Customer Reviews

Satanism

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Hoping to understand more about Satanism in an objective point of view, I purchased this book and eventually had so much a disappointment that I have to write a review here to express my opinions, which I have not done for a long long time.

This book is a short book, of only 96 pages, titled "Satanism", but it does not tell much about Satanism as one might expect. Instead, it spends much effort on defining Christian theological terms of "Satan", "demon", "angel" and the like, from their meanings to their history. Also mentioned in details were Christian philosophies of "demonology" and the witch hunts, etc.. The author had done a neat and concise work on this, but sorry this is a book on Satanism. In chapter two on "History", a length of 32 pages, only 6 pages are actually Satanism related.

In chapter four on "Theology", there are great lengthy parts of ridiculous "refutation of Satanist arguments". Never have I seen an introductory book on any particular religion has such a section! The "refutations" are all Christian viewpoints, some of them are themselves questionable (but still presented as if they are solid facts).

And the next chapter, "Witnessing Tips", was a chapter teaching Christians how to approach Satanists and have them persuaded to turn their minds back to the Lord. Holy.

Hardly can I say this book is objective. If you are looking for an introduction to Satanism, you have better choices elsewhere.

I found this to be a refreshingly calm and objective look at an alternative religious movement. To my surprise, I found that the authors disparaged more hysterical fundamentalist accounts of conspiracy theories, and even admitted that some fundamentalists lie about satanic ritual abuse and satanic conspiracy theories. They also regard many "satanists" as nothing more than very naughty adolescent misfits. As a neopagan, I was also pleased to see that the authors distinguish our traditions from satanist practices. Neopagans do not believe in an incarnated antideity of evil or Nietzschean superhumanity, whereas christians and satanists do. Stripped of the evangelical apologetics, this would be an excellent offering in a comparative religion course. I hope the authors and publisher decide to market it as such, as I am sure it would meet a warm reception if they did.

This book is the Passantino's contribution to the Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements. The Passantinos have cultivated a reputation over their 20 plus years of ministry for fairness, accuracy and truthfulness. They took a leading role in the Christian community to debunk false claims of Satanic Ritual Abuse.

In conducting their research, they interviewed Anton Szandor LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan. It was the first interview that he had granted for publication in fifteen years.

Satanism concisely presents the findings of the Passantinos research. It is the definitive Christian book on the subject, and it is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding Satanism as it exists in late 20th century America. It is extensively documented and full of factual information. The Bibliography alone is well worth the price of the book.

This book CLAIMS that it can enlighten you as to what a TRUE satanist believes. If you are thinking about purchasing this book, don't. If you are seriously curious about Satanism, stay away from this book. If you want to know what Christians THINK satanism is about, or what Wiccans/Neopagans THINK Satanism is about, this is the book for you.
Here's the TRUTH about Satanism:
Satanists only use the name 'Satan' because it scares you.
Satanists have only one rule: Question Everything.
There is only one person who has written about Satanism with complete honesty, that person was Anton Lavey. Read the Satanic Bible if you want to know the truth.

Let see, I see this book, and I read the reviews, and begin to understand one thing... Where is the argument? First off, knowing a Christian will find solace in scapegoating anything that isn't Christian, dunno why, maybe they are using it as a security blanket or something for MONEY or something... First, Satan is more then just a religious belief thought of by Anton LaVey, all you kiddies out there don't gasp to hard for air! Satan was never ONE BEING, Satan was everything! Shin-Ayin-Tau-Ayin-Nun! Adversary, not necesarily Enemy of the People, but Enemy totally! Anton was not the originator of this belief! CoS can sue me all they want... The whole "I am Man, I am a God, Hear Me Roar" was dedictated in the Bible, when the Serpent offered the Fruit to Eve! Therefore, he surely didn't oringate it without the Bible even... But then again what do I know? I am Devil Worshipper, therefore a threat to the CoS, modern Satanic way of life... Anyways, steer clear from this, if you are a Pagan/Wiccan with an open mind, you will be closed even more (and it will hypocrisize your Religious Tolerance to all beliefs that just as Tolerant as your own)...

The pAssantinos do excellent work every time out!