Makes Sense

I was reading quotes from Anton Lavey’s The Satanic Bible yesterday, as one does when times are slow at work. What struck me was how, well, human it was. No goat worship or weird sex stuff with masks and torch-wielding voyeurs, just some dude telling other humans how to respond to situations in a normal, human unregenerate way. Here’s an example:

Satanism advocates practicing a modified form of the Golden Rule. Our interpretation of this rule is: “Do unto others as they do unto you”; because if you “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and they, in turn, treat you badly, it goes against human nature to continue to treat them with consideration. You should do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but if your courtesy is not returned, they should be treated with the wrath they deserve.

Anton Lavey, The Satanic Bible

There’s a bunch of stuff like that. Nothing crazy. I would quote more but I fear it would smack too much of the autobiographical.

When we reject Jesus we reject the Father and declare allegiance to another father. No goat sacrifices or pentagrams tattoos or midnight rituals needed – just keep acting like a normal human and avoid Jesus. Be a good person even.

Don’t know why I was surprised to see that the Satanist Bible is actually just encouragement to act in line with what comes naturally to fallen man. Makes sense.

You gotta serve somebody.

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

Titus 3:3-7