The News”.

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Satansplain #034 – A Medicine for Melancholy (1992, 2023)

We’re living in some crazy times. What is a Satanist to make of it? A look back at Anton LaVey’s 1992 essay, “A Medicine for Melancholy”, and some surprising insight it offers for today.

00:00 – Intro

01:16 – Relevant Re-reading

03:36 – Religion during hard times

05:40 – Recap: Yes, Satanism is a religion. Really.

07:26 – Don’t be afraid of the “d” word

09:12 – Clown World, subjective jadedness

15:13 – “Demoralization Process”

16:45 – “A Medicine for Melancholy, or How to Avoid the D.P.s”

20:35 – LaVey’s 3 suggestions

27:18 – Comments on the essay, Nostalgia, ‘Member Berries

32:05 – Being a hipster vs. avoiding the D.P.s

33:05 – Bill’s argument for physical media

40:15 – Choices vs. indulgence

41:46 – Dangers of impulsion & compulsion

44:27 – “Instant gratification” and long-term indulgence