-Though some mythological characteristics of Satan (such as depravity, sadism, ambition, arrogance, etc) are presented by monotheists as negatives and detractors, Anarcho-Satanists assent to the choice of accepting the character of Satan’s anarchist qualities (primarily Satan’s anti-authoritarianism, egalitarianism, and proclivity towards mutual aid) as more central and essential to the narrative than other attributes. Satan’s disobedience towards God is the original virtue, for within Satan’s act of defiance are the mythological beginnings of innovation, social progress, and free will. As Satan fought against God, Satan fought for greater equality (egalitarianism), and Satan provided humans with knowledge (mutual aid) as the snake of Eden. As monotheists propose Satan as antithetical to God, they endow Satan with numerous amoral or immoral characteristics- this is intended to distance their God from the numerous amoral or immoral characteristics and actions of this God as described by monotheist scriptures- if God and Satan represent opposing forces of good and evil, as many monotheists believe, then by presenting Satan as the embodiment of evil and by presenting God as the embodiment of good, the monotheist distances their God from the evil acts God commanded (or was silently complicit in) while at the same time distancing Satan from the good acts of the dissemination of knowledge and the rebellion against unjust authority. Also, within the implications of character flaws developing later within Satanic myth, the character of Satan finds more resonance (meaning reflective, echoing recognition and sympathy as an empathetic character) with readers than the character of God does- God is presented as a being of all-powerful perfection and ineffable grandeur- a far cry from complicated and multifaceted (but eminently understandable) character of Satan that people more easily relate to. Sympathy is a much more common and understandable reaction to the character of Satan than to that of God.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 18:41:24 +0000
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