Well I suppose I'm what you would describe as a theistic satanist (or devil worshipper as I prefer) and I see racism as the kind of ignorance and bigotry that the abrahamic god would encourage. I have no time for it.

__________________
O mighty Lord Satan,
teach us to become strong and wise.
Teach us to vanquish the enemies
of our freedom and well-being.

As a Satanist myself, I would have cited examples for such an obviously antagonistic statement. I'd be interested to hear yours. And I do hope you have some better examples than the typical David Duke/KKK rhetoric.

The Book of Ruth, Galatians, Exodus, Acts, Leviticus, Proverbs, Matthew, Luke, Romans, Chronicles, Timothy, and many others (I'll cite them specifically for you if you're not up on your KJV, as well as verses from the Qur'an) all display tolerance and racial harmony as tenets of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith as put forth by the Abrahamic God. I'm no Apologist, but I'd expect that any Satanist, Setian or otherwise, would cite specific examples of such a bold statement which is seemingly meant to stir the proverbial conversation pot...

Or, as you say, do you simply not have the time to back up your suppositions?

In your service,
Octavius

__________________
"The Lord can make you tumble, the Lord can make you turn, the Lord can make you overflow...but the Lord can't make you burn." - Randy Newman

Well if you look at Judaism's early routes (and please do not take this as any form of anti-semitism) and consider mark 7:27 you will probably see what I mean. What is also forgotten is that many passages that refer to 'the children of God' or similar are not references to the Abrahmic God's followers as a modern christian interpretation would like to suggest but infact the people of Israel; suggesting that the creator of the world is tied to one particular race of people. That said it should be considered that much of the idea of the Abrahmic God as creator only emerged after the exile to Babylon and the destruction of the northern (or was it southern, it was ages ago when I studied this) kingdom. However that still suggests a god who is intractibaly tied to a specific race of people. To suggest that the creator of the world only cares for one people is racist.

Now you are correct in suggesting that there are any examples of tolerance in the Bible but they are outweighed by suggestions of the opposite. God's treatment of the egyptians serves as a god example and there are other examples as well. The god of the bible has an unhealthy tendancy to 'lump people together' and treat them collectively and 'set their teeth on edge' if you know what I'm reffering to.

__________________
O mighty Lord Satan,
teach us to become strong and wise.
Teach us to vanquish the enemies
of our freedom and well-being.

Sir, all you've done is illustrate inconsistencies within the bible. Differing interpretations of the texts have been debated for centuries. To judge an entire religion based on inconsistencies within various interpretations of its texts only shows your own prejudice. I would have expected more. Instead, you paint the perfect caricature of the benighted Satanist who postures behind an inflated ego, supposition, and hypocracy. For someone who claims to dislike an entire religion based on its "unhealthy tendancy to lump people together" you are, yourself, the perfect exmple.

Octavius

__________________
"The Lord can make you tumble, the Lord can make you turn, the Lord can make you overflow...but the Lord can't make you burn." - Randy Newman

Well could you offer me an alternative interpretation of Mark 7:27? (Probably not.) You dismiss these elements of the Bible a inconsistencies. But when one considers the remarks of a known racist such as Nick Griffin, we also see inconsistency. The fact that he now says he believes in the holocaust and is therefore inconsistent does not make people view him any differently. Why should christianity be any different?

"To judge an entire religion based on inconsistencies within various interpretations of its texts..."

So you are suggesting that various interpretations of the bible are inconsistent on racism? I'm afraid that this returns us to my previous coment.

Perhaps the most disappointing element of your post is the clear evidence that you have not bothered to read mine. You suggest that I lump people together which is incorrect, and while you may like to search for an example of me doing this you won't be able to find one. I would like to point out that there is a difference between identifying problems with a God, religious texts and his followerss. Of course not every christian is a racist and I have not made that suggestion.

Once you remove the general bluster from your post and ignore the snide remarks you will see that there is very little left except the accusation of resting on inconsitencies I have used some examples from the text and it is you who have tried to use the bible's inconsistency to defend it. You then say that interpretations have been debated for centuries but with the example I have given, you have failed to provide an alternative interpretation but instead have simply pointed out that the bible is inconsistent. Saying that the Bible's racism is inconsistent and confused simply isn't good enough.

