Satan and the Void
“Your Satanism isn’t really about Satan, is it?” A Christian friend recently asked me this after reading my article “On Developing a personal Satanic Root Document.” I’ve been thinking about his comment ever since.
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Reactions to Satanism: A Field Guide
I’ve been a Satanist long enough now to notice some patterns in how people react to the news that I’m a Satanist.
The Satanic Practice of Learning From Demons
As a Satanist, I value knowledge, truth, resilience, and intellectual integrity. In the same way the Yogi religiously values having a nimble body, I value having a nimble mind. My Satan blasphemes social taboos, trespasses cultural boundaries, and demands evidence. My Satan understands that truth is true no matter who says it. As such, I engage in the practice of learning from demons – from people who are justly or unjustly demonized.
On Solitary Satanism
I’ve come to realize that a paradox lies at the heart of my Satanism: I’m able to engage publicly in Satanism because, at its most fundamental root, my Satanism is solitary.
Guest Post: Satan in the Red Light District
From its foundation in 1971, this Satanic church challenged legal definitions and societal preconceptions of what a religion is and can be. They dogmatically rejected belief in a higher power, fought the establishment with a wicked sense of humor, and ran a string of successful erotic enterprises as part of their religious activities.
God, Ineffability, and Satanic Ritual: Best Comments of July 2020
This was an active month on the podcast and blog, and I got some extremely thoughtful responses. The following are just a fraction of the comments and emails I received. Even if I’m not able to feature every single excellent comment I receive, I so appreciate them, and please keep them coming.
On Creating a Personal Satanic Root Document
A central aspect of my practicing of Satanism comes down to something very private: what Cal Newport calls a Root Document. For years now I’ve kept what I can only call my own personal Sacred Text. It is a holistic document, containing the very mundane (checklists for work) and the very sacred (my guiding principles, meditations, and rituals.) It is also a living document, shifting according to what I learn and need.
Satanism as a Counter-Myth: a Correspondence With Priest Penemue
Several weeks ago, a fellow named Elijah left a comment on my post Why Satan? The comment addresses concerns about Satanism which I think many people share. I was planning to write a full response, but I find that I just don’t have enough energy for that right now. I ended up corresponding with Satanic Temple Director of Ministry Priest Penemue on the subject. We had a lively discussion. Instead of writing a full response to the article, I will simply post the comment (it’s tedious, I’m sorry) followed by my correspondence with Penemue.
Games, Religion, and Walking Between Worlds
I’m the middle of a fascinating book called Dangerous Games: What the Moral Panic over Role-Playing Games Says about Play, Religion, and Imagined Worlds. Author Joseph Laycock explores, with great detail and insight, the parallel worlds of role-playing games and religion. For three decades, role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons were at the center of … Continue reading Games, Religion, and Walking Between Worlds
The False Binary Between Atheism and Religion
For the past year or so now, I’ve been caught in the strange, lonely, interstitial space of no longer believing in the existence of a personal God but still deeply valuing the role of religion in my life. Looking back, I realize that I’ve been quietly grieving for my faith in a literal, personal God … Continue reading The False Binary Between Atheism and Religion
Stephen Bradford Long 