Why It Matters

Seeing as The Church of Satan does not proselytize nor recruit members beyond hosting a website I am often asked why I bother clarifying misinformation that makes its way into the media?

It isn't about money or member increases. It isn't about victimization and wanting to appear as yet another minority eagerly searching for pity. It isn't even about how Satanists are perceived in the real world.

It is about holding people accountable.

I am one of those annoyingly patriotic people who has deified the Founding Fathers. I believe that the Bill of Rights was one of the greatest things ever written, and that it holds the key to peace between all variety of people, without the need for the individuals to compromise themselves beyond minding their own damn business.

But with those rights come some awesome responsibilities. The First Amendment applies to us all, but specific mention is made of the press and religion. The freedom of the press and the freedom of religion go hand in hand. For this reason it is my conviction that religious leaders and journalists have a higher burden to the public. That same burden applies to all matter of civil servants and governmental employees, because their livelihood is dependant on the tax dollars of those they serve.

Every morning I get up and check the web for any mention of my church, satanism in general, and anything else even vaguely correlated. It is a rare day when something relevant doesn't turn up. I research the issue. I confirm membership details (usually the lack thereof) with CoS Central Administration. Then I try to determine if the issue is worth my valuable time.

Most of my Satanic friends could care less. They are, rightfully, living their own lives and have little interest in how they are perceived by a public they aren't too impressed with, anyway. It isn't cynicism or apathy so much as just good magic---they have successfully adapted and see no reason to raise red flags. My nature just doesn't allow for that.

I hate the whole "children are our future" shit. It is so trite and mostly untrue. The children are their OWN future. Yet, I have children, and for evolutionary reasons I am programmed to give a shit about the world they inherit. Having lived through the Satanic Panic, having been targeted by religious weirdos, I am almost embarrassed to admit that I feel an obligation to my kids to make sure that their lives are not adversely effected by liars.

If someone lies about us, it sucks. If someone uses their position of power (and our tax dollars) to lie about us, it is unforgivable. If someone lies about us to benefit themselves it demands clarification.

So, I do what I do. If I read something that makes me mad I am compelled to address it. I could no more ignore that compulsion than I could an 800 pound gorilla in the room.

The Durham Case is a perfect example of what happens when we forget "past orthodoxies." Two new age wanna-be swingers who are officials in their local Democratic Party got caught with their fingers in the sexual cookie jar. If the allegations are true they committed some atrocious crimes and blurred the line between kinky sex and some stupid new-agey philosophy.

That wouldn't even have gotten me out of bed.

Then the ADA, a prosecutor by the name of Mark McCullough, made public statements that the crime stemmed from a Satanic ritual gone bad! Evidently he learned nothing about fact checking from his previous boss, Mike Nifong.

The story was picked up by every news service and many local and some national news programs. So, I did what I do, including calling Mr. McCullough and offering help to determine if these crimes were in any way "Satanic" or anything other than inept swingers who lit some candles. He didn't respond.

However, many reporters did, and I was given the opportunity to state the simple truth that there is no Satanic rite that includes kidnapping or rape, and that these people were never members of The Church of Satan.

Some people actually got pissed that I addressed this issue at all. Forgetting that it was the prosecutor who threw down the gauntlet, used his position to slander a religion, and continues to be paid for lying---making his other contentions dubious, I was flamed for simply clarifying.

Others, as seen on my previous blog, simply refuse to believe that Satanists are anything other than what their religious leaders have told them.

Still more were mad that I wouldn't concede to other "types" of Satanism.

And then, there were a few reporters and religious leaders and private individuals who responded with more genuine questions, and they actually listened to the answers. In short, they took responsibility for their own education and knowledge. They may disagree with Satanism, but in the future when crazy allegations are made they will possess doubt, and that doubt will force them to not rely on old satanic panic ideas, but instead to look for facts.

This trickle down theory of education is why it matters. Each issue that enlightens one person in a position of power has the effect of making tomorrow a better day for a Satanist.

I am not advocating using the strategies of the masses to "raise consciousness." Signs, bumper stickers, protests---passe' and ineffective. Nor am I suggesting even trying to educate the masses. They are invested in the scapegoating of our religion in order to make theirs relevant.

The criteria I use is based on power. Journalists have it. Politicians have it. Law Enforcement has it. These are the people who can actually have an effect on the lives of Satanists, and they have a Constitutional obligation to us all to tell the truth. I am simply holding them to their obligation.

What Century Is This, Again?

As some of you know I have been addressing the issue in Durham where two local Democratic party officials have gotten themselves in no small amount of trouble:

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880703009


I have been busily doing what I do--correcting misinformation and offering assistance. I am not, yet, going to blog about how incredibly irresponsible the prosecutor's public statements have been. Nor will I waste time here pointing out the obvious fact that the crimes alleged have no Satanic features, and that those accused are verifiably NOT members of the Church of Satan.

Instead I thought you all might like to hear from your fellow man:




"I find this interesting because people who work in abortion facilities are often engaged in satanic practices as well, both off site and on site."

You rarely find a satanic conservative

This krap is all the result of that great liberal program misnamed the sexual revolution, where as long as it all hangs out, and nobody gets hurt (except the victim), anything between *consenual* (does dog cage come under consensual?) adults (loose definition of the word) is required.

I had one bad encounter with satanists involving my daughter. It was not good for them. I did instill in them that I could send them out of this world so they could meet the devil (their god) They declined my invitation.


funny, they describe the Durham Co Democrat party as a 'volunteer organization'. volunteers for Satan, it seems. and we thought they didnt like religion.

Hopefully, in time the public can see how many of our politicians are deeply involved in this mess. I believe that is one reason such lenient sentences are given to child rapists and molesters- the ones making the decisions about prosecuting and sentencing are involved in sinister activities like these. Satanic rituals and the like give participants a type of power. There are such things as satanic 'miracles', and more public officials than you realize fall for that s***!!!

It is very prevalent in this area as well. The bad thing is, these idiots do not draw the line at adult participation. Way too many children are exposed to this evil. WAKE UP PEOPLE !! This county is way down the path to eternal damnation.

There are nests of these prople all over these mountains.

I read a book a few years ago about a girl who was used in satanic rituals from age two and developed several personalities. The book was based on a true story and many of the rituals took place near Highlands, NC. I worked nights in Cashiers when I read it and although the events had taken place years earlier, it scared me to death. I cannot remember the name of the book and could not finish it to see how it ended. The rituals described were disgusting and I got so depressed I had to stop reading about them. I cannot fathom that kind of evil. Satanic worship may not be wide spread but I do believe it exists here.

There are abuses in most all religions. And this area is full of satan worshippers. And they often give you indicators of who they are. And many of them are proud of it.
And all of them need our prayers.