The High Priestesses of the Joy of Satan often wrote about the connection between DNA, the Gods, and apotheosis (aka "the godhead" or "magnum opus"). The argument being, essentially, that humans are spiritual beings because our connection to the divine is within our DNA, and people will always seek this connection one way or another, no matter how information is destroyed or twisted. Thus, the Gods appear throughout history by different names in every culture, with a father figure in each pantheon.
Hoodedcobra likely took that to mean "Zeus=Satan=God" because of the role of Zeus (and Kronos) in the Greek mythological pantheon, then declared them a holy trinity to explain away the differences. Here he projects his own perception on others for strategic reasons; I agree it likely wouldn't fly with what I've heard about the old leadership.
There have always been people who connected to the Gods through their local contemporary religions, no matter the name or differences in legends, even no matter if they didn't know any name at all. The spiritual war was always between those who want to create and liberate, and those who want to control and destroy; this is why the enemy religions such as christianity and islam and judaism all fight against each other: it is their leaders who want control and authority, and they're in each other's way.
It's interesting to think about the purpose of names in a ritual context. In fact, the Gods are already there because of mankind's inherent connection to them, so summoning is not really about dialing a phone and hoping the right God(dess) picks up, as people often put it. Instead, the purpose of calling a name during a ritual is to direct one's attention, so one can perceive what is already there; it's about shaping perception for magical purposes. Each name has different connotations, influencing the results.
This is where you get into matters such as deities having different aspects, or ex-christians testifying things like "I always prayed to 'God' thinking it was the christian god, but now I understand it was actually my Guardian Demon who answered all along," or Satanists admitting things like "I used to think my Guardian Demon was (demon A), but now I realize it was actually (demon B), I just wasn't ready to understand that yet and that's why he/she previously appeared to me as (demon A)."
(I personally experienced the latter, with mistaking Lilith for Lady Vapula/Naphula, though I usually just addressed her as "Mother" either way.)
The name "Satan" as used by the Joy of Satan was essentially meant to be code for "this is not the god of those who oppressed you, you are now liberated from their dogma." This drew in many people who wanted to get away from the enemy religious programs for any reason, whether it be injustice they faced, or the moral pressure on them - both good and bad. Changing it to "Zeus" will draw in a different crowd and lead to different experiences; it's more suited for organization, less for individual liberation.
In the end, the truth of the matter is that when people look to the Gods for guidance, they will reach who they are meant to. Names only shape the initial biases, and later grow their own meanings in people's minds, which is always evolving over time, just as people themselves evolve and their perception improves.
HPSZolaLuckyStar wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 8:25 pm
That sounds good but I think you ought to make a fourth chapter: How you realized you were getting strung along, woke up, got out of that cult and how your life improved so much after. about breaking free, I mean.
That would make a fine addition. Then the first half is the tragic backstory that made me a "villain," the third chapter is about me ending up in a bad place as a result, and the final chapter is about how I outgrew those limitations (my "redemption arc", so to speak). The saga wouldn't be quite complete without one, after all.
When you have stories published, please put a link on the forum for people, to where they can purchase them if you don't mind, so we can support your work. (heart)
Thank you for giving permission to. <3
Although I'm a bit concerned about potential stalkers, it should be fine if I think of a pen name. It sucks that's even an issue, but it can't be helped when dealing with control freaks such as Hoodedcobra. In the end they're all the same... Power-hungry men who feel insecure and resort to bullying at the sight of anything that defies their order.
I can imagine.
