Does the "worshipping Satan" stuff bother anyone else?

[trobotcrow]

In the Harry Potter Riffs, they make numerous jokes about how they worship Satan.

Now I am not only non-religious, but I am certainly not Christian -- so my reservations have nothing to do with Religiosity but with History.

Pagans, and subsequently Wiccans, were NOT followers of Satan. When Christians were working hard at spreading the religion, one of their methods of gaining converts was by making up untruths about other religions [ancient "Swiftboating", if you will]. They spread the rumor about it being synonymous with Satanism -- but how can a religion that doesn't believe in Satan worship Satan?

I know they're just jokes, but they're inaccurate. If they DID worship Satan, I'd have no issue with them.

Am I crazy? Does this bother anyone else?

[RoninFox]

As a Pagan, I can say these jokes made me laugh.  The "witches" and wizards in Harry Potter are not Wiccans or Pagans in any way, they're the literary leftovers of various fairy tales and folklore.  These jokes, even if they weren't intended as such, seem to me to be mocking the Christian stereotype of "everyone who doesn't believe like I do is evil" more than anything else.  That could just be me though.

[Pak-Man]

Yeah, I saw it as more of a jab at the people who thought the movie was Satanic than an actual statement that the movie was Satanic.

[RoninFox]

Yeah, I saw it as more of a jab at the people who thought the movie was Satanic than an actual statement that the movie was Satanic.

Yeah, all the church groups that protested the books and movies for teaching "the devil's work" to children.

[Nick]

Heh, you just keep telling yourself they don't worship me.

*grants dark powers to a little boy with glasses.*

Now run along little Henry... or Harold... whatever the Hell your name is. Go learn the dark arts so you can become part of the Army of Hell!

[RoninFox]

Well to be fair, I do worship Al Pachino.

[Bob]

Heh, you just keep telling yourself they don't worship me.

*grants dark powers to a little boy with glasses.*

Now run along little Henry... or Harold... whatever the Hell your name is. Go learn the dark arts so you can become part of the Army of Hell!

Well, the "broom-rugby" matches that went on forever clearly were the work of the devil.

[Bairman]

Yeah, I saw it as more of a jab at the people who thought the movie was Satanic than an actual statement that the movie was Satanic.

Yeah, all the church groups that protested the books and movies for teaching "the devil's work" to children.

Agreed.  And since my ex-wife is one of those kooks who tried (and failed) to keep the Harry Potter books and movies from our kids because they "glamorize withcraft," I took great personal delight in those jokes.

[AmandaGal]

It's your friendly forum pagan here saying the jokes don't offend me in the least.  They're funny. I laugh. I don't take it too seriously.

As for one of your other points, ironically enough, Satanist (the Anton LaVey type) don't believe in Satan.  Think about that for a while and let your brain explode.

[trobotcrow]

I guess if the pagans here don't have a problem, I shouldn't.

It's just that inconsistencies seem to bother me more than most. It reminds me of the MST3k episode "Space Mutiny". They made a joke that the special effects [which were taken from the original "Battlestar Galactica" movie] were done by "Industrial Lights and Morons" -- when the team that made them were the same team that worked on Star Wars. So that joke STILL bothers me...

It just seems like the kind of thing they would make fun of someone else doing.

But I guess I could see the point that maybe they're making fun of all the ultra-Christian organizations that believe that Harry Potter is satanic -- but to me it just looks like it perpetuates the stereotype.

I always like how educational MST3k [and by extent, Rifftrax] is, so I tend to be a little pickier with the jokes that they make.

[bettertomorrowamy]

I'm against Satan worshipping!  There....I said it.

[Bob]

As for one of your other points, ironically enough, Satanist (the Anton LaVey type) don't believe in Satan.  Think about that for a while and let your brain explode.

Huh?    Then.... he.... what?

[AmandaGal]

I'm not a Satanist, so I'm not the best to speak on it.  I've read the Satanic Bible, but that's been a while back.  All I know is that the official church of Satan holds no god or demon other than self.  It's basic belief is the glorification of the individual.  They actually considering worshiping a real devil an acceptance of Christian ideology (because if you believe in a real devil, that means you have to believe in the Christian god by default) and won't tolerate it.

I am of the understanding that they use the term "Satan" because it's a reference to his literary portrayal as a fellow who was really out for his glorification and lived in the moment.  Also because they believe their way of thinking is directly opposed to Christianity.  Perhaps it was for shock value.

So, in general they're assholes who only care about themselves and only care about today*, but I know plenty of non-Satanists like that too.  Actually, the biggest dickweed like that I know is Baptist who goes to church every Sunday and leads a youth group, etc.  So, being an ass isn't a Satanist thing. They just have a good excuse for it.

I kid...also accordingly, it's normally in best interest of self to play nice with others.  So, being a Satanist doesn't automatically = asshole.

[RoninFox]

It's just that inconsistencies seem to bother me more than most. It reminds me of the MST3k episode "Space Mutiny". They made a joke that the special effects [which were taken from the original "Battlestar Galactica" movie] were done by "Industrial Lights and Morons" -- when the team that made them were the same team that worked on Star Wars. So that joke STILL bothers me...

Well, think of a special effects team consisting of one guy looking at Battlestar Galactica and saying "We can steal that...and that...and lets grab that shot" and it's easy to call them morons.     Hope that helps.

[Bob]

I'm not a Satanist, so I'm not the best to speak on it.  I've read the Satanic Bible, but that's been a while back.  All I know is that the official church of Satan holds no god or demon other than self.  It's basic belief is the glorification of the individual.  They actually considering worshiping a real devil an acceptance of Christian ideology (because if you believe in a real devil, that means you have to believe in the Christian god by default) and won't tolerate it.

I am of the understanding that they use the term "Satan" because it's a reference to his literary portrayal as a fellow who was really out for his glorification and lived in the moment.  Also because they believe their way of thinking is directly opposed to Christianity.  Perhaps it was for shock value.

So, in general they're assholes who only care about themselves and only care about today*, but I know plenty of non-Satanists like that too.  Actually, the biggest dickweed like that I know is Baptist who goes to church every Sunday and leads a youth group, etc.  So, being an ass isn't a Satanist thing. They just have a good excuse for it.

I kid...also accordingly, it's normally in best interest of self to play nice with others.  So, being a Satanist doesn't automatically = asshole.

Interesting...... thank you for that.   

As a sheltered Catholic, I really have no idea what others are thinking.