The Less than Amazing Atheist

[Resistor]

So i was addicted and then I just reasoned that it didnt benefit me anymore and so I stopped? You must not know what addiction is...

An incentive is not "reasoning" it is an inner psychological drive which pushes you towards your goal, which of course we know addiction isn't an easy thing for anyone to give up.

 

[Lyfe]

I managed to give up those things. No treatment or rehab once. Did it all by myself in conplete isolation without the support of anyone. I guess Im just strong willed afterall since I was addicted...

 

[Red Sky at Morning]

@Lyfe - just catching up, I think the problem Atheists have is that the very thing that changes the lives of Christians (a restored relationship with the living God) is the very thing they fundamentally work to convince themselves is impossible.

As a Christian, I think I’m supposed to feel shocked or horrified by Satanists, but genuinely I just feel sad for them. In so many ways they are more like rebellious teens who want to shut their parents out of their lives and play loud music in their rooms. They actually just miss out. As a parent of teens myself, I know the Father still loves them.

One way that I think God shines a light into this cell of “me-centred“ living is through the imagination. The conversation between Lewis and Tolkien was really interesting....

 

[Resistor]

@Lyfe - just catching up, I think the problem Atheists have is that the very thing that changes the lives of Christians (a restored relationship with the living God) is the very thing they fundamentally work to convince themselves is impossible.

As a Christian, I think I’m supposed to feel shocked or horrified by Satanists, but genuinely I just feel sad for them. In so many ways they are more like rebellious teens who want to shut their parents out of their lives and play loud music in their rooms. They actually just miss out. As a parent of teens myself, I know the Father still loves them.

One way that I think God shines a light into this cell of “me-centred“ living is through the imagination. The conversation between Lewis and Tolkien was really interesting....

If you're talking over me, no I'm not an Atheist or a Satanist, I'm just a Monotheist who doesn't share your belief system.

 

[Red Sky at Morning]

If you're talking over me, no I'm not an Atheist or a Satanist, I'm just a Monotheist who doesn't share your belief system.

That’s fine, @Resistor - I was addressing @Lyfe regarding the Atheist/Satanist perception o Christianity. I know you are a Muslim and the conversation we might have would be very different to the one I would have with an materialist.

On the other hand, I would imagine that “personal relationship“ aspect might be as opaque to your way of looking at things as it is to @DevaWolf ?

 

[Resistor]

That’s fine, @Resistor - I was addressing @Lyfe regarding the Atheist/Satanist perception o Christianity. I know you are a Muslim and the conversation we might have would be very different to the one I would have with an materialist.

I'm not a Muslim Strange remark.

 

[Red Sky at Morning]

I'm not a Muslim Strange remark.

OK, sorry, I didn’t mean to mislabel you. Is there a recognised religion your monotheism lends itself to?

 

[Resistor]

OK, sorry, I didn’t mean to mislabel you. Is there a recognised religion your monotheism lends itself to?

No

 

[Red Sky at Morning]

No

OK - I guess the question might be whether you have just arrived at Monotheism or whether you feel that no (apparently) revealed form of Monotheism accurately reflects God’s true nature?

 

[DevaWolf]

I currently dont live that way. Didnt require any treatment or rehab of any sort. I just stopped doing those things...

Ill let you be the judge and determine whether I(an addict) just up and stopped on my own power without any treatment or if Jesus set me free by the power of the holy ghost.

That you lived life in the way you describe is your choice. Satanism is about owning one's choices, which clearly you couldn't.

I don't indulge in any of the actvities you describe, whether you believe me or not. I have a stable family life with a good income, and I am perfectly happy entertaining myself with devillish games like dungeons and dragons and going to comic cons.
Indulgence means something else to everyone you meet, and in Satanism one aspires to reach his highest goal in life. Usually that's not being an addict and hanging on the couch. If Jesus set you free of that, good for you. But don't tell me how I am living just because you were unhappy with how you were living.

