NC State Satanic student club works to ‘encourage benevolence’ ‘reject tyrannical authority’ and promote ‘humanistic values’
While many readers will question if the students understand who Satan is and what he aims to do, a North Carolina State University student club wrapped their inaugural semester as the “Satanic Students at NC State.”
“This semester, the group has held public meetings to attract and gain interest,” Satanic Students told The College Fix in an email interview. “These meetings have largely consisted of discussions with new and potential members about the type of Satanism practiced by the group.”
painting : Luciffer versus The Lord by Landor. Zichy Mihaly. Budapest, 1902
According to its “get involved” website: “The mission of Satanic Students at NC State University is to 1) encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, 2) reject tyrannical authority, 3) advocate scientific examination of the universe and our place in it, 4) promote morality and justice based on rational, humanistic values, and 5) be directed by the human conscience to undertake noble pursuits guided by the individual will.”
The Technician student newspaper reported that a slide presentation at one of their meetings stated: “Does Satanic Students worship Satan? Short answer: no. Long answer: Satan doesn’t exist.”
So, it’s an atheist group using the Satanic mantra as a means to make headlines?
“Our principles and those of objectivism overlap by a fair amount and believe that objectivists would find value in our group,” Satanic Students told The College Fix via email.
“At future public meetings, we hope to perpetually refine our group’s mission through identifying, and challenging, consensus views among the membership; acting on those views when sufficient support is reached,” the group said.
“Members come [from] a variety of religious and non-religious backgrounds,” the email stated, adding that despite the fact that there is “a substantial Christian presence … projected around campus, most students have a ‘live and let live’ attitude that we respect and gladly reciprocate. We have yet to encounter any significant backlash.”
According to a 2017 column in Crisis Magazine, a Catholic publication, there is a “growing threat” from Satanism underway in the U.S. The article cites the increase seen recently in “After School Satan Clubs” as well as efforts to get Satanic monuments erected on public land.
“The real issue is all about the mainstreaming of Satanism in America. Much as the same-sex ‘marriage’ debate was about acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle, so also Satanic groups seek social acceptance,” according to the column. “Indeed, this is what the Satanists themselves declare. For them, it has nothing to do with religious practices. Many of them even allege they have none. They simply want to mainstream Satanism so that it will be viewed as normal.”
“… As long as the devil is rejected in the minds of people anywhere, there remains some objective distinction between good and evil.”
