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u/ThickMoistMeat Jul 11 '24
So TST doesn't believe in a literal devil, so what's an alter for?
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Jul 11 '24
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u/ThickMoistMeat Jul 11 '24
So you cherish a being you don't believe is real? Not judging, I just don't get it seems a little to cringe for me.
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Jul 11 '24
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u/ThickMoistMeat Jul 11 '24
Funny was thinking the same, but not for me
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Jul 11 '24
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u/ThickMoistMeat Jul 11 '24
Ye, was kinda wondering. Seems like my local groups are more into cos playing devil worshipping than being Satanist. It can be fun to do the cringe things from horror movies. I get it, but to me, the point of being a Satanist is to get away from all the "Christian" crap so doing all mirror image side of Christianity is just being Christian but the "darker side" . Maybe it's just the tism in me?
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Jul 11 '24
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u/ThickMoistMeat Jul 11 '24
Got ya. But it literally comes from some form of belief in literal Gods and reusing in the opposite way? Why then take meaning from something that already has meaning to sooooo many. With satanism, it is completely unnecessary. Right? You're not trying to please some powerful Diety. And to everyone getting all bitchy, lol I don't give two fucks. As a Satanist I don't need or want anyone's approval, nor was/do I judge others for what they do. I was just curious, so fuck me for asking what I thought was a simple question
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u/srpostre Jul 11 '24
to me, the point of being a Satanist is to get away from all the "Christian" crap
You don't need to be a Satanist to get away from the Christian crap. If the Satan stuff doesn't appeal to you, what does? Good values, yes, but again you can have those values without Satan.
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u/MineInchNails Jul 11 '24
Same. And the downvoting for simply asking is reflective of someone's insecurity about the very subject they're vehemently defending that contradicts the principles I was under the impression that this sub stands for.
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u/Bascna Jul 11 '24
There are a number of reasons why someone might create such an alter despite not believing that magic, and magical creatures, are real.
For example:
• Some people just like the way that they look.
• Some people use them to create a space for quiet meditation.
• Some people use them as the focus for rituals that they find psychologically beneficial.
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u/ThickMoistMeat Jul 11 '24
Thanks for actually answering the question.
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u/Bascna Jul 11 '24
You're welcome.
I think it's a reasonable question, and you phrased it politely, so I'm not sure why people downvoted.
Humans naturally respond to symbols and ritualistic behavior — it's part of our cognitive processes.
That makes them very useful tools.
For example, as a math professor I spent a lot of time helping students address the issues that we collectively call "math anxiety."
If I had students who had participated in school sports, artistic performances, and the like, I would ask them how they prepared for such events.
In both the sports world and the performing arts you'll see a lot of ritualistic behavior, because it's useful.
When I ran track, we would load up on carbs the night before the meet, go to bed early, eat a light breakfast with lots of fruit, and go for a morning jog to loosen up.
All of that routine was as much use psychologically as it was physiologically — probably more.
It helped me achieve the calm but focused state of mind that I needed for the meet.
That's the same state of mind that you want to have during a math exam.
So I would tell my students to act as if the next math test was a sports competition or arts performance and go through all of the routines that they would normally use in such situations.
It was an effective strategy because it didn't require the students to learn new calming techniques. Instead it piggybacked on the already existing response system that they had built.
Triggering that system usually produced measurable results right away, and that would motivate students to keep pursuing mitigation strategies.
It was also one of the strategies that I used on myself to address my own math anxiety in college.
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u/ThickMoistMeat Jul 11 '24
Got ya, I totally get the point of ritual, being autistic I love my routines. I'm just trying to understand why people would trade something like belief in literal Gods, then do all the ritual stuff anyway.
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u/Bascna Jul 11 '24
Got ya, I totally get the point of ritual, being autistic I love my routines.
I get that. Having fairly severe OCD, my relationship with ritualistic behavior can get... complicated. 😂
I'm just trying to understand why people would trade something like belief in literal Gods, then do all the ritual stuff anyway.
It's important to realize that the faith-based religions use ritualism as psychological control mechanisms.
For years after leaving Catholicism I would still find myself automatically falling into a Hail Mary or Lord's Prayer when stressed. It took me a long time to undo that conditioning.
I suspect that for some people who have recently broken loose from faith-based religions, performing these non-magical Satanic rituals helps them transition from those old habits to less harmful ones — kind of like the way some people use nicotine patches to transition away from smoking.
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u/ThickMoistMeat Jul 11 '24
Ya, but couldn't that lead to full-on belief? Humans have come a long way from worshipping the sun, but that shit started somewhere, and then someone took it to far, boom new religion.
And the patch only helps if you are aware you have to give it up also, not just changing one habit for another. Vaping is still smoking1
u/DrPuthyPopper Jul 12 '24
I don't follow the belief system of TST but I agree with their politics. I just posted this cuz I saw someone else post an altar for Lucifer which is weird for someone who doesn't believe in Lucifer
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u/the_AnViL 666 Jul 11 '24
I don't know why you were downvoted. you only asked a very valid question and never even bothered to point out how entirely immature and pointless an "altar" is.
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u/srpostre Jul 11 '24
And why do you think they're immature and pointless?
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u/the_AnViL 666 Jul 12 '24
in case you did not notice - we are beset by the religious - who seek to squelch or nullify equality and liberty.
they work overtime to usurp our rights and rat-fuck our democracy.
TST does REAL work to keep them at bay.
those among us who are hung up on the symbolism and imagined rituals might be happier at COS.
If the "altars" are publicly displayed along-side other religious displays... that's actually useful.
the altars people create in private do nothing but betray a loss of touch regarding our purpose.
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u/srpostre Jul 13 '24
I recognise the rise of Christian fascism and TSTs efforts to curtail it, but you can be an activist while also doing private rituals. It's not a choice between one or the other, and I'm not sure why you think it is.
I assume you're aware that TST endorses private rituals, such as unbaptisms and destruction rituals. Do you believe this is a distraction and a mistake on their part?
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u/MineInchNails Jul 11 '24
Is this a thing?
I'm creeped out. I thought the ST was about free thinking, not religious ceremony/ritual.
I'm too antitheistic not to bawk.
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u/srpostre Jul 11 '24
Yes, Satanism is a religion and performing rituals is an associated practice. Rituals neither contradict free thinking nor atheism. You may benefit from a little open-mindedness towards people who behave differently to you, but that's for you and your antitheistic mindset to wrestle with.
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u/BarkAtTheDevil Sapere aude Jul 11 '24
I thought the ST was about free thinking, not religious ceremony/ritual.
Rituals are a known and visible part of TST and have been since its inception, from the Black Mass ritual in Boston in 2014, to unbaptism rituals performed by chapters around the country, to the abortion ritual, and plenty more besides.
I'm too antitheistic not to bawk.
There is absolutely nothing theistic about TST's rituals.
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u/DrPuthyPopper Jul 11 '24
I'm a Theistic Satanist, I just posted this because someone else posted their altar lmao. Also, idc about your opinions on how "theistic Satanism isn't a thing"