From:    Tim Maroney
Subject: Re: Satanism for Christians and others }}}:-)

The making of a distinction between "real" X and "phony" X (where X is a
member of some religion) is a Christian tactic, not a Satanic one.  After
having so often been subjected to Christians "dropping their tails" whenever
some unsavory aspect of Christianity is brought up, and saying, "Oh, those
weren't *real* Christians", I am hardly going to play the same dishonest game
myself.  There are only two cases where I would go along with saying that
someone is not a "real" Satanist.  The first is in the case of measurable
insanity.  Psychotics frequently have elaborate delusions involving God,
Satan, and other aspects of mythology; a belief system like this does not
deserve to be called Satanism, Christianity, or whatever.  The second type of
"unreal" Satanism is outright fraud.  For instance, Sean Sellers blew the head
off a convenience store clerk with a shotgun.  At the time, he claimed it was
because the guy had flirted with his girlfriend.  Later, after consulting with
his attorney, he decided it had been a sacrifice to Satan, but that he had
since become a born-again Christian and wasn't some leniency called for?  This
is fraud Satanism (as it is also fraud Christianity).

As for whether teenagers and dweebs playing Satanist are dangerous, I think
the danger is overrated.  Some people who would be dangerous anyway may decide
that they are Satanists, but there is no evidence that Satanism has ever been
the *cause* of any violence or anything similar. People who feel alienated
from society and who feel that society has deprived them of their just amount
of power certainly can be dangerous, and obviously some such people will be
attracted to the Prince of Rebels.  If anything, this psychodramatic outlet
nd opening into the philosophical realms of myth is more likely to do them
good than the other outlets, such as youth gangs.


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