Satanism has been called many things. Some people say it’s a cult. Some say it’s a religion. Others say, “no way! That’s not a religion! It’s just a philosophy!” But do we know what these words really mean, or do we only know how they make us feel? Are we assigning a definition and label to something based on our comfort level alone or are we being true to the meanings of the words we use? The definition of religion and theology in general is something that will never be out of fashion to debate academically: as culture evolves, so will the way we define our world, but that doesn’t mean that the definitions themselves will change because definitions don’t change (the words we use to describe a concept will though)! So let’s talk about actual definitions, and let’s talk about definitions used by the authority figures in our world instead of what we heard our best friend’s cousin use on Tumblr. I bet you’ve wondered what the difference between these words are, so let’s find out together, one brave step at a time.

Whatever your reasoning for doing so be, if you’re reading this blog you have released your ship from the dock of “rumor” and are investigating Satanism for yourself. The ocean is vast, and it can be hard to know where to start with so many different ports in the world. Some of them are dangerous, some of them pretend to be something they’re not, and some of them speak complicated languages that pull you down a rabbit hole of mysticism, esotericism, and all that—not something you really have time to do just yet when you’re only just now deciding to get your toes wet. So where do you go? Unlike Abrahamic traditions there aren’t people standing on every street corner looking to convert you to the religion. That in itself, coming from the world you have been raised in, may be a bit intimidating, and that doesn’t help you steer to a destination you don’t know. Want a hint?

Growing up I always loved to write. When I was too young to make my own developed fantasy stories I used to keep a journal. It's funny that I have so many at this point because I would never be able to finish one, though not from lack of effort. I'd often scribble in huge letters just to fill the page because I couldn't handle the idea of moving on before the journal was entirely filled... But aside from my youthful peculiarities, they do serve as an interesting tool for insight several decades later. Growing up, it seems, I always struggled while Christian, to accept myself and my attraction to all genders. This was a key factor for me in my apostasy, and so it's an important thing for me to document here in this blog as well because Satanism? Satanism has a very specific view on topics such as Pansexuality. Let me share a little background with you first.

The pastor's boy. For me it was always about the pastor's boy. It wasn't that I had a type, it was that I had a giant florescent sign on my rear and anytime I'd look over my shoulder that's who I'd notice trying to read it. (I wonder what it said?)