A Religion Apart

[Serpentine]

The SoS doesn't tout one system of belief, nor one brand of spiritual principles. We are not bound by the chains of one set ideal and therefore have the freedom to accept any belief of our choosing without the fear of persecution or expulsion simply because any one of us have a different view. The only ideal we share is the vision of freedom for the individual. In this, we are unified by one distinct concept and that is the undermining of all religions including our own. There is no other organization out there that wishes to see itself self-destruct and go down in a blaze of glory. Religions exist to enslave a free thinking mind. Even in satanism where freedom is supposed to be glorified it is not any different than the Catholics and the Protestants. Each faction wants to be declared the One True Way. What this does is fuel the fire of elitist enslavement. SoS does not promote a "true" anything, in fact we believe that we could be wrong. I don't see anyone else making such wild claims. There are those out there who count their numbers and pat themselves on the back for bringing in another sheep. And that is exactly what they are, sheep. They may be black sheep, but even black sheep are still shorn and put on the spit. Once we are removed from the flock altogether only then are our minds free. And that is where freedom rests, inside the mind. We know that complete freedom is false but we practice it anyway.
I could have expounded on these points with more profundity but I purposely left some things open for inquiries and discussion. I figured I would take it upon myself to break the ice and reach out to the 50+ members in this group for your thoughts, questions, musings or even a rant. Some of you in this group have posted in the main forum and I hope to see you participate in here. Your opinions and perspectives are welcomed and anticipated!

[Natas Satanas]

HFS. I definitely agree with you on that sheep concept. Most folks can't wait to find some sort of organization or religion to tell them what to think and when to think about it? Why is that? Are we all so insecure that we doubt our ability to think on our own? Do we just naturally assume that if someone has a strong personality and lots of opinions they must surely have more on the ball than we do? What makes us think like that?

I know from my own experience I was raised as a sheep. When I was a small child I chose to become a christian. I say that I chose but did I really have a chance? Hell, it was crammed down my throat from the time I took my first fucking breath. I was brainwashed so badly that nothing else could have happened.

The programming was intense and I bought it all - hook line and sinker. I eventually escaped, but it took many years. Anyway, to make a long story short I now value my freedom. I like thinking for myself and I don't intend to give that up to blindly follow anyone. I'm glad to be a part of something that believes in individual rights,.

[Serpentine]

I think some people just need their hand held because they lack the capacity to be independent. They are spoonfed someone else's reality and that's what happens to most of us as kids which I think is natural. We take on the beliefs of our parents because we don't know any better. As an idividual grows and begins to question their own beliefs that's when the floodgates open. I think it takes a certain amount of courage to accept a new reality and break away from the molds we've been forced into.

[Natas Satanas]

HFS, It takes a great deal of courage. I would imagine it would take more for those raised in christianity than anyone else. If you've been brainwashed into believing that you will burn in an everlasting hell if you dare turn from your christian ways it is extremely hard to totally walk away from it.

It's no big deal to stop going to church and stop reading the bible, christians do that all the time, but to totally renounce the whole damn thing is something else. For me to totally kill the christian beast I had to write and carry out a very special ritual. It involved me renouncing it all, and doing perverse things to a bible. This sent a powerful message to my subconscious.

If you are interested I'll share with you a very interesting experience I had recently on a supposedly open-minded forum.

[Serpentine]

Freedom is a beautiful thing isn't it Natas? :) Yes! Do share your experience, I would be ineterested in hearing it.

[Natas Satanas]

HFS, Recently I joined a Ning group that was about spirituality. Supposedly it was a diverse group that allowed people from any belief to post there and not worry about being judged. It was also a magickal community. I was not in the group for long, since I was banned on my second day there, as it didn't take long for them to discover I was a threat to their little "cult."

You see, I spoke about freedom and deciding for myself what was right for me. I shared that I had erased my programming and that I followed no gods. The HP there started preaching to me about morals. Apparently he was a Mason/Vodou High Priest who thought that anyone without a god to give him morals just didn't belong in the group. He couldn't have someone come in and suggest that people should think for themselves, now could he? After all, he wanted everyone to kneel and bow to him - the great HP.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I am proud to have been booted out of this cult. When I was banned I left them a little blessing of my own - two proud words said with meaning and force - FUCK YOU! Aaaah, it felt so good. Yes, freedom is soooooooo good.

It seems that even those who claim to have open minds very often do not. Everyone has an agenda, it seems. My agenda is to live my life in a way that allows me to be free - and I will decide what freedom is, as well.

[Serpentine]

The nail that stands is the one that gets hit with the hammer. So be it! Good for you Natas. It never ceases to amaze me, aside from religion itself, what an institution spirituality has become! The more we rally against the idea that one has to accept the reality of others as their own, the more afraid people become of being "over thrown". Whatever you do don't stand up against the heirarchy! Question nothing! Anyone who goes against the grain is a threat. Have an idea of your own? Are you kidding? Create a reality for yourself that goes against the belief of others and watch the mayhem ensue. There are just some groups whose ideals I cannot agree with, as many do not agree with mine. That's the reason freedom of religion is so important to me. Everyone has the right to believe what they want, as long as it doesn't threaten my right to have my own beliefs. It's funny how people will adopt beliefs and codes of ethics and morality, just to be a part of something even if they don't believe in them wholeheartedly. Again, like I've said before freedom is in the mind and like you, I could never live my life always following other's ideas simply to appease them. I couldn't care less about making people happy and comfortable with me. Free thinkers have a way of tilting the "balance" and that's the way it should be. "Tune in, Turn on and Take Over"! The SoS is far from complacent and when it comes to our freedoms being thwarted by over zealous religionists we don't fuck around. As above, so below. Hail Fucking Satan!

[Natas Satanas]

HFS,
It seems so right to me - to think. Why is it that people get so offended if you encourage them to just simply think for themselves? Is that not the intelligent thing to do? Do not schools teach that anymore? It seems as if one who encourages others to think is a direlect, in fact that asshole High Priest called me that. If being free of all the programming means I must be a direlect then so be it. I welcome the honor.

Even those who believe in the right to choose their own religion still get upset if someone chooses "no religion." It's like the unpardonable sin to choose to accept responsibility for your own actions. One must kneel to someone or some thing. It's so fucking pathetic.

It's like you said - people will adopt beliefs and codes of ethics and morality just to fit in and be a part of some community. I wonder how much longer it will be before we have another Jim Jones type massacre. There sure as hell is a lot of kool aid being drunk.

P.S. - I've been missing the chat on the SOS website lately. Maybe I'll get around to checking in soon. Have a great weekend.