By Shofarsound
Satanism, or the worship of Satan, has been a subject of fascination and fear for centuries. In the United States, the rise of satanism has been a controversial topic, with some seeing it as a legitimate religious movement and others seeing it as a dangerous and subversive influence.
The history of satanism in the US dates back to the 1960s
and 1970s when the Church of Satan was founded by Anton LaVey in San
Francisco. LaVey’s brand of satanism was largely secular, focused on
individualism and self-empowerment rather than the worship of a literal Satan.
The Church of Satan gained media attention and a small following but remained relatively obscure.
In the 1980s, however, satanism became the subject of a
moral panic, fueled by sensationalist media coverage and the testimony of
supposed “victims” of satanic ritual abuse. This panic led to a wave of arrests
and prosecutions of people accused of participating in satanic rituals and
abusing children. However, many of these cases were later discredited, with
evidence suggesting that the supposed abuse was largely a product of hysteria
and suggestion.
Despite the backlash against the “Satanic Panic” of the
1980s, satanism has continued to be a subject of fascination for some
Americans. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in
satanism, particularly among younger people. This new wave of satanism is
largely influenced by the ideas of the Satanic Temple, a group founded in 2012
that advocates for secularism, individualism, and social justice.
The Satanic Temple has gained attention for its provocative
actions, such as erecting a statue of the goat-headed deity Baphomet in public
spaces and suing to have a Ten Commandments monument removed from the grounds
of the Oklahoma State Capitol. The group has also advocated for reproductiverights, LGBTQ rights, and other progressive causes, using satanic imagery and
language to challenge conservative Christian values.
While the Satanic Temple’s brand of satanism is largely
non-theistic and focused on activism rather than worship, there are also
traditional satanic groups that do worship Satan as a deity. These groups tend
to be more secretive and underground than the Satanic Temple, but they do exist
and have been linked to criminal activity in some cases.
Overall, the rise of satanism in the US is a complex and
multifaceted phenomenon. While some see it as a legitimate expression of
individualism and freedom, others view it as a dangerous and subversive
influence. As with many controversial topics, the reality is likely somewhere
in between, and the true nature and impact of satanism on American society will
continue to be debated and discussed for years to come.
Seeing Mary Harrington's 2021 article How Satanism Conquered America: Untrammelled Individualism Is No longer a Sin, confirms the rise of satanism in American society. Here are some of the examples she quoted in the article that is eye-opening:
In 2021, even the idea of a priest as the main protagonist
in a battle between good and evil feels, well, very 1973. These days, while
there’s plenty of Satanist imagery about, overtly anti-Christian symbols seem
either banal (Lil Nas selling Satan trainers) or just naff (WitchTok).
We are seeing a full manifestation of open satanic worship taking place in our country, and in fact, this coming April 28-30, 2023 Satancon in Boston, MA is happening. The theme of the gathering in celebration of The Satanic Temple's 10-year anniversary is "Hexennacht in Boston," German for "Witches' Night," which marks the ancient pagan holiday of May Eve. The night was later changed to Walpurgisnacht to commemorate Walpurga, a Christian saint who evangelized Germany and was said to have exorcised demons from the sick. SatanCon will include discussion panels, entertainment, satanic rituals, a satanic wedding chapel, and a "satanic marketplace."
Sam Smith 2023 Grammy Awards Performance His Hit Song Unholy
The Book of Revelation warns us of a satanic revival of demon worship will take place, Revelation 9:20-21 says, " But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts." We see the beginning of Bible Prophecy being fulfilled in our day and age.