__________________
O mighty Lord Satan,
teach us to become strong and wise.
Teach us to vanquish the enemies
of our freedom and well-being.

"You suggest that I lump people together which is incorrect, and while you may like to search for an example of me doing this you won't be able to find one..."

Please explain how the above statement does not fail when reading the following quote from another post of yours:

"...I see racism as the kind of ignorance and bigotry that the abrahamic god would encourage"

Let me guess...semantics, right? I'm just not understanding you.

I have no desire to defend the bible or any other Abrahamic text to you. As I said, I'm not an apologist. I am, however, able to see beyond the end of my nose and appreciate more than one narrow vision of existance; Christian, Satanic, or otherwise. May your dark lord save you from your myopia.

Hail Satan,
Octavius

__________________
"The Lord can make you tumble, the Lord can make you turn, the Lord can make you overflow...but the Lord can't make you burn." - Randy Newman

The section of my post that you quoted refers to the Abrahamic God not his followers. There is a big difference between the two. It can be seen from that that I do not 'lump people together' as you accuse me of doing.

Your second paragraph follows your usual pattern of following two lines of faulty argument with a little mini rant at the end. I have been happy to debate the facts but you seem determind to focus on vacuos comments to dig your way out. Now please point to a quotation where I lump people together...

__________________
O mighty Lord Satan,
teach us to become strong and wise.
Teach us to vanquish the enemies
of our freedom and well-being.

[quote=SERVANTOFSET]The section of my post that you quoted refers to the Abrahamic God not his followers. There is a big difference between the two. It can be seen from that that I do not 'lump people together' as you accuse me of doing.

You clearly insinuate that the Abrahamic god's followers are inherently racist. As a theistic Satanist, this is logically your only motive in making such a statement. Or are you not a Theistic Satanist? The burden is on you to define the nature of god vs. the behavior of his adherents.

Facts? There are no facts within scripture unless you have faith and believe in the existence of the Abrahamic god...and his outcast angel, Lucifer. The written account of god is inherently flawed due to humankind's alleged interpretation of it over the centuries. Surely, we are agreed on this? Or is your title of "Theistic Satanist" better defined as a "heretical Christian," binding you by the same rules and regulations as Christians?

What puzzles me about you is how you appear to debate the role of the Abrahamic god vs. his congregation's motives and morals. As a theistic Satanist, are you not also bound by Abrahamic scripture? Is it your intent to be the brave anti-hero and champion against his racist nature? Is it your position that God is racist, but not his followers? What exactly is your position on this topic?

Let's leave the burden of scriptural interpretation aside for the moment. Why don't you do me the service of defining your understanding of racism within Christianity and how it relates to the apparent duality of god and his followers instead of a glib comment, which serves no purpose other than to draw criticism? You are most welcome to reply to this post or start another thread on Theistic Satanism and it's tenets. Your reply is appreciated.

Octavius

__________________
"The Lord can make you tumble, the Lord can make you turn, the Lord can make you overflow...but the Lord can't make you burn." - Randy Newman

I do not clearly insinuate that the Abrahmic god's followers are racist and you still seem to be completely incappable of quoting me as doing so. You then make a huge leap in saying that my only motive to make such a statement is to suggest that the Abrhamic god's followers are racist. To be fair to you, I did not explain fully my view of his followers, I was merely making a statement about this god. To elaborate now in very brief terms; there are a wide range of views within the abrahamic faith but the more progressive of these are hindered rather than helped by this particular god.

Your second paragraph is much more significant in raising key issues concerning my beliefs on the bible etc. My personnal view is that these texts do contain partial truth or perhaps distorted truth. But the very fact that the most 'pro-abrahamic god' book in the world encourages racist ideas (a book that has been heavily influenced by him) doesn't suggest that he is the most progressive deity.

My aim is to increase people's awareness of the uglier side of a very unpleasent deity. That people who claim to be doing the same as me are endorsing racism is, as I see it, a complete contradiction of Satanism especially when one considers that science has proven many racist beliefs to be wrong. As satanists we should be embracing science not clinging to the ignorance of the past.

For your last paragraph I will start a new thread ASAP.

__________________
O mighty Lord Satan,
teach us to become strong and wise.
Teach us to vanquish the enemies
of our freedom and well-being.