 

[DevaWolf]

So i was addicted and then I just reasoned that it didnt benefit me anymore and so I stopped? You must not know what addiction is...

I quit smoking cold turkey in three days without Jesus. I guess I don't know addiction either, though I used to smoke 4 packs a week for 5 years. That's 12 years ago now.

 

[Resistor]

I quit smoking cold turkey in three days without Jesus. I guess I don't know addiction either, though I used to smoke 4 packs a week for 5 years. That's 12 years ago now.

Wow! I really admire that, that's true determination.

 

[DevaWolf]

Wow! I really admire that, that's true determination.

Yes, will power is actually a valued Satanic trait. The most important thing a Satanist aspires to be is the highest form of human life, an evolved human being that's thriving.

In opposition to what Lyfe says, Satanism looks down on weakness like addiction. That's one reason I quit. I will share the nine Satanic sins here, just to make that clear. Lyfe sounds to me like he definitely never was a member of the church of Satan.

The Nine Satanic Sins - Church of Satan

The Nine Satanic Sins by Anton Szandor LaVey © 1987 Stupidity The top of the list for Satanic Sins. The Cardinal Sin of Satanism. It’s too bad that stupidity isn’t painful. Ignorance is one thing, but our society thrives increasingly on stupidity. It depends on people going along with whatever...

www.churchofsatan.com

 

[Red Sky at Morning]

That you lived life in the way you describe is your choice. Satanism is about owning one's choices, which clearly you couldn't.

I don't indulge in any of the actvities you describe, whether you believe me or not. I have a stable family life with a good income, and I am perfectly happy entertaining myself with devillish games like dungeons and dragons and going to comic cons.
Indulgence means something else to everyone you meet, and in Satanism one aspires to reach his highest goal in life. Usually that's not being an addict and hanging on the couch. If Jesus set you free of that, good for you. But don't tell me how I am living just because you were unhappy with how you were living.

The thing is, If I read you right, you are content to live your “best life now“ within the moral standards you choose for yourself, and not wish for any “eternal” life. Some people are like that, but it raises an interesting question that relates to the present lockdown. Let me explain.

For some people, the present lockdown has led them to cancel their holiday, stop having days out, stay at home and now their lawn. They seem quite content. Others feel like gnawing their own legs off under the same environment because the desire for freedom and adventure is still alive in them.

I think I’m a similar way, some people manage to be contented atheists, and can hum along lines from “Imagine” while others feel desperate for something more and turn to anything to find it. Accordingly, they may become addicts or hedonists to try to find their answer. Of course this doesn’t work, but it is an expression of a troubled heart.

C.S. Lewis went on a spiritual journey fuelled by a desire for joy. His destination surprised him:-

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

 

[Resistor]

Yes, will power is actually a valued Satanic trait. The most important thing a Satanist aspires to be is the highest form of human life, an evolved human being that's thriving.

In opposition to what Lyfe says, Satanism looks down on weakness like addiction. That's one reason I quit. I will share the nine Satanic sins here, just to make that clear. Lyfe sounds to me like he definitely never was a member of the church of Satan.

Yes I know what you're saying, the general "Satanist" ethic in my understanding is gaining one's willpower and control over oneself, and slaying the part of oneself that is a slave to it. The opposition to projecting these things onto a higher force and rather very really confronting these things within oneself.
The Christian way on the other hand is to entirely give over one's willpower (much like the addict themselves). For the Christian they shift their burdens from themselves to their higher force rather than confronting it directly. Psychologically though it amounts to ignoring the problem.

Addiction, like the Nietzschean 'slave morality' (particularly being derived from Christianity and not necessarily other religions) is a weakness and lack of control over oneself. Basically "God helped me because I couldn't help myself" idea, which is itself a convenience model of living which doesn't actually benefit anyone.

 

[DevaWolf]

Yes I know what you're saying, the general "Satanist" ethic in my understanding is gaining one's willpower and control over oneself, and slaying the part of oneself that is a slave to it. The opposition to projecting these things onto a higher force and rather very really confronting these things within oneself.

