5 things you didn't know about satanists
By Tricia Escobedo, CNN
Updated 2035 GMT (0435 HKT) December 11, 2015
Story highlights
On their websites, the Church of Satan and the Satanic Temple say Satan is a symbol, not a being
The groups reject holy sites, gods and other things sacred to most religions, but they place a high value on symbolism and art
They don't celebrate Jesus' birth, but on satanist says he spends time with family and "enjoy(s) the richness of life" on Christmas
(CNN)When you think satanism, images of pierced, black-clad youths gathering at night, listening to hardcore death metal music and sacrificing animals may come to mind.
But you might be surprised to learn that many satanists are a lot more interested in community activism and individual freedoms than heavy metal or performing bizarre rites.
Here are a few things you might not know about satanism:
Most satanists aren't devil worshipers
Surprisingly, most card-carrying satanists do not worship Satan or any other form of the devil -- they are actually atheists. The Church of Satan, founded in the mid-1960s, explains it this way on its website: [size=16]
"Satan to us is a symbol of pride, liberty and individualism, and it serves as an external metaphorical projection of our highest personal potential. We do not believe in Satan as a being or person. [/size]"
« Fa miharihary ny asan'ny nofo, dia izao: Fijangajangana, fahalotoana, fijejojejoana, » (Galatiana 5:19)
« fanompoan-tsampy, fanaovana ody ratsy, fandrafiana, fifandirana, adi-lahy, fiafonafonana, fifampiandaniana, fisarahana, fitokoana, » (Galatiana 5:20)
« fialonana, fahamamoana, filalaovan-dratsy, ary ny toy izany, izay lazaiko aminareo rahateo, tahaka ny voalazako fahiny koa, fa izay manao izany dia tsy handova ny fanjakan'Andriamanitra. » (Galatiana 5:21)
The Church of Satan puts the individual at the center of the universe, what high priest Peter Gilmore describes as going from an "a-theist" to an "I-theist."
The Satanic Temple, which formed in recent years to fight a perceived intrusion of Christian values on American politics, says, "we do not promote a belief in a personal Satan. To embrace the name Satan is to embrace rational inquiry removed from supernaturalism and archaic tradition-based superstitions."
dia amboariboarina ao ilay teny mba tsy hivandravandra be hoe ... :-) :-) :-)
.... hahahah
