The "S" word

It is sometimes strange how long and hard some people will defend themselves against something as simple as a word. For a long time, I was lead to think that diverse "F", "C", "D" etc words were the worst you could ever utter in from of someone. Later, as I began studying Satanism, I started recieving hate mails, some of my Christian friends shunned me, and only because I had no hesitations when I talked about what I was reading (what they saw me reading). They were highly disturbed when I told them some time later that I considered myself a Satanist. I have never dared telling my relatives and close family what I am. It is not that I am ashamed - on the contrary! - it is my love for them that keeps me from it. And until this day, it has not been necessary. It hurt them enough, when I refused going to catholic masses with them.

But why is it, that once one affiliates him/ herself with such a religion as Satanism, that everyone suddenly tells you that they don't know you anymore, that they are... afraid of you and your beliefs? Does a person become different if, say, (s)he starts going to a new café or starts talking to the people that person has always kept away from? No, not really, even if it might seem so. A satanist is no more different than, say, a Taoist or a Wiccan - it might sound a little exotic, somewhat sinister, but that does not mean there will be any enormous personality changes going on. You don't become a bum or a suicidal if you start reading the Satanic Bible, neither will you suddenly start dressing strangely or start burning churches, tormenting people and animals or otherwise show criminal behaviour. All these things are, in fact, looked down upon by real, committed Satanists. Those people who have done such things, are not really Satanists, they are criminals and most probably, persons with very serious mental issues, and should be treated thereafter.

The only thing that really keeps these myths alive, is that people are ignorant. They have not been taught what is truth and what is fiction. In my country, every school has to have religions classes that everyone attends, from year 1 to 10, and after that things differ slightly from what direction you choose. And these seem to work. The only downside with it, is that everything is seen from a Christian perspective, there is never an objective view in the class material and books. I believe in education and fruitful discussion with people who are involved with a certain religion or movement. How else can someone find out what a group of people really believes if you won't talk with them? We will never come any way if we continue digging trenches and shoot at each other - talk is the only solution! There will always be those shallowminded persons who hide behind a netname and tell the "Heathens" that they will rot in Hell. Let's ignore them. Let the intelligent people who are courageous enough to expand their vistas come together and talk things over in a civilized and mature manner.

I would never attack a person of a different faith than myself, in fact, I would never attack anybody, because I believe in responsibility for the responsible. If someone threatens me or my beloved ones, I would strike hard and brutally, but only after making sure there is no other way. Do Satanists perhaps have a higher sense of morals and ethics than the common follower of Christ? Sometimes it certainly seems like it...

Sincerely yours,
~Selene