• Kellamity@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    They don’t believe in a supernatural power, but they see themselves as a serious religion with serious beliefs. From your link:

    ‘[Satanism is] a narrative structure by which we contextualize our lives and works. …[it is] a body of symbolism and religious practice — a sense of identity, culture, community, and shared values.’

    They have seven Tenets, none of which are directly about other religions - although one does mention being opposed to ‘distorting scientific facts’. Most are about compassion and individuality.

    ‘Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought.’

    Agree with them or not, but they see themselves as much more than some kind of shell religion to undermine Religious Exemption statutes

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      The thing is, I don’t see how the seven tenets should conflict with modern religions at all. It’s fully compatible with what Christianity claims to be. By all logic, following the Satanic tenets should make you a better Christian, a better human

      • zarkanian@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        Christianity does not believe in bodily autonomy (tenet 3) or having your beliefs conform to the best scientific evidence (tenet 5). Even if it were 100% compatible with Christianity, though, that still wouldn’t make it a parody religion.

        • AA5B@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I did not mean to imply that. While their main goal seems to be religious freedom, they seem to have a moral code consistent with other major religions. It’s not just that they’re not evil, but seem to believe in the same good

    • Djtecha@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      Well I do agree with them, I am a member. My point is they don’t believe in western religious tenants like gods and afterlife. Also I’m pretty sure they were founded in a rebuttal to the scotus opinion that athesim isn’t a religion and thus doesn’t deserve religious protections.

      • Kellamity@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        they don’t believe in western religious tenants like gods and afterlife

        Yeah, but their whole point is that this doesn’t undermine their status as a religion. It doesn’t make them ‘a joke or parody religion’, which is the phrase you initially replied to:

        This is a common misconception. TST is not a joke or parody religion.

        What makes you say that?

        They don’t exist as a semi-serious troll organisation to undermine Christianity is my point, they take their beliefs and religious status seriously.

        • Djtecha@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          Ahh I see you believe I implied that. No that wasn’t my intent. My point is they were created to combat religious encroachment on secular society. Let’s not act like they are performing mass here though. They exist as a tool to rebuff religion. Not sure that makes them a religion, but I’m no theologian.

        • Djtecha@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          I never said they were a joke. You’re the one disregarding pastafarism here.

      • zarkanian@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        Which SCOTUS decision is that?

        Atheism itself isn’t a religion; it’s just non-belief. You can have an atheistic religion, however.