Personally if you are thinking about things such as this you probably have no business with that person to begin with.

Spoken like a man who has never had "the perfect thing" crash and burn before his eyes.

Also, if you think an interreligious marriage doesn't carry a fairly high risk, you're nuts. The more issues of deep personal incompatability you introduce into a relationship, the more likely it is to be ultimately flawed, which is yet another reason why endogamy is a wise choice.

We came to the conclusion that it is important to not raise him under one banner or the other, but to responsibly teach him about both as well as other religions and philosophies and allow him the decission once he is older.

So religion is just a banner with no implications other than a label? I don't suppose there could be a possibility of conflict over seemingly unrelated matters that are nevertheless influenced by the religions of the parents.

Indeed, Reverend.

I have just completed my divorce, and though I was awarded primary custodianship of our two children, it was an unpleasant experience being grilled on the stand for three hours. I am fortunate that my attorney had learned just enough about Satanism and the Church of Satan to know when opposing counsel was asking questions that didn't apply to Satanism outside of a B-movie script.

The four things that brought about my victory were: 1) my ex started stripping last year at a club that is well known in these parts as being a hub for drugs and prostitution, 2) I have a long established, and well documented, history of parental responsibility, 3) I documented my ex's irresponsibility and irrational selfishness over a seven-month period, and 4) my ex knew of my religion when we first met.

Again, it wasn't pleasant, but it did work out in my favor.

I have to agree as well. If my mate had different, very conflicting interests and beliefs, there would be no reason for ME to want to be with her either. I simply don't get on with people of Christian, Catholic, or other wise god-fearing beliefs, so I would see no reason other then "Derrr, she's perrty" To form a relationship with that person. And I don't need to tell you, that's no reason at all to be with anyone.

As for raising children, I am on the fence on this one. The general stance of Satanism seems to be each to his own. I would teach my kids my values, and since they AREN'T values that require fear, I would not worry about swaying them in the wrong direction. I will teach them the LEFT path, if they choose the RIGHT one, that is up to them. As human beings, I would like to give them enough credit to think that whatever the fuck I think about anything, they will eventually come to their OWN conclusion about it all. (Then again, with the general population of human beings, this may be far too much to expect!)

"Also, if you think an interreligious marriage doesn't carry a fairly high risk, you're nuts."

I agree that interreligious marriages do have there risk, but what relationship does not. That being said some choose to minimize that risk others embrace it. If our relationship were to fail do to religious reasons the blame would lie in my lap. I would have to accept that, yes there would be pain but there usually is when any marriage ends.

"So religion is just a banner with no implications other than a label?"

Not at all. My usage of banner was probably a poor choice of an adjective.

I've been pretty lucky in that I married a fellow atheist. When I told her I was a Satanist, her big concerns were some of the common misconceptions regarding the CoS. Once she understood it, she was fine with it.

However, she's not, nor will she ever be, a Satanist. It's just not her thing. She read The Satanic Bible, and identified aspects that were clearly not part of her self-definition.

Luckily, we have a pretty understanding relationship. We support each other to seek out and experience those aspects of life that we choose to experience - obviously within reason. Even if she would have had problems with Satanism, she wouldn't have interfered. We have more respect for each other than that.

This subject has come up a lot here.

In my experience: yes, inter-religion relationships CAN work. However, if at least one person believes the other person is in some sort of danger (metaphysical or otherwise) because of his or her choice of religion, it's not going to work.



That doesn't sound like a healthy relationship...

Another thing is that not all of us read The Satanic Bible while we were in college. Some had no idea of the contents until well after a family was established. What then? Personally, the fact that people change throughout life is a good reason that marriage contracts may be more useful if they were temporary; at least, that is what I have always thought. Why not one or five year contracts?

My policy has always been to let any prospective mates know immediately who and what I am. Just as with affiliation with the organization itself, my religion can act as a filter for prospective mates, business associates and friends.
I am in a marriage right now, and I told Delia exactly what the altar was for and what I stood for. I told her that that's how I am and I will not change that aspect of myself for anyone. She then knew I was serious, and felt that I was worthy enough to not make an issue out of it. (I had one previous mate who just agreed with me because come to find out she was very needy, I thought she agreed a little too quickly).
Delia was brought up strict Jehovah's Witness but has since let go of the formalities but still holds on to some the teachings that they forced onto her. At first she had a little problem with it but quickly realized she loved me and wanted to be with me. She didn't quite understand it, and still doesn't understand it thoroughly, and I don't expect her to. She is very supportive of me. She understands that Satanism is what has shaped me into who I am today, an outstanding person, loving father, humorous and intelligent person. We hadn't been together but several months when news of the Satanic Mass was delivered to me. She didn't really want me to go, I think more so because it was so far away, but also because she wasn't fully understanding the concept of Satanism. She still had preconceived beliefs of what Satanists were like. Now, she still doesn't quite understand but she will often tell me when I need a ritual. She will say that she doesn't know what I do "out there" but afterwards I act much differently, more calm.
Like I said, she still has some beliefs from how she was brought up, and I have my beliefs we just don't push them on each other. I have found out that in a relationship whether it be religious views or other values, you can keep most of them. You can agree to disagree. One person never absorbs the other in a marriage, you're a team.

It sounds like you understand what I am talking about. May I ask how long the two of you have been together? My union is 17 years old.

We've only been together now for a couple of years, we've only been married for a few months. We were doing all the things married couples do long before we were married. Someone else mentioned it here one time that "Satanists must be with satanists" is bunk. We know how to work together as a team and compromise. Differences that arise are only your personalities clashing. What is funny is that most of the time when Delia and I are in disagreement it is about details not the bigger picture. When we argue, it is often about petty shit not the bigger things. Religion aside let's look at it from this point. I like to be neat and orderly, Delia isn't an absolute slob by any means but sometimes not as neat as I like. There are times when we grind about this but I have had to learn that it's not my job to change her. If I don't like it, then I can leave. Sometimes I will talk to her about certain things and she will get better, but one thing I have learned to do is to hijack certain places to be mine. My computer desk is one of them, it stays neat and orderly and her desk can be as messy as she wants it to be. Although sometimes it spreads out to my dresser and that's where I draw the line!
Besides religion, cleanliness, and all those other life details, we know how to get along, we have a good time about 90% of the time and we really enjoy our lives together. That is very hard to come by.

Considering all of the things we have been through, our biggest fights have been because she told me where to turn, when I am driving. Seriously...I have always had a hard time with feeling controlled.

As for the issue of whether Satanists should only be with Satanists...if it is true that Satanists are as rare as a hen's teeth, that would pretty much mean that most of us would be alone.

Oh so true! I have a hard enough time finding decent people who AREN'T Satanists!

I suppose it all depends on the type of person you are and who you get with. Lesser magic that you apply could play a role on how your mate perceives Satanism as well.

Boy, that sure was true for me. When we were still together my ex-husband told my mother about my CoS affiliation under the pretense that he "was worried about me"... which was total bunk. He was just trying to start trouble and there was a mess of that.

As for being with a non-Satanic partner...People confuse me enough as it is. I like to keep things simple nowadays. And when I'm simpatico with someone, it's just easier.

To each their own, of course, but I tend to agree with you here.

I have no problem with casual relationships and just having fun with non-Satanists, but I don't think I would ever actually marry a non-Satanist. Maybe a de facto at the very least.

A lot of you are limiting yourselves greatly.

I would certainly not say "I'll only ever marry a Satanist."

How awful.

Religion is not a good basis on which you choose a mate.

Then again, I don't plan on getting married, so I'll pipe down.