# Why would someone worship Satan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 1, 2009, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561 "2009-04-01T10:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/21 "2009-04-01T14:44:32Z")
You should know the answer to that by now, **yojimbo**. ---
**Author:** ![Winsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Winsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winsling)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/22 "2009-04-01T14:48:18Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > So Hindus, pagans etc. are Satanists in your book? Please don’t let kanicbird hijack yet another thread. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/23 "2009-04-01T14:50:34Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > This isn’t entirely correct. I’m sure there are plenty of atheists who claim to worship a Satan they don’t actually believe in for purposes of intimidating the squares, but there are people who actually worship Satan. I was friends with a Satanist in high school, and he did credibly purport to believe in Satan as a supernatural entity; his mantra was “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law,” but he wasn’t merely using Satan as a front for Objectivism; he believed he was commanded by his version of the divine to believe in that way. > > –Cliffy That quote is from Aleister Crowley, a 19th-Century British ritual magician. It’s the central tenet of [Thelema](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelema), a religion that Crowley created. It has little to do with Satan…the gods of Thelema are Egyptian. Now, Crowley was primarily a one-man tabloid-feeder, whose secondary major purpose seemed to be to shock Victorian society out of its socks, and often referred to himself in Satanic terms (“The Great Beast”, etc.). I don’t think he believed a word of it, actually. I’m skeptical about his actual belief in Thelema, for that matter. However, there are a heck of a lot of teenagers who only research Crowley far enough to pick up some awesome parent-and-teacher-shocking behavioral tips, and I’ve known quite a few of those who CLAIM to be worshipping Satan. I put about as much confidence in those pronouncements as I would if the teenager in question was talking about how awesome his raid on Naxxramas was last night (WoW reference, for those who don’t know). It’s a game. > [@yojimbo](#): > > So Hindus, pagans etc. are Satanists in your book? How long have you been reading **kanicbird** ’s stuff? He believes that miscarriages and birth defects are caused by the fetus making a deal with Satan. I don’t think the idea that non-Christians are Satanists is too far out in left field for him to believe. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/24 "2009-04-01T14:51:22Z")
First, very, very few people really DO worship Satan. The few who do fall into a couple of broad categories: 1. Dumb, bored teenagers who think the occult and black magic sound cool. 2. Atheists who don’t really believe in Satan any more than they believe in God, but who get a weird thrill by pretending to be transgressive and by embracing the forbidden. 3. New Agey types who’ve convinced themselves that Satan isn’t REALLY the evil guy described in Scripture, but is some kind of earthy spirit, or the counterpart to some likable pagan god. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/25 "2009-04-01T15:00:24Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > So Hindus, pagans etc. are Satanists in your book? By worshiping any other god then God you are worshiping Satan. Satan really doesn’t care if you worship him by name or worship some lesser god under Satan’s control, Satan still gets the power. Hindus worship a host of lesser demons, pagans worship the creation rather then the creator, both are warned against in scriptures. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/26 "2009-04-01T15:01:39Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > First, very, very few people really DO worship Satan. > > The few who do fall into a couple of broad categories: > > 1. Dumb, bored teenagers who think the occult and black magic sound cool. > > 2. Atheists who don’t really believe in Satan any more than they believe in God, but who get a weird thrill by pretending to be transgressive and by embracing the forbidden. > > 3. New Agey types who’ve convinced themselves that Satan isn’t REALLY the evil guy described in Scripture, but is some kind of earthy spirit, or the counterpart to some likable pagan god. You forgot n°4 (and, from personnal experience, the major group) : people who are angry at Christianity for x reasons. “Worshipping” Satan is their way to lash out at God, the way fucking strangers is lashing out at Daddy to some girls. It doesn’t make a lick of sense, and it makes you feel like crap from what I hear, but there ya go. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/27 "2009-04-01T17:03:16Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > The others who call themselves satanists are really just in-your-face atheists who “worship satan” as the embodiment of the idea of rebellion against religion. I agree with this, to a point. Some atheists surely float Santanism just to get under people’s skin, but that isn’t truly Satanism, for if they are atheist – they don’t even believe in Satan in the first place. And I’m sure there are some snotty teenage angsters who actually believe in God and Satan and still call themselves “atheists” and then float the Satanism angle, but then they aren’t really atheists either. > [@kanicbird](#): > > Hindus worship a host of lesser demons, pagans worship the creation rather then the creator, both are warned against in scriptures. Of course, Scripture didn’t really get around to warning about that until about 5,000 years after Hinduism was founded … but that’s just a matter of timing, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/28 "2009-04-01T17:13:33Z")
