Did the Catholics invent Satanism?

[Cainkane1]

Many years ago I read where the catholics actually invented Satanism. The authorities were told that when searching for witches who worshipped the Devil to look out for inverted crosses, inverted pentagrams, people saying the lords prayer backwards and orgies with each other, with Demons and satan himself. The authorities searched long and hard for these organizations and none were found. However witch hunting hysteria eventually caught on and the rest is history.

Ok in the mean time as the hysteria disappeared and countries started granting religious freedom organizations like the ones the Catholic witch hunters described began springing up. Did the Catholics show them how to do it?

[shadron]

Satan himself is an invention of the Jewish religion; he has a spotlight position in Genesis and he and his minions are always vexing the Jews. Catholics, and therefore Orthodox and Protestants, and even Muslims, also adopted Satan in the same role, as the adversary, with great alacrity. As many conservatives today know, it always pays to have a powerful adversary to hold over people's heads.

Since Satan represents evil, then anything evil is associated with him, and that most especially includes all the religions which competed with the Jewish religion before Christ. Paganism and Animism especially get the harsh treatment, and Satan gets the blame for all the evil in the world.

Witch hunting is usually just scapegoating.

[CWL]

Many years ago I read where the catholics actually invented Satanism. The authorities were told that when searching for witches who worshipped the Devil to look out for inverted crosses, inverted pentagrams, people saying the lords prayer backwards and orgies with each other, with Demons and satan himself.

Does this purported form of "Satanism" actually exist in reality? Has it ever existed? What do you mean when you say "Satanism"?

[Autolite]

Did the Catholics invent Satanism?


I've always thought that that was Sponge-Bob! I guess I've got some research to get caught up on...:blush:

[Ysidro]

Did the Catholics invent Satanism?


I've always thought that that was Sponge-Bob! I guess I've got some research to get caught up on...:blush:

The Catholics invented Sponge Bob? This explains much. :eek:

[Cainkane1]

Does this purported form of "Satanism" actually exist in reality? Has it ever existed? What do you mean when you say "Satanism"?
yes

[Andronicus]

I'm not sure about Satanism, but you may be on to something regarding SpongeBob. I had never though of it before, but SpongeBob is drawn square (a cross surrounded on all sides by straight and noble lines), and his adventures are how he keeps his optimism surrounded by characters personifying deadly sins:

1. Lust - Sandy Cheeks, transplant to Bikini Bottom
2. Gluttony - Patrick Star
3. Greed - Eugene Crabs
4. Sloth - Gary the Snail
5. Wrath - Ms. Puff (and others)
6. Envy - Sheldon Planton
7. Pride - Squidward Tentacles

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I'm not sure about Satanism, but you may be on to something regarding SpongeBob. I had never though of it before, but SpongeBob is drawn square (a cross surrounded on all sides by straight and noble lines), and his adventures are how he keeps his optimism surrounded by characters personifying deadly sins:

1. Lust - Sandy Cheeks, transplant to Bikini Bottom
2. Gluttony - Patrick Star
3. Greed - Eugene Crabs
4. Sloth - Gary the Snail
5. Wrath - Ms. Puff (and others)
6. Envy - Sheldon Planton
7. Pride - Squidward Tentacles

Deep in our hearts we are all SpongeBob. :scared:

[leonAzul]

I'm not sure about Satanism, but you may be on to something regarding SpongeBob. I had never though of it before, but SpongeBob is drawn square (a cross surrounded on all sides by straight and noble lines), and his adventures are how he keeps his optimism surrounded by characters personifying deadly sins:

1. Lust - Sandy Cheeks, transplant to Bikini Bottom
2. Gluttony - Patrick Star
3. Greed - Eugene Crabs
4. Sloth - Gary the Snail
5. Wrath - Ms. Puff (and others)
6. Envy - Sheldon Planton
7. Pride - Squidward Tentacles


Nothing to add, but I just had to say that only in a JREF thread would one encounter such a critical analysis of SpongeBob-SquarePants.

Who knew?

[CWL]

yes

Oh.

[shadron]

Satan himself is an invention of the Jewish religion; he has a spotlight position in Genesis and he and his minions are always vexing the Jews. Catholics, and therefore Orthodox and Protestants, and even Muslims, also adopted Satan in the same role, as the adversary, with great alacrity. As many conservatives today know, it always pays to have a powerful adversary to hold over people's heads.

Since Satan represents evil, then anything evil is associated with him, and that most especially includes all the religions which competed with the Jewish religion before Christ. Paganism and Animism especially get the harsh treatment, and Satan gets the blame for all the evil in the world.

Witch hunting is usually just scapegoating.

I might add that it wasn't as if the civilizations around the Jews didn't have their own Satan-analogs. Sometimes their god and their Satan were one in the same, and sometimes he was a very ambiguous evil figure, rather in keeping with the suspicion that humans are almost incapable of conceiving of gods that are better (or worse) than themselves.

[Dancing David]

I think Zoraster comes in first, although hindu devis are both gods and devils...

[Bikewer]

I think the model of Satan that the Christians have now is largely an invention of the Middle Ages, at least as I recall.
The Biblical accounts refer to things like "the Tempter" and some similar bits but little information is given.
The notion of the horned, tailed, hoofed, pitchfork-wielding fellow is said by some to simply be an effort to suborn pagan god-figures.

Seems to me that evidence for actual Satanic worship, with Black Masses, Sabbats, and the like were mostly inventions as well.