Satanism as a Form of Paganism

Satanism: Is it עבודת השטן or a philosophy?

The literal Satanists are those who worship, you guessed it, Satan. It isn’t common for Jews to discuss “Satanism” when talking about their religious identity, nor does any Observant Jew use the term “Satanic” when describing things that he or she does not like. However, it is important to understand how certain theologies influenced modern thought.

If the Satan is really an angel, so if the worship of the angels is the essence of idolatry, then Satanism is, indeed, a form of Paganism. These theological Satanists did not actively create a different identity but, instead, decided to focus their service to the Satan.

Now, this may look scary but isn’t that strange or different than those that worship the angel, that represents the sun (the basis of most ancient Pagan faiths), and worship it. In fact, this really isn’t different than the world’s biggest religion…

There aren’t that many rabbis that study things Paganism, but the Rise of Neo-Paganism should be studied through the lenses of Torah because it affects Jewish people the same way that other elements of the prevailing culture has an influence on many Jewish people.

If Christianity preserved Paganism in quasi-stasis, then a theologically Jewish person would understand that the term “Neo-Paganism” gives the false implication that Paganism was totally annihilated from the Western/Christian world until it re-emerged in the 20th Century, but the truth of the matter is that Christianity did not get rid of Paganism but merely kept it in their religion which is why it became possible for the so-called Neo-Pagan movement to become relevant in the Western world.

Christians have a history of incorporating Paganism into their religion whether it be the Yule or Day of The Dead in Mexico. It wouldn’t be difficult for a Christian to become a Pagan from being influenced by these things.

On a different note, there is an amoral philosophy built on individualism and self-satisfaction which are the primary pillars of the Church of Satan. This is seperate from the Theological Understanding of עבודת השטן. The selfishness of Western society is emphasized in the Church of Satan but already exists as part of the norm of the capitalist country that is the United States. In fact, a person can experience the same lifestyle, as those who subscribed to the CoS, by being a liberal, Modern-Orthodox Jew. One doesn’t have to look too far to find a society that is built on the toxicity of self-satisfaction.

Judaism teaches us about the social attributes of respect and kindness which are constructive forces that challenge the norms of selfishness and create a better society.