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The occult is on the rise; many young people are seeking their spiritual identity through Satanism. Satanism has become an issue of great concern in our society. It is a phenomenon that crosses the city limits into the rural areas of our nation. Satanism is not just a big city problem. The news wires carry story after story about young children being kidnapped, only to be found later as victims of some bizarre ritualistic crime. This paper will analyze and will come to a conclusion to the most frequently asked question "What makes a person to convert his / her religion to Satanism?" To do so, this paper will examine the following areas: Effects of Satanism on our youth and society, does power attracts young people to become a Satanist?
And is music a factor in changing one's religion to Satanism? As satanic involvement among our youth increases, we begin to see the primary goal of such activity. It has become clear, according to the data so far analyzed by those who investigate satanic involvement, that the primary goal is to alter people's values and turn them against themselves, their beliefs, family, God, and society. C. S. Lewis, a famous English writer, in his book Screwtape Letters, says this about Satan: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils.
One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight. The term occult means "hidden" or those things or teachings that are "unknown" or secret. This might build some interest or curiosity in some people who want to know what these things are. The occult is the seeking knowledge of unknown information, knowledge that is gained beyond the five senses.
Therefore, it is believed that this knowledge is received by some supernatural involvement or connection. Anton La Vey of the First Church of Satan in San Francisco, California, says that: Satanism is a blatantly selfish, brutal religion. It is based on the belief that man is inherently a selfish, violent creature... that the earth will be ruled by those who fight to win. Young Satanists believe that the strong will rule with Satan.
Once they are sufficiently involved, they often make a deal with Satan. They commit themselves to a future date when they will take their own lives by suicide. They believe that if they submit themselves to Satan in death, they will come back in another life as a stronger being and rule with him forever. According to recent statistics, fourteen young people a day take their own lives. A major concern for those who uphold a Judeo-Christian worldview is that this generation is becoming detached and is losing all sense of morality. Therefore, statistics shows that there is 60 % - 70 % chance of a normal average kid to get effected by these kinds of rituals and beliefs that Satanists have.
Power has become an obsession with young Satanists. It is sought after on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels. According to one former occultist, the greatest attraction into the occult is "power" and "knowledge. " Gaining knowledge that others do not possess is another aspect of the occult. When an individual have more knowledge, it affords them a degree of power over those who do not have access to that knowledge. Drugs and sex have become the bait that so often traps the new members.
Anton La Vey, gives us a glimpse of how Satan is seen in his book The Satanic Bible: "We hold Satan as a symbolic personal saviour, who takes care of mundane, fleshly, carnal things. " With the increase of satanic activity, a profile of those involved in Satanism has emerged. They are generally from a white, middle to upper-middle class family. In most cases they are bright and do well in school; however, they are often bored and are not challenged to meet their full potential. They tend to have a low self-worth and are unable to distinguish between right and wrong because of their relative ethical system. They often have problems in the home and in relating to other people around them.
They use drugs and are sexually immoral. Abuse, both physically and emotionally, is another aspect of this mix. Young Satanists are often abused children who know no other way to relate to people. Some are a part of a multi- generational family involved in worshiping Satan as saviour. La Vey goes on to say that "God exists as a universal force, a balancing factor in nature, too impersonal to care one whit whether we live or die. " In this quote La Vey is clearly denying the Judeo-Christian God, and saying that he is inaccessible and have no compassion. Thus, Satan becomes the solution to man's deepest needs and a symbol power for all the youth.
Music has always been at the center of the youth culture. The problem arises when the lyrics promote unusual behaviour. The Night Stalker, Richard Ramirez of Los Angeles, believed that Satan made him invincible. Police say the style of the brutal rapes and 16 murders Ramirez committed resembled the lyrics of the song "Night Prowler" on AC/DC's LP "Highway to Hell. " Along with Ramirez' fascination with AC/DC, he used cocaine and PCP in conjunction with a deep interest in Satan worship.
He believed that Satan would protect him and not allow harm to come to him. According to a People magazine article as long ago as September 1985, "Rock 'n roll is turning too often to sex, Satanism, drugs and violence for its major themes and corrupting the values and views of unwary young people. " The lyrics of the last few years of the 1980 s have continued on a downward slope. Rachel Matthews, an artist and repertoire representative for Capitol Records, recruits new groups for her company. Her comments regarding a newly signed band reveal what she, as one individual representing the music industry, is looking for in a band: I was just going, 'Oh (expletive)! I've never heard anything like this!' I've heard plenty of metal and speed metal, but it was just so intense and out of control, just like this caged psychosis going on. I loved it, because you could actually understand the lyrics.
And even if they " re morbid and gruesome, it's really cool that you could understand what they " re saying. It just makes it twice as evil. I like that. The music that causes the greatest concern is the various types of "metal" music. Metal has been classified into three types. First, is party metal, and it represents the most popular style of music.
Groups like Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, and Def Leppard are representative of party metal. They tend to glorify sexuality and the party spirit. The second type is "trash metal" represented by groups like Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth. The primary focus of "trash metal" is violence and death. The third type is known as "black metal" and is overtly satanic. The lyrics encourage such activities as incest, necrophilia, rape, torture, and human sacrifice.
Black metal is represented by groups like Venom and Slayer. King Diamond is perhaps the most satanic of all "black metal" groups. He openly professes Satan and incorporates a large amount of satanic activity into his performances. Music has always been an agent of change in our society. Therefore, it is necessary for us as adults and youth to only listen to and think upon those lyrics that would not slowly "brainwash" us and which is acceptable in a civilized society. In conclusion, after examining the three focus areas i.
e. the effects of Satanism on our youth and society, does power attracts young people to become Satanists and if music is one of the factor in changing one's religion into Satanism. I have reached the conclusion that there are a lot of others things besides the one mentioned above, that can force a person to change his / her religion to Satanism, which includes lack of social skills, physical or emotional abusing, media / music , obsession with power, etc. BIBLIOGRAPHY Book Sources Cavendish, Richard. The Black Arts, London, Pan Books Ltd, 1967. Kahaner, Larry.
Cults that kill, San Francisco, Warner Prints, 1994 La Vey, Anton Szandor. The Satanic Rituals, New York, Avon Books, 1972. Marron, Kevin. Ritual Abuse, Canada, McClelland-Bantam, Inc. , 1989 Internet Sources Lavey, Anton. "Church of Satan", web (January 8 th, 2004) "Satanism", April 1999, web (January 8 th, 2004) "Satanism Exposed", web (january 8 th, 2004) "Satanism", web (January 8 th, 2004)
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