Correct. It's popular in Christian thinking to say that Satanism is nothing more than aspiring to the lowest of the low, but that's according to their doctrine alone. Actual Satanic doctrine is very different, which also makes it easy to spot the fake 'ex Satanists'.

The Christian way on the other hand is to entirely give over one's willpower (much like the addict themselves). For the Christian they shift their burdens from themselves to their higher force rather than confronting it directly. Psychologically though it amounts to ignoring the problem.

Addiction, like the Nietzschean 'slave morality' (particularly being derived from Christianity and not necessarily other religions) is a weakness and lack of control over oneself. Basically "God helped me because I couldn't help myself" idea, which is itself a convenience model of living which doesn't actually benefit anyone.

Well said friend, well said.
Facing your issues can be painful, that's why most religions were invented in the first place. If your life sucks because of you, it's easier to blame it on the devil or 'demons' than actually stand up and do something about it.

 

[DevaWolf]

The thing is, If I read you right, you are content to live your “best life now“ within the moral standards you choose for yourself, and not wish for any “eternal” life. Some people are like that, but it raises an interesting question that relates to the present lockdown. Let me explain.

For some people, the present lockdown has led them to cancel their holiday, stop having days out, stay at home and now their lawn. They seem quite content. Others feel like gnawing their own legs off under the same environment because the desire for freedom and adventure is still alive in them.

I think I’m a similar way, some people manage to be contented atheists, and can hum along lines from “Imagine” while others feel desperate for something more and turn to anything to find it. Accordingly, they may become addicts or hedonists to try to find their answer. Of course this doesn’t work, but it is an expression of a troubled heart.

C.S. Lewis went on a spiritual journey fuelled by a desire for joy. His destination surprised him:-


C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

Well I applaud this post @Red Sky at Morning . You seem capable of respecting a different view, I admire that. I don't disrespect Christians because they are Christian, that would make me a lot of enemies. But I have issues when they represent my beliefs in an incorrect and non factual way.

And yes I don't need an eternal life if it means one that is up to the standards of the God of the Bible, a Christian could say that's because I don't understand it but as I understand the Bible this would be my choice. I know I live right now, and I enjoy it as much as I can for I am uncertain of another life.

I agree, there is no desire in me for 'something more' as a spiritual path. I might still change, life is always changing so who am I to say I will always be like this, but for now I am content as I am.

 

[Red Sky at Morning]

I agree, there is no desire in me for 'something more' as a spiritual path. I might still change, life is always changing so who am I to say I will always be like this, but for now I am content as I am.

Nobody goes on a journey without a reason, or seeks an adventure they have no desire for. God deals with all of us as individuals, and for some people it takes a lifetime for them to desire the Father’s arms from the story of the prodigal son.

I happened across this clip on YouTube - the guy seems like he is hardly able to contain his excitement which again will seem crazy to those who have not encountered God in a way that they know to be real.

 

[Lyfe]

@Resistor

Its quite revealing that in one breath you speak ill of vices like "self-infatuation", "self-gratification", "gluttony"(which are all ideas Lavey taught we should embrace), and even concepts such as belief, but then in another breath go ahead and show support for Muslim belief and even the atheistic Satanists who hold beliefs that vector off of the aforementioned vices.

That is the inverse nature of the times we are in and all you do by your actions like many is demonstrate that there acctually is an antichrist spirit active on this thread who's sole purpose is to contribute in no other way than to denounce and delegitimze Christianity. People will welcome and show support of any counter culture belief and will even defend someone else's right to believe as such, in fact such beliefs wont even bother them, yet when it comes to Christianity they will home-in and invest considerable time in their day attacking something they believe is nonsense.

 

[floss]

If your life sucks because of you, it's easier to blame it on the devil or 'demons' than actually stand up and do something about it.

Since you are a satanist, do you believe satan/devil/demons are a real entity?