10 Thought-Provoking Facts About Satanism That Might Rattle Everything You Though You Knew

Satanism gets a bad rap on the media. Often branded as the catalyst to dark and heinous crimes, there is a line of fear that is associated with the perception of this religion. In spite of this, Satanism is growing. In 1990 there were but 50,000 people who affiliated themselves with Satanism. Today, it’s estimated that around 100,000 people are Satanists world wide. There are also signs that being a Satanist has become more socially acceptable. For example, Satanism is now allowed in the Royal Navy of the British Armed Forces, and in 2005 the Supreme Court of the United States debated over protecting the religious rights of prison inmates who identified as Satanists. Curious to know more? Check out these 10 Thought-Provoking Facts About Satanism That Might Rattle Everything You Though You Knew.

10

The official Church of Satan was founded in 1966 by Anton LaVey. The church is dedicated to “the acceptance of Man’s true nature—that of a carnal beast, living in a cosmos that is indifferent to our existence.” The organization doesn’t believe in God or Satan so its members are essentially atheists. They do not perform sacrifices and reject the abuse of any individual or group. Their official website works hard to stress that they differ greatly from “devil worshippers.”

Source: Wikipedia, Image: Wikipedia

9

Contrary to popular belief, Satanists are not allowed to sacrifice anything. Their rules strictly forbid harming any living creature except in two cases: killing an animal for nutritional purposes or killing someone (animal or human) in self-defense. The Church of Satan doesn’t take responsibility for any violent act that takes place during satanic rituals.

Source: Wikipedia, Image: Pixabay.com

8

However, in 2011 an eighteen-year-old boy in Los Angeles strangled his mother and then dismembered her with a circular saw and skinned her as part of a satanic ritual. The boy claimed he scarified his mom on a certain date (February 2) found in an unofficial satanic bible.

Source: Wikipedia, Image: Wikipedia

7

It appears that the vast majority of Satanists who claim they used to be Christians before turning to Satan were Christians in name only; in other words, you would never see them attending church or any Christian celebration.

Source: Wikipedia, Image: Wikipedia

6

The Encyclopedia Satanica lists sixteen distinct satanic groups. Their ideologies run the gamut from gnostic esotericism to the Cult of Cthulhu.

Source: Wikipedia, Image: Wikipedia

5

According to a 2001 FBI report a typical American Satanist is usually around twenty-five, a white male, and has been a Satanist for about eight years. In other words, most Satanists usually discover Satanism in their teens.

Source: Wikipedia, Image: commons.wikimedia.org

4

Ricky Kasso was a teenager from New York who shocked the world in the mid-‘80s when he lured his friend Gary Lauwers into the woods and murdered him in the name of Satan. He claimed Satan spoke to him through a black crow; he was also addicted to drugs such as LSD. He committed suicide by hanging himself in his jail cell.

Source: Wikipedia, Image: YouTube

3

One of the most well-known pacts with the Devil involves blues guitarist Robert Johnson, who supposedly walked to a crossroads where the Devil tuned his guitar and gave him his wicked music skills. Johnson died a few years later under unclear circumstances.

Source: Wikipedia, Image: Wikipedia

2

In the Middle Ages mortality rates were so high for newborns that midwives were sometimes accused of sacrificing babies to the Devil.

Source: Wikipedia, Image: Wikipedia

1

Satanism forbids pretentiousness and counterproductive pride among other things, but the greatest sin is to be stupid. Yes, those lacking intelligence are the most sinful people in the eyes of Satanism.

Source: Wikipedia, Image: commons.wikimedia.org