Stormbeard
October 13th, 2008, 06:46 PM
or 'More tea vicar?'
We will examine one of the basic tenets of Satanism in this series, which is the rejection of traditional Christian teachings which inhibit the true nature of mankind. That is not to say that to reject 'thou shalt not kill' one should kill as many people as possible. That would be irrational and foolish. So to better understand how the Satanist chooses to conduct himself (though there is nothing set in stone here, as Satanism is very much build around the needs and desires of the individual and not a 'herd' or 'flock') we will be examining the core ideals upon which Christianity and, as such, a large portion of modern day western 'morality' is based upon. Perhaps it will also help the reader to understand why Satanism rejects traditional Christianity almost as much as traditional Christianity vilifies Satanism.
Round two. Gluttony.
As before, I will be using Wikipedia for the best generally perceived meaning of Gluttony in context of sin.
Derived from the Latin gluttire, meaning to gulp down or swallow, gluttony is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. In the Christian religions, it is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food, or its withholding from the needy.
Depending on the culture, it can be seen as either a vice or a sign of status. Where food is relatively scarce, being able to eat well might be something to take pride in (although this can also result in a moral backlash when confronted with the reality of those less fortunate). Where food is routinely plentiful, it may be considered a sign of self control to resist the temptation to over-indulge.
Again, with our understanding of the Church's desire to control. This was to suppress the followers into not feeling like they should eat well. That they should only take their share, and if there was less then to take less than their share. To go hungry to show their devotion to God.
Gluttony and greed are akin to Lust in that it is satiating a want, not a need. That your choice on what you do with your gains is not truly a matter of 'free will'. That you should feel some kind of shame if you decide not to give your excess to others. Do not be fooled into thinking this was charity on the behalf of the Church. This was a business opportunity, pure and simple. If you had more than you 'need' and you were a man of god, where would you place your riches and food? At the service of the lord. And if, as the poor and suffering, your food comes from the hand of God, then you're more likely to be sympathetic to the teachings.
Many will paint the Satanist as selfish, but the act of self-preservation is important because it is essential to building inner strength. The strong are in a much finer position to help the worthy than the broken and the hungry. And you can do it with want of nothing in return. True charity. Your love and care and gifts come from your hand as an act of compassion to other human beings, just trying to get by. They come from no office or pulpit, just from your heart.
Also, we as humans will indulge in excess. If everybody ate just what they needed to live and spent no more than was necessary our houses would be bare and our stomachs perfectly flat. It is not so much the want of the Church to have all it's followers hungry or just 'getting by'. No. It wants them guilty. Why? Because guilt keeps people coming to Church. It's bums in seats. It's keeping the organisation alive.
We are taught that it is sinful to have ideas of greatness. That Lucifer once had an idea of greatness, to rise up and better himself and for his sins was struck down and cast out. DO NOT QUESTION YOUR CREATOR appears to be the central message to this fable. Ambition is the term, greed is the dirty word which would want you to feel guilty. Avarice is another term used to describe such things. Covers more of a general topic than Greed. An act which decries bribery, betrayal, hoarding. Things which the Church itself has employed to further it's goals.
It's all about convincing the believers to close their eyes on Earth and the pleasures that can be had here, to stop living for the now, and to live for the promise of an afterlife. Scoring points here and there by remaining ignorant of the joys that the world around you contains.
So simply put, deny yourself nothing. If you are willing to accept consequence then you have the right as a human to take it. You should feel no shame in desire. You should feel no guilt for another basic human emotions. Fulfilling one's needs without perpetual guilt hanging over your head like the sword of Damocles.
Such is the Satanic perception of gluttony and greed.
We will examine one of the basic tenets of Satanism in this series, which is the rejection of traditional Christian teachings which inhibit the true nature of mankind. That is not to say that to reject 'thou shalt not kill' one should kill as many people as possible. That would be irrational and foolish. So to better understand how the Satanist chooses to conduct himself (though there is nothing set in stone here, as Satanism is very much build around the needs and desires of the individual and not a 'herd' or 'flock') we will be examining the core ideals upon which Christianity and, as such, a large portion of modern day western 'morality' is based upon. Perhaps it will also help the reader to understand why Satanism rejects traditional Christianity almost as much as traditional Christianity vilifies Satanism.
Round two. Gluttony.
As before, I will be using Wikipedia for the best generally perceived meaning of Gluttony in context of sin.
Derived from the Latin gluttire, meaning to gulp down or swallow, gluttony is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. In the Christian religions, it is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food, or its withholding from the needy.
Depending on the culture, it can be seen as either a vice or a sign of status. Where food is relatively scarce, being able to eat well might be something to take pride in (although this can also result in a moral backlash when confronted with the reality of those less fortunate). Where food is routinely plentiful, it may be considered a sign of self control to resist the temptation to over-indulge.
Again, with our understanding of the Church's desire to control. This was to suppress the followers into not feeling like they should eat well. That they should only take their share, and if there was less then to take less than their share. To go hungry to show their devotion to God.
Gluttony and greed are akin to Lust in that it is satiating a want, not a need. That your choice on what you do with your gains is not truly a matter of 'free will'. That you should feel some kind of shame if you decide not to give your excess to others. Do not be fooled into thinking this was charity on the behalf of the Church. This was a business opportunity, pure and simple. If you had more than you 'need' and you were a man of god, where would you place your riches and food? At the service of the lord. And if, as the poor and suffering, your food comes from the hand of God, then you're more likely to be sympathetic to the teachings.
Many will paint the Satanist as selfish, but the act of self-preservation is important because it is essential to building inner strength. The strong are in a much finer position to help the worthy than the broken and the hungry. And you can do it with want of nothing in return. True charity. Your love and care and gifts come from your hand as an act of compassion to other human beings, just trying to get by. They come from no office or pulpit, just from your heart.
Also, we as humans will indulge in excess. If everybody ate just what they needed to live and spent no more than was necessary our houses would be bare and our stomachs perfectly flat. It is not so much the want of the Church to have all it's followers hungry or just 'getting by'. No. It wants them guilty. Why? Because guilt keeps people coming to Church. It's bums in seats. It's keeping the organisation alive.
We are taught that it is sinful to have ideas of greatness. That Lucifer once had an idea of greatness, to rise up and better himself and for his sins was struck down and cast out. DO NOT QUESTION YOUR CREATOR appears to be the central message to this fable. Ambition is the term, greed is the dirty word which would want you to feel guilty. Avarice is another term used to describe such things. Covers more of a general topic than Greed. An act which decries bribery, betrayal, hoarding. Things which the Church itself has employed to further it's goals.
It's all about convincing the believers to close their eyes on Earth and the pleasures that can be had here, to stop living for the now, and to live for the promise of an afterlife. Scoring points here and there by remaining ignorant of the joys that the world around you contains.
So simply put, deny yourself nothing. If you are willing to accept consequence then you have the right as a human to take it. You should feel no shame in desire. You should feel no guilt for another basic human emotions. Fulfilling one's needs without perpetual guilt hanging over your head like the sword of Damocles.
Such is the Satanic perception of gluttony and greed.