This is a rhetorical question, not meant to be answered, however it is asked with a point behind it. There are times in the community we must look around and take stock of who and what we are. This involves much introspection, and self enlightenment.
One can do this with outside help of course, but it does not mean that one MUST have outside help. That is not the point of this article however, the point is much more pointed.
The Cult of ME
There are not many people who would not enjoy a title, of some sort – that is well-earned. This is the key however, that I seem to be living by myself as well.
When someone starts something, be it a group or a Temple, they typically establish a title of some sort for themselves. While this is not a big issue, it does however raise a question as to the ego that is driving the individual. Some one with a fairly over grown ego is more likely to come out with a regal sounding title, making themselves appear to be some major player in the community from the starting gate.
While everyone in the Satanic Community is guilty at times of allowing ego to rule some of their personal actions, there is a difference between the person with a self granted title and a title bestowed by an organization. These are more in-depth, because when an organization, regardless how small – grants someone a title, it is something that is more meaningful than some thing that is self-appointed.
A Self appointed potentate, is someone who proceeds in the path of the man behind the curtain, bringing about the chain of events into a cult. Cults are a dangerous aspect of any religious community, as they espouse the most totalitarian aspects of extremism. Tying in severe person worship and servitude. When this is something that is reached, those caught in the web of a cult are in serious danger, as they can lead to anything from mass suicides to other insane antics.
This is why I stress personally, that the people of a group be those who bestow a title on some one, even the founder of a group. That way, there is a respect from such a person to the people, and a duty to serve and help them, rather than hold imaginary power over them.
Your Not Like Me – So You are a FAKE
One of the most breathtaking realizations I had, came to me in the words from an old friend of mine, Timothy Waggener, he said “Just because someone doesn’t follow YOUR idea of Satanism, does not make them any less of a Satanist. Their Satan is just different from yours” After I thought about it for a while, it made sense. There are many aspects of Satan, be they Parasitic thought forms, or one of the many aspects of Satan Himself.
Simply because I may not agree with someone, does not mean they are any less a Satanist than I am. There are some who I refuse to associate with, such as Joy of Satan, or others – however they are Satanists, by self-identification. There is no board of Satanic elders to determine who or what is a Satanist, let alone a Theistic Satanist. There is no definition of what a Theistic Satanist has to believe in specifically… Only a belief in Satan as a literal being is necessary. Hence Theism being involved in the title.
There have been some claiming that only people of one specific thought process or pattern, are allowed to be Theistic Satanists, and even some do the same with Spiritual Satanism and other labels – this is ridiculous, as there is not one person in this world qualified to even question what someone chooses to identify themselves as – it is a personal and special decision.
The term Fake Satanist, is used to describe someone who a person does not like, and/or disagree’s with. While I have been guilty in the past of doing such, I no longer will fall into that trap of name calling. The only person that would be truly a fake Satanist is someone who is NOT a Satanist yet pretends to be one for whatever reason. This however, is not going to be known by anyone other than Satan and the person themselves. Regardless of someone and their assumed closeness to Satan, one is NOT qualified to make judgement in such matters.
There will be some who say that years in Satan’s service add up to the experience required to make such statements, and this is also another false perception. Whether one has been a Satanist for 45 years or 10 years, they cannot say if someone is a Satanist of any Sect at all. The person who is willing to claim this ability is merely using the strategy of control and totalitarian ideology, which makes them appear to be some one of super significance. In reality, those which have years of experience in the path of Satanism, regardless of the Sect or brand, should be working to teach their opinions in an open and easy manner – as they may learn something yet themselves.
Church or Temple?
When looking at the amount of people within the Satanic Community, there are also MANY different groups, some using the title of Church or Temple – some even using ‘order’ as a descriptive title. This is mostly irrelevant, however, there is something significant within the titles themselves.
A Church in its most fundamental and original meaning: a building for public Christian worship.. While this definition is pretty much easy to figure out, most people hear the word church and DO think of Christianity.
A Temple in its most fundamental and original meaning: an edifice or place dedicated to the service or worship of a deity or deities.. This is the reason why, in general I personally will not refer to the Temple of Theistic Satanism as a ‘church’ as this is using a word that was essentially associated and used for Christianity in the beginning.
While some may use it in the Satanic Community, I do not condemn them, however it is something I personally will not do.
The point of this issue however, is not the name but rather the actions of the group using the name. There are those who have Temples of Churches who feel they have a right to condemn all other sorts of Satanism that does not fit their creed or criteria. This is something that I have witnessed my child and young adult life in the Baptist and Christian community.
Example – Baptist Church on street A, disagrees with Catholic, or other form of Christian church on Street B. Therefore, ‘A’ will preach and teach that the ways of ‘B’ are evil and not of god. This is in essence claiming that ‘B’ will not send any one to ‘heaven’. This vicious in-fighting (not END-fighting – obviously) is seen across the entire Christian spectrum.
There are some, who have brought this exact same thing to Satanism, regardless of their sect.Claiming that merely being a supposed Temple or Church gives someone the ability to speak for Satan or Satanism is indeed as farcical as Christianity and their same premise.
A temple (as I said, I will NOT use the Term church at all, due to its pure Christian origins.) is to be a place for the community to come together, and learn. Support one another Spiritually and in other ways as necessary. No control is to be exerted, nor is there to be any form of ‘My Temple is closer to Satan than yours’ – as this is something that is Temple specific, and not for an outsider to judge.
I may not be the most well-known person in Satanism by far, however I would much rather start something that CAN be respectable, and not something that will be reviled by the community as a power grubber.
The Parasitic Tie In
Parasites may come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from physical to spiritual and beyond. Some are created by the masses, others are created by a single person. They can be hard to find, but they present themselves if given enough space to do so.
The parasite, is one that will leech on to any thing for power. Whether it be a name, group or person, they will hang on for dear life. This is evident by exhibiting all of the above behavior, and taking things till they destroy the host. This is something that causes massive amounts of damage to the Satanic Community, and the cockroaches it spawns are a shame to us all.
The parasite, when in the form of a spiritual element, is one that will generally derive its sustenance from hate and tyranny. These can be together or separate, depending on the circumstances. The typical parasitic ‘Satan’ would be one of the Joy of Satan variety, calling for the mass murder of races of people, and totalitarian Nazi control of the populace – all the name of the supposed ‘Satan’.
Other examples of a parasitic ‘Satan’ is one of tyranny but not hate. These are a little harder to discern in the beginning, but the infection progresses, they are exposed. The typical behavior is that of trying to conquer all of Satanism for ONE person or group, thereby making the entire community its pawn. This is parasitic, in the aspect of not only draining energy from those they are able to control, but also draining the energy of THE COMMUNITY that is fighting against the tyranny.
For more information you may find my more descriptive post on Parasites within Satanism more helpful.
A Closing Thought
The name of the game is not fame or fortune, but rather or not we are honoring Satan. This is not measured by how much we spend, nor how much we badger others. These things have fleeting results, while the ones that will last take time and effort to put forth.
While some will attack me for my more open approach to Satan and His Work, I know this – I am doing what I feel is right by Satan, and for His people. I do not personally care if people across the world love me, or whether or not if there are thousands of people who know my name – If one person reads my work, and it helps them find their way, I am happy in my mission.
Hail SATAN! James L. Nicholson II Temple of Theistic Satanism
