I have been an atheist for half of my life. My process to a godless heathen was (like with so many people) very contemporary, from a, I know there isn't a god but let's keep that paradise option a little open in case I need it, to agnostic to atheist agnostic to now atheist satanist.
So what the fuck is an agnostic Satanist? The wide majority of people are still somewhat paranoid by the satanic panic that happened in the 80 and 1990. Satanist don't pray to the devil or sacrifice animals (or humans). We see the universe as being indifferent to us, and so all morals and values are subjective human constructions.
Most people know that an atheist is somebody who doesn't believe in god, so If I don't believe in God why do I believe in Satan? The short answer is, I don't, agnostic atheists (which are the wide majority of Satanists) do not believe in a deity. Satanism is not a religion, it is a philosophy. So why call it Church of Satan or the Satanic Temple (which I am a member of) - To satanists, Satan is a symbol of pride, liberty and individualism, in the Bible and many other older religious documents, Satan, Lucifer (or the hundreds of other names that he was called) was the accuser and light giver, the ultimate rebel. So it serves as an external metaphorical projection of our highest personal potential. We do not believe in Satan as a being or person.
What we (members of the Satanic Temple) do however "believe in" are the following seven tenets, and what we believe is that any country should be secular e.g. religion and politics should never be mixed up, very much like the forefathers of the United States that drafted their Document of independence very much with the idea NEVER to mix up religion and politics, so think again when somebody says that America is a christian nation, it isn't. (
https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/tenets) - (Documentary of the satanic temple and their active work for a secular state. [ Invalid YouTube link ]
The seven tenets of The Satanic Temple *TST
1: One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason.
2: The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.
3: One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.
4: The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one's own.
5: Beliefs should conform to one's best scientific understanding of the world. One should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit one's beliefs.
6: People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one's best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused.
7: Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.
Obviously, as an atheist and somewhat militant atheist I cannot stand any type of organized religion. That does not mean that I hate people who choose to be religious. In fact atheistic satanism remind you not to judge people to harshly and to have patience with your fellow brothers and sisters.
So, if you ever cross somebodies' path who is a satanist (although most people will not carry their philosophical belief on their forehead) have a chat with her or him.
Edit: Hail Satanas