> [@](#): > > This has always been my beef. Why would Satan follow god’s wishes and torture the souls of the supposedly damned? I picture him more as how he is depicted in Heinlein’s ‘Job - A comedy of justice’. There’s a very interesting question, here: Whence the notion that Satan is in charge of Hell? He’s not the boss, he’s inmate #1. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/29 "2009-04-01T17:14:22Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Of course, Scripture didn’t really get around to warning about that until about 5,000 years after Hinduism was founded … but that’s just a matter of timing, I suppose. I brought that up before, and his response was, “the Word was revealed before it was revealed”, or something similarly inane. Look at it this way: the Judeo-Christian God is allegedly omnipotent, omniscient, and infinitely benevolent, but some pretty shitty stuff happens on Earth, much of it to innocents. With that as your other option, a deity who allows this stuff to happen but doesn’t claim to be benevolent or to have the power to stop it if he chooses seems like a pretty good guy to tithe to. > [@](#): > > There’s a very interesting question, here: Whence the notion that Satan is in charge of Hell? He’s not the boss, he’s inmate #1. I’m guessing that idea came from Milton, who pretty explicitly described Satan as the Guy In Charge Down There. “Better to reign in hell than serve in Heaven,” etc. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/30 "2009-04-01T17:53:01Z")
The concept of Satan is cool and anti-authoritarian, so I can see his appeal. I personally don’t believe in Satan, even though out of respect I capitalize his name. To me, Satan is merely a Christian concept; so if one believes in Satan, one’s a Christian. As a Christian, why would one choose the losing side? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/31 "2009-04-01T18:17:56Z")
Satanists actually, as far as it goes, come closest to worshipping _themselves_ (which is similar to some descriptions of Satan himself, eh?) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/32 "2009-04-01T18:21:01Z")
Satan-worshipping chick - hot Jesus-worshipping chick - not Seems simple enough to me. If I had to choose, I may as well go where the action is. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/33 "2009-04-01T18:21:53Z")
It makes my Black Sabbath albums sound better. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/34 "2009-04-01T18:35:43Z")
> [@bobo t](#): > > The concept of Satan is cool and anti-authoritarian, so I can see his appeal. I personally don’t believe in Satan, even though out of respect I capitalize his name. > To me, Satan is merely a Christian concept; so if one believes in Satan, one’s a Christian. As a Christian, why would one choose the losing side? It’s not a Christian concept. Most religions include some sort of counterpoint figure as part of their central theology, plus Muslims believe in _Shaitan_, who is basically the same as the Christian concept of Satan minus the fallen angel bit. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/35 "2009-04-01T18:59:29Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Worshipping Satan gives you power and benefits _now_ while you’re living. Wait a second… Satan offers a comprehensive health care package? What is the 401k like? ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/36 "2009-04-01T20:09:59Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Satan really doesn’t care if you worship him by name or worship some lesser god under Satan’s control, Satan still gets the power. Hindus worship a host of lesser demons, pagans worship the creation rather then the creator, both are warned against in scriptures. And far too many Christians claim to worship God but truly worship their own piety, arrogantly assuming they understand God and claiming for themselves a seat by His side to which they are not entitled. I’m pretty sure that’s warned against in the scripture too, and if **I** were Satan, I couldn’t think of a more fulfilling way to leads God’s followers astray. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/37 "2009-04-01T21:13:12Z")
> [@Earthworm\_Jim](#): > > And far too many Christians claim to worship God but truly worship their own piety, arrogantly assuming they understand God and claiming for themselves a seat by His side to which they are not entitled. I’m pretty sure that’s warned against in the scripture too, and if **I** were Satan, I couldn’t think of a more fulfilling way to leads God’s followers astray. Yes the pharisees were one such group, today they still are in power in such religious institutions. They like people going to God through them, they don’t teach the people that God wants a personal relationship with them. ---
**Author:** ![Chase\_Ransom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@Chase\_Ransom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chase_Ransom)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/38 "2009-04-01T21:20:09Z")
Technically speaking, you could be a satanist all you want, and then before you die, repent, accept Jesus as your saviour, and still make it to heaven. Quite frankly Christianity as a system is amazingly flawed and utterly undefendable. Its irrational. Other (older) religions do a better job at casting doubt over the vast population, but unfortunately they arent as loud as Christianity and don’t have the kind of PR Christianity has invested in. In the end, everyone is a sinner to someone. I am an at I am an atheist btw, and no, I have never pretended to be anti-anything or pro-satan or such. I just don’t believe, and therefore, I just don’t care. If my neighbor wants to worship his flower bed and wear a pink kimono, all the more power to him. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/39 "2009-04-01T21:27:50Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Yes the pharisees were one such group, today they still are in power in such religious institutions. They like people going to God through them, they don’t teach the people that God wants a personal relationship with them. **Kanicbird** , I am sure that you will agree that “there are none so blind as those who will not see.” I popped in here to mention the Yazidis, the Kurdish sect that worships Shaitan, but Wikipedia indicates that their religion is much more complicated than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561/40 "2009-04-01T21:48:08Z")
Stepping out of the atheist box for a moment here to form a theological argument: doesn’t the attribution of powers to Satan by certain Christians turn Christianity into more of a Manichaeism? Even if you say the “good guy” is stronger the fact that the “evil guy” has mighty supernatural powers and does things change Christianity to a de facto duothiestic religion. One does not need to sacrifice goats to them in order to believe in a supernatural being, after all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-worship-satan/491561.md?page=3)