As Satanists descended upon Boston, Massachusetts, over the weekend for their “SatanCon 2023” event — dubbed the “largest Satanic gathering in history” — one moment quickly went viral.
Two leaders opened the event Friday by ripping apart a Bible as well as tearing up a “Thin Blue Line” flag commemorating police officers, Fox News reported.
One participant said the acts were undertaken to push back against oppression.
“We stand here today in defiance of their siege and destroy their symbols of oppression,” she reportedly said to a cheering crowd. Some shouted “Hail Satan” while she was tearing the Bible apart.
Watch the heartbreaking moment, a reminder of our need to pray for the hearts and minds of those behaving in such a way:
The woman later affirmed the effort was aimed at “trying to destroy the symbols of the things that cause harm, that oppress” and decried attempts at “theocratic rule.”
She also spoke about the “Supreme Court using [its] powers to decimate … rights.”
“SatanCon 2023” commemorated the 10th anniversary of The Satanic Temple, a Satanist group that is essentially atheistic in nature and rejects the existence of Lucifer.
The event attracted protestors, though some faith leaders called for peaceful prayer rather than boisterous pushback. The Archdiocese of Boston was among those calling for people not to show up in opposition, with warnings doing so would bring the event more attention.
Still, hundreds reportedly showed up over the weekend with signs and to make proclamations about the Satanist event. Placards carried messages like “Hellfire awaits” and “Satan has NO rights!”
The Patriot Front, a cohort described by the Boston Herald as a “white nationalist group,” reportedly marched alongside others in protest.
As CBN’s Faithwire previously reported, Satanists continue to make headlines, but their beliefs can sometimes confound the public.
Consider that The Satanic Temple’s website contains images one might associate with Satanism, but upon digging into the group’s core tenets, it becomes clear adherents are generally atheists.
In the organization’s FAQ section, the question: “Do you worship Satan?” is presented. Here’s the organization’s response:
No, nor do we believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural. The Satanic Temple believes that religion can, and should, be divorced from superstition. As such, we do not promote a belief in a personal Satan. To embrace the name Satan is to embrace rational inquiry removed from supernaturalism and archaic tradition-based superstitions. Satanists should actively work to hone critical thinking and exercise reasonable agnosticism in all things. Our beliefs must be malleable to the best current scientific understandings of the material world — never the reverse.
So, The Satanic Temple doesn’t believe in Satan as a real-life being (the Bible, of course, affirms his existence and role in our world).
The organization goes on to say it believes “undue suffering is bad” and sees “blasphemy” as a “legitimate expression of personal independence from counter-productive traditional norms,” among other core views. Read more here.
Take time this week to pray for the organizers and those who participated in this event.
Original Article: https://www.faithwire.com/2023/05/01/pray-cheers-hail-satan-chant-erupts-as-woman-tears-bible-apart-during-satancon/
