Why Satanism Can’t Be Considered a Religion

Satanists are atheists who are radical individualists. They view Satan not as a figure to worship but as a fictional symbolic character.

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Commentary

There will always be disrupters in society who resemble pyromaniacs, smirking with pleasure as they watch the world burn around them from the match they lit.

They inject confusion into the veins of civilization, hoping that we will wither away, believing poison has entered the body of our society instead of realizing it was a placebo the entire time.

This is the persona of modern-day “Satanists” who bear the name of a character they don’t believe even exists to cause chaos among believers and non-believers.

A recent battle over religious freedoms and rights was sparked after a Satanic display that was placed inside the Iowa State Capitol was allegedly destroyed by 35-year-old Michael Cassidy. Mr. Cassidy, who was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, told Fox News Digital, “It was extremely anti-Christian.”

Presidential hopeful Gov. Ron DeSantis added to the controversy by questioning how this statue even made it into the state capitol, but, more importantly, challenging the legitimacy of Satanism as a real religion.

“I was like, ‘Well how did it get there? Is that even a religion?’ And lo and behold, the Trump administration gave them approval, to be under the IRS, as a religion. So, that gave them the legal ability to potentially do it,” lamented Mr. DeSantis.

He continued, “I don’t think that was the right decision. Satanic as a religion? That’s wrong.”

The IRS giving tax exemption is one matter, but from a theological standpoint, is Satanism a real religion? Renowned Dutch theologian Sonja Dahlmans believes Mr. DeSantis is correct in his assertion that Satanism isn’t a religion.

“Most people who call themselves ‘Satanists’ do not have any religious or theological basis for their so-called satanic affiliation. There are many who just like to shock others, especially people who do believe in God, whatever religion they adhere to, and therefore, in many cases also in the adversary from the beginning: Satan,” Ms. Dahlmans told me.

“These wanna-be Satanists do not necessarily oppose God, for to oppose God you would have to believe he exists in the first place, but they rather oppose the sociological structure that grants religions certain rights,” Ms. Dahlmans continued.

“From a theological perspective, this group is rather empty; it just wants to shock believers and non-believers alike by using a name, Satanist, they know will cause effect without a true understanding of the implications it has,” Ms. Dahlmans emphasized.

The objective seems to be to make a mockery of a society that has religious-based values baked into it and to selfishly redirect the attention we give to God to them instead.

Part of my understanding of this form of Satanism stemmed from my personal interactions with a Satanist years ago. We had known each other through an online forum, and one day he revealed to me his association.

He confirmed much of what Ms. Dahlmans stated: They are atheists who are radical individualists. They view Satan not as a figure to worship but as a fictional symbolic character that in Christian theology displayed radical individualism by defying God’s orders to do as he pleased.

Unlike most atheists who respect the existence of believers in God despite disagreeing with God’s existence, Satanists aggressively troll believers by mocking their rituals and using the Christian symbol of evil personified, Satan, as their make-believe lord.

These so-called Satanists don’t worship Satan, because you would have to believe he’s real to do so, and believing he’s real would also validate the existence of God.

To them, Satan is as fictional as the character Tony Montana, but they use his name and the stories in Christian theology to trigger a response from Christians and revel in their panic when it happens.

The point of them placing the Satanic display in the state capitol was to cause a reaction that forces the rest of us to question if any religious symbols, such as a Christmas tree or a Hanukkah menorah, should be placed in the state capitol.

The statue was the troll to cause an emotional reaction, such as having it destroyed, giving them legitimacy among constitutionalists challenging church and state separation and an opportunity to play the victim as a so-called persecuted class.

Satanists aren’t fighting for religious freedom; they’re striving to exploit the institution of religion.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.