I didn’t realize I would identify so much with the satanists, that’s for sure.
Not that I’d looked into it much. I don’t care much about what people believe, I mostly care when people form exclusionary clubs (which they often call church) that seek to divide people, shame people, judge people, and persecute those who don’t share their beliefs.
Turns out, satanists don’t worship satan. Most are atheists who don’t believe in a literal devil any more than they believe in a literal christ. But since atheism is just a term for what you aren’t, they’ve chosen satanism to represent their feelings, which are not so much anti-christ as post-christ. The satanic temple’s 7 tenets include compassion, empathy, respect, accountability, and science, all of which I find easier to endorse than an overemphasis on not coveting your neighbour’s crap and putting murder and swearing on equal footing in terms of badness.
Practically, the satanic temple chapters exist mostly in opposition to the christians encroaching on the American way of life. Logically we all know the importance of the separation of church and state. America was founded on the freedom of religion as people who were persecuted fled to build a country on their own terms. Colonial founders and founding fathers baked freedom of religion right into the constitution – in fact, it’s in the first amendment. And yet there are references to a christian god on American currency, in the country’s motto, even in the pledge of allegiance. And that’s particularly interesting because as mentioned, separation of church and state was pretty important to the founding fathers. Of course, there was no mention of god in the first version of the pledge, in 1892, and none in the next 3 revisions over the course of 60 odd years. It was only in 1954 that god suddenly popped up where god does not belong, in a time of increasing evangelicism.
So yeah. That’s how Netflix turned me on to satanism. They’re not trying to convert christians and they’re certainly not devil worshipers. If church and state cannot be separated, all they’re asking is that everyone be treated equally. If a school or courtroom or city hall has christian iconography, it needs to consider all other religions too – and there are BUNCHES of them represented in the American population. The first amendment forbids Congress from promoting one religion over others. That’s a basic American value. Apparently. America, what have you come to when the satanists are the level-headed ones?
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
Very interesting post, I obviously watched too much Hammer House of Horror as a child and thought it was all about sexual innuendo 😉 I can identify with the above though, except I don’t like tags and clubs 😂
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Hail “SEITAN” 🤘 😜👊
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That’s really interesting Jay. The mix of compassion, empathy, respect, accountability, and science is persuasive. Which Netflix programmes did you watch?
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I found “Hail Satan?” on Hulu & Prime, not Netflix.
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Yes it tends to be different in different countries.
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I keep thinking about the upcoming census. About claiming I’m immigrant Muslim, just to show support. But then I watch Finding Your Roots and see how important those records can be. But I don’t have kids. My sister doesn’t have kids. There’s virtually no chance my history will matter… other than being 1 nonChristian.
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I hope you do complete the census… *smiles* <–newly hired census worker
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That’s a really interesting spin and good for you for even seeing that it exists.
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Can’t claim credit… people started bringing up the idea last year.
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I think I must be a Satanist too then, but am not thinking that’s a great name. Maybe the Goodies would be more suitable.
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Thanks for this review–if I get internet service (most likely I have to move out of New Mexico) I really want to watch it! I should look to see about ordering the DVD sometime. I went through the same thing…and I’m now a member of the Satanic Temple, incidentally. I’m planning to review this in the coming weeks (I wrote one of the essays for it): https://www.amazon.com/Satan-Speaks-Contemporary-Satanic-Voices/dp/1734006714/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=satan+speaks+contemporary+satanic+voices&qid=1582893676&s=books&sr=1-1
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“So yeah. That’s how Netflix turned me on to satanism.”
That’s a great sentence. I remember hearing about this but I didn’t know it was on Netflix. I think I’ll watch it, it sounds interesting.
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I saw something about them about 20 years ago, and ever since my worries about Satanism have vanished. In fact, there was a day when a kiddo was talking about it in class, and I sat back and listened. I’m not a joiner, but I’d be more likely to join that church than any other.
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I feel the same.
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They didn’t put Satanism into the Constitution but rather Christianity only because Christianity fits better into the U.S. mindset ……. gross hypocrisy. Amen.
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I want to see this. Especially in light of the fact that evangelicals and Christians are the ones that are becoming stupid and hypocritical. I think I might convert to Satanism. That means more reasons to play Slayer and Venom!!!! HAIL SATAN!!!!!
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Cute title. And if it wasn’t for my faith I would call myself a “satanist”. I was a founding member for “Students for Satan” at University. We were definitely not devil worshippers. Just kids who believed we humans were good enough to get wherever we needed to go. Now my life has been transformed by Jesus. Go figure!
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Well, that Paul Schrader-Ethan Hawke movie almost turned me into a terrorist!
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We captioned this at my job a few years ago. It was really interesting and informative. I know those are boring words, but the documentary was the opposite of boring. I think it’s a must-see.
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That is so cool that you worked on it!!
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I keep seeing it pop up but wasn’t sure whether it was something I’d be interested in. Now I know I will be!
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I was raised a Catholic, but left that religion soon after my Confirmation as the age of 14. For all my adult life, I’ve been an Atheist, and now abhor all religions, so I guess I’m a Satanist. I’m a firm believer in the separation of church and state, and consider many Evangelical Christians to be every bit as dangerous as the most extremist Muslims (or any other religious fanatics).
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I enjoyed this flick, and terse satire, though I do wish they’d dubbed the movement something the common denominator could wrap their openness to disbelief around. It’s too bad “Scientology” was so egregiously misappropriated.
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Yes I suppose it does cause some mistaken identity.
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