Comparing the Morals of Satanists and Christians
So often Christians say that without the faith, especially the Bible, it is not possible for people to have sound moral principles. A while back a blogger compared the moral principles found in the Satanists' document versus the Ten Commandments used by Christians. Satanists focus on how to achieve individual liberty. I've summarized for brevity what the Satanists adopted:
--Act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason
--One's own body in inviolable, subject to one's will alone.
--To willfully and unjustly encroach on the freedom of others is to forego your own.
--People are fallible. If we make a mistake we should do our best to rectify it and resolve any harm done that we may have caused.
--Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.
By contrast, the Ten Commandments are light on moral issues. The first four Commandments have nothing to do with morals. They are about merely directions on how to worship God. Taking an overview of them, they seem the musing of a jealous God fearful of competing gods.
While the Satanist document is much about taking personal responsibility to preserve one's liberties, the Ten Commandments are much about controlling others.
Satanists are an interesting group that bare observing in the years ahead.
Got news for you Jon. those principles aren't Satanist principles. they are just warmed over leftist talking points. nothing noteworthy. besides these people aren't real Satanists. they are just goofy folks playing around with the dark side just for fun. if the devil is real (something that you vigorously deny), then watch out. short of that let the kiddies have their fun. incantations spoken over naked women does have a certain therapeutic value, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteUnknown "those principles aren't Satanist principle. they are just warmed over leftist talking points."
DeleteIt may well be they are leftest talking points. And, the Ten Commandments didn't actually come from Moses who got them from a god. They were made up by wealthy goat herders later.
Your reference to "leftest talking points" reflects your constant effort here to mislead, obfuscate and avoid. The issue I raised in the blog was whether the Satanic groups principle were more moral than the Ten Commandments. I mentioned that four of the Ten are just instructions of how to worship God. The others don't rise to the same high level of moral principles as those of the Satanists.
When you refuse to address the topic at hand I sometimes don't put up your posts. I hope you can appreciate that I can't have people running their comments in every which direction. In this case, I hope you return to the issue at hand, whether the Satanic principle are superior, or inferior, in morals to the Ten Commandments. If you don't stay on topic you may not see you response appear here.
threats Jon, threats. as to the 10C since you have already made up your mind you would, of course, think that the Satanist clichés are superior. as I countered, however: don't see much to marvel at in some airy leftist generalities. Is that direct enough for you.
DeleteUnknown 9:53 So, you would agree that the principles stated by the Satanists are equal in moral quality to the Ten Commandments? Yes or no.
Deletecan't you read. NO
DeleteUnknown "can't you read. NO."
DeleteExplain why or how the Satanists principles are inferior to the Ten Commandments.
Jon; Great post. It’s nice to hear from a non-theistic religious group now and then. I read the Satanic Temple does not believe in a supernatural Satan. Our Christian friends may caution that one of Satan’s most powerful tools is persuasion as in Milton’s Paradise Lost; “Yet he pleased the ear. And with persuasive accent thus began.” At any rate the premise of the link and your post are well taken here. Monuments citing The Seven Tenets should be erected wherever those of the Ten Commandments are found for contrast. Although, I do find statues of Baphomet and the Crucifix equally revolting. There is no explaining taste. “The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.” – Jesus of Nazareth without the equivocal influence of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John.
ReplyDeleteArby B "Jon; Great post. It's nice to hear from a non-theistic religious group now and then."
ReplyDeleteThanks Ardy. It's going to take some head scratching to come up with a way to communicate broad positive principles to the public. Humanists took the first step decades ago by declaring faith in the ability of humans to solve their problems. But that group has to one degree or another been eclipsed by American Atheists and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Neither of these, it seems to me, will grab the positive idealism we need to move from religion to somewhere else that is both lofty in principle but not off in the la la land of invisible gods.
Jon, I texted those tenets to my two adult children without revealing the source. They found them much more appealing than the Decalogue. But after I revealed the source my daughter replied, “I guess I should think twice about cross stitching them into a wall hanging, lest visitors ask where they come from. Might make for an awkward conversation.” Humanity’s morals are often a patchwork of borrowed principles. I submit that those Seven Tenets express succinctly what is in the hearts of most of us godless folks. Time for a measure of syncretism in the moral fabric of some of today’s God fearing elite.
DeleteArdy "Jon, texted those tenet to my..." Delightful post. I read it to my wife.
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ on the subject of the lack of morality in the 10c's.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, there are two schools in the numbering. One has the first three dealing with God, (first table) and the remainder with fellow man.(second table) ---- The other has the first four (first table) dealing with God, and the remainder with fellow man. (second table).
Virtually all denominations and the two schools include a "What does this mean" following the commandment. in their catechisms (if they have instruction of the faith).
Re. The negative morality question you and the attachment amply to the 10c's is absent when the "What does this mean" (explanation) is applied. Actually revealing a strong morality.
I shall omit the type of the first three applying to God, and continue with the succeeding commandments to fellow man, revealing the positive implication.
the 4th; re. parents and masters nor provoke them.
Meaning; but give them honor, serve and obey them and hold them in love and esteem.
5th. Re. "kill"(Actually the translation is Murder). there is a difference.
Meaning; not hurt nor harm in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need.
6th. Re. adultery
meaning lead a chaste and decent life in word and deed and love and honor his spouse.
7th. re. Not steal
Meaning ' not take money or goods, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and business.
8th. re. false witness
Meaning; Not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him and put the best construction on everything.
9th. re. covet neighbor's house. (inanimate property)
meaning Not craftily seek to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, nor obtain it by show of right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.
10th re. covet wife, servants, nor cattle, nor anything that is your neighbor's. (animate)
Meaning; Not estrange, force or entice away from our neighbor his wife, servants or cattle, but urge them to stay.
Helper "I beg to differ on the lack of morality in the 10 C's."
DeleteI only said morality was lacking in those commandments that dealt exclusively with directives about how to deal with God. Maybe there is a way to see some moral message applicable to non Christians but I don't see it. Certainly, the thous shalt not steal, kill, etc. are about morals.
My point, however, is that the principles listed by the Satanists is at least equal in moral standards as the 10 C's. It disproves the myth that our society requires Christianity in order that there be some moral standard. Or, that there would be no moral standard without Christianity. The Satanists have provided sound moral standards.
Ah yes, The "Me too" movement.
DeleteI would agree Satanists might have gotten the idea to adopt that material from the popular use of the 10 C to advocate various rules of behavior. From what I have read, the Jews adopted the rules in the 10C from previous societies--their own version of "me too". Apparently there is surviving writing (of course recopied endless times) from other sources with don't kill, don't steal, etc etc. What society, clan or tribe could survive without such basic rules of behavior? The wealthy goat herders who who the Old Testament added stuff about God to maintain control of the lessers.
Deletewealthy goat herders who WROTE...
Deletere. "who WROTE"; I thought they chiseled
DeleteSounds like Sanders or AOC.
DeleteI should also add these ten c's were from the small catechism, designed for children, youth, or those uninformed, but desiring to learn.
ReplyDeleteThe Large catechism was written for the benefit of the existing, and sometimes poorly trained, (if at all) clergy that were in place before the reformation.