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More about "Fear and Satanism" on Obsidian Butterfly
by Diane Vera
Copyright © 2003 by Diane Vera. All rights reserved.
Below are comments about Fear and Satanism on the Obsidian Butterfly site. The author is not just an eclectic Pagan, but also a New Age Lightworker.
- My own critique
I've written a separate brief critique which focusses just on this article's claims about Satanism. Below, I'll comment on other aspects of the article.
I wish I could say I am not afraid of ANYTHING, but that is not true. I understand the connection between fear & love. Where there is fear, there is no love, where there is love there can be no fear.
Fear and love certainly are not mutually exclusive. They can exist in varying combinations, and can even lead to each other. For example, if you love someone, you are likely to have fears for that person's well-being, and you may also fear losing that person. Fear can also lead to love. For example, surviving a disaster together can deepen a sense of companionship.
Fear serves the darkness, love the light.
Fear and love are both normal human emotions. Both are essential to human survival.
But I do believe, I KNOW, that in the end the light will always win. It has to.
This sounds like the author believes in a Zoroastrian/Christian-style antagonism between "Light" and "Darkness." Otherwise, why the talk of one side "winning"? Yet the author says she's not Christian, while also claiming (in "An Open Letter to Everyone I Know" at the bottom of the page What is Electic Paganism?) that "Satanism is a form of Christianity."
I heard this illustration heard from Steve Rother, a channel who started Lightworker.com and Planetlightworker.com. It is about light & darkness, I don’t remember if he was in channel when he told it, but here’s my recollection of it, in my words.
Imagine there are two rooms of equal size. One room, room #1, is filled with light. The other, room #2, is completely dark. (Notice I don’t say “filled with dark”...darkness is not filling, unlike chocolate cake.) Between the two rooms is a door. The door opens. What happens?
Room #2 fills with light also. Maybe it doesn’t get every corner & crevice, but light is now in that room. What happens to room #1? Does it go dim? No. Light is not paint, it doesn’t get thinner if it’s spread out. Room #1 stays equally bright.
Technically, this would be true only if, when the door is closed, all the light that hits the door were absorbed by the door. If the door had a mirrored surface, then room #1 would get noticeably a bit dimmer when the door was opened.
Anyhow, even if the door is black and not at all shiny, opening the door does NOT increase the total amount of light. It increases only the distance that the light travels before it gets absorbed.
So how can the dark EVER conquer the light?
When the light bulb burns out, perhaps? Or when someone flips the switch?< The light can shine only as long as it has an ongoing source of energy./p>
Yes, I'm nitpicking. Now to what seems to be the point of the metaphor:
It sounds as if the author was trying to reassure herself after some very unpleasant encounters with what I call Black Circle Boys. (See Satan and "Evil" in Christianity (and Satanism).) The author has confirmed that she has indeed run into some thoroughly obnoxious individuals. Apparently she was unaware, until she heard from me, that they are NOT representative of all or most Satanists. I'm sorry to hear about her past experiences, and I'm glad that she now does seem willing to learn about Satanism.
Regarding the Obsidian Butterfly's statements about Satanism, see A brief critique of "Fear and Satanism".
