Random Things You Never Knew About Satanism (20 items)

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  (#19) Those Church Burnings in Norway Had Nothing to Do with Satan

  They were about Christianity. The Black Metal scene of the 1990s was about many things, including the desire to embrace indigenous Nordic beliefs and reject imposed, imperial ideas such as Christianity. Burning churches was a way for disaffected youth to violently reject a religion imposed upon their culture. Black metal bands are generally more interested in Nordic paganism than Satanism, and used Satanic imagery to reject Christianity. 
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  (#1) Baphomet Comes from Mohammed

  Baphomet is a major figure in modern Satanism, a demon with a goat's head, nude female torso, and cloven animal legs. The goat is closely associated with Satanism in the same way sheep figure prominently in Christianity–the goat is an individual, sheep flock.

  The first reference to Baphomet occured in 1098 CE, and subsequent medieval references to Baphomet all come from the Middle East, where knights were on the Crusades. It's widely accepted Baphomet is a derivation of Mahomet, an old French word for the Prophet Mohammed. Thus Baphomet, an enemy of Christianity through association with Satanism, arose from Mohammed, an enemy of Christianity at the time of the Christian attack on the Holy Lands.
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  (#5) Satanism Doesn't Advocate Violence

  Contrary to popular belief, Satanism doesn't advocate violence. In fact, by and large, regardless of the branch, Satanism teaches individuals to focus on the self and allow others to be as they are. This belief ties into the foundational Satanist notion that Satan rejected God in order to live free from his tyranny (you can see this literally or metaphorically); everyone who isn't infringing upon the freedoms of other should be free to do as she wishes.

  There's one exception to the rule–revenge. To quote The Satanic Bible, “When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.”
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  (#13) The Pentagram Isn't Originally a Satanic Symbol

  The pentagram, a five-pointed star, is used prominently by the Church of Satan in its inverted form (upsidedown, and surrounded by a circle for good measure). The symbol was originally used in Judaism and Christianity with positive connotation. In the Jewish tradition, the symbol appeared on the ring of King Solomon of Israel.

  In Christianity, the symbol had many associations, and at one point was symbolic of Christ himself – each point on the star represented one of his points of crucifixion.
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  (#14) Satanism Is a Relatively New Religion

  Satanism has an image of being an ancient religion with origins dating back to the beginnings of Christianity. In fact, Satanism as an organized religion isn't even as old as The Beatles. While early forms of organized Satanism appeared in the 30s and 40s, the Church of Satan wasn't formed until April 30, 1966 (about six months before the above photo of The Beatles was taken).

  The idea of Satanism's ancient origins may come from classical literary works on Satan, such as Paradise Lost.
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  (#12) Satanists See Lucifer as a Symbolic Liberator

  Satanists see Lucifer, the historical Satan, as a hero who rejected God to live beyond the bounds of control. Lucifer is a metaphor for every person who chooses a path of freedom above assimilation or subjugation to a system like capitalism, democracy, or, most extreme, fascism. Satanism holds this belief in tandem with Gnosticism, an ancient religion.

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