yes, crypt is right in saying there are several forms of satanism, and i can testify there is a good deal of animosity between the different flavors. but that wasn't really your question anyway.

however, i think crypt might be... looking at the trees but missing the forest, perhaps. i don't mean this to be offensive, just a friendly suggestion. i enjoy reading the bible and trying to look past the story to get the morals. think of it like a book of fables. that's what it really is. what ancient human beings believed still has a great deal of relevance even today, whether you agree with their beliefs or not. the mark of an educated man (or woman, lol) is being able to entertain an idea without necessarily accepting it.

besides, what does it matter how many wives or kids some joker had, or how long he lived, or how many footmen he slew? who cares if god condones selling daughters or cutting hair?

and cherylhaynes: flattery will get you nowhere. and yes, i like it when you say that satanism reflects on modern day america. in my opinion, many americans are nominally christian and practical satanists. in fact... it is not impossible to be both christian and a satanist. well, my kind of satanism anyway. you probably can't worship graven images of satan, lucifer fallen, and perform unnatural acts in his name and go to your death-bed cursing the name of god and have a good relationship with the man upstairs, but being a good person by christian standards/ believing & having faith in god and being a practical satanist are not mutually exclusive. depending of course on the flavor you prefer.

and when you read anton lavey's satanic bible, what parts of it do you believe?