- Critique by winters_disquiet
Another theistic Satanist sent the following email to the Obsidian Butterfly:
From: "winters_disquiet" hello, I visited your site and was rather suprised, though sadly, not shocked, at some of the articles contained therein. I will address some of the statements that I, as a Satanist, objected to. >Fear & Satanism > I wish I could say I am not afraid of ANYTHING, but >that is not >true. I understand the connection between fear & love. Where there >is fear, there is no love, where there is love there can be no >fear. Firstly, I doubt this is the case. One can be afraid and yet at the same time love, and one can love and still have fear. The two aren't mutually exclusive. >Fear serves the darkness, love the light. >Light and darkness can bring love and fear equally. The fear of >darkness is caused by ignorance. We are afraid because we do not >know or understand what is contained within it. >But I do believe, I KNOW, that in the end the light >will always >win. It has to. Isn't blance and equilibrium a far greater virtue? But I digress... >I heard this illustration heard from Steve Rother, a >channel who >started Lightworker.com and >Planetlightworker.com. It is about >light & >darkness, I don't remember if he was in channel >when he >told it, but here's my recollection of it, in >my words. >Imagine there are two rooms of equal size. One >room, room #1, is >filled with light. The other, room >#2, is completely dark. > (Notice I don't say "filled with >dark"...darkness is not filling, >unlike chocolate >cake.) Between the two rooms is a door. The door >opens. What happens? >Room #2 fills with light also. Maybe it doesn't get >every corner & >crevice, but light is now in that >room. What happens to room #1? >Does it go dim? >No. Light is not paint, it doesn't get thinner if >it's >spread out. Room #1 stays equally bright. >So how can the dark EVER conquer the light? The obvious answer is, it doesn't conquer. The light goes out from lack of energy. The dark wins because of the laws of entropy. Unless the energy for the light is continually mantained, the light will go out. But enough riddles, on to the heart of the issue of why I am answering this: >About Satanists--I am pagan. As I have stated before, I am a Satanist. >I do participate in some witchcraft rituals. I am not >a "black witch" (although I do wear black), nor do I >practice "black" magic. I am not a Satanist. Satanists are not defined as those who practice black magic. Anyone can practice black magic, it does not imply an affinity with Satanism. Satanists are usually defined in two ways; 1. Someone who views Satan as a symbol of how to exist. 2. Someone who views Satan as a god and worships him or her ( depending on the belief ). >Satanists worship Satan who was created by the >Christian Church who wanted something evil to >counterbalance their god. Actually, the god that opposes has existed in many religions far before christianity, most of them from the middle east. >Satanism is therefore based on Christianity, Satanism is based on deity associated with christianity, but is not always based on it. Most Satanists that I've encountered reject the trappings of christianity, including any form of "reverse- christianity" so often dubbed "Satanism". >not Wicca or Druidism or any other branch of >pagan religion. Considering those two religions you mentioned are of recent origin, no, it isn't based on Wicca or druidism. However, it has roots in some pagan beliefs from other areas. >The image of the horned god was TAKEN from >pagans by the church but the horned god was >never evil. How does one know? In traditional pagan beliefs horned gods often had many negative characteristics. Pan for instance was the origin for the word "panic". >Satanism is based on fear & control & utter >selfishness. What do you actually know about Satanism? There are many kinds, most being atheistic and not regarding Satan as a god. The smaller group however does revere him as a god. Very few groups actually desire fear or "control" of their members. Selfishness, while common in some groups, is no more or less common than in any other religion. >They have no love for anyone, including >themselves. You could not be more wrong. No kind of Satanism, no matter how unsavory in other aspects, denies the existance of love. Love is considered a good thing, though often tempered with reason and strengh in some forms. > To judge & hate someone who practices Satanism >is, in a sense, giving them what they want. You could not be more wrong. Most Satanists only desire tolerance for themselves and those like them. Unfortunatly, one has to adjust to people hating you for your religion alone. It is sad to think that such hatred exists in other equally persecuted faiths such as paganism. >Send them light if you can't love them. How empty >a life, to live in fear and by fear. I will not be afraid >of these people. Do not fear us, for fear comes from ignorance and misunderstanding. Satanists do not want to generate fear, only understanding and tolerance for their beliefs. And I will also adress another article of yours, I believe titled "a letter to non pagans": >I am a witch. >I do not worship Satan; I am not interested in >Satan. I would agree, but for the fact that you wrote an entire article about your dislike of the religions of Satan. This is not, I believe, a sign of disinterest. >Satan was invented by the Christians. Satanism is >a form of Christianity. Satanism is no more a form of christianity than Islam is. while it has its roots in christianity, it is far more diverse. >I am not a Christian. I don't go to church on >Sunday. Jesus is NOT my savior. He was simply a >holy man who lived 2,000 years ago. You claim him to be holy? Wouldn't that make you, to some degree, christian? Thank you for your time, Sincerely, W.
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