I've recently been immersing myself in information about LaVeyan Satanism and found something that I'm not sure is hypocritical or not.
One of the Satanist sins is conformity...
because of that, wouldn't it be considered a sin to conform to the stated rules of becoming a member by sending $200 to the "church"?

So don't. It's not mandatory or even encouraged.

There is no such thing as "LaVeyan" Satanism.

Good bye.

If you use the phrase "satanism" for every religion which is counter to Christianity then we would be talking about a LOT of different philosophies and founders.
LaVeyan satanism is the philosophy in which Anton LaVey began in 1966. He is the one who wrote "The Satanic Bible".
This is why I specifically used the words "LaVeyan Satanism" so that no one would be confused as to what sins I was referring to.
I understand that he used many different ideas and philosophies that had already been in practice, but the fact is he is the person who put it all together in some form of organization and applied the loose scramble of ideas into a meal.

So, don't act like I don't know what I'm talking about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaVeyan_Satanism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_Bible

It's not that I'm debating sending money to them or not, even if I had it. I am just posing a theoretical question to possibly clear up some confusion.

There is no confusion. There is nothing to "clear up."

Just don't send in your money. We don't want it.

There is no place for you here. Now please, would you leave?

We don't use the term Satanism "for every religion that is counter to Christianity."

That is why it remains simply "Satanism" as codified by Anton LaVey. There is no requirement to infer there are other kinds. Anything else is, by definition, something else. It's cut and dried.

Now please, take your leave of this place. It's not for you. Adios.

I wrote those very articles you linked to (in large part) so I think I know whereof I speak.

"LaVeyan Satanism" was a title forced by a handful of Wikipedia basement dwellers who have nothing better to do than argue daily over the origin of the term.

Nor am I convinced that you're asking some hypothetical question, you're actually just trying to see if you can catch us in a hypocrisy. Unfortunately for you, you can't, because the CoS does not recruit members, encourages no one to join, and rejects those that wish to join only to "fit in" or for social reasons. You may as well ask if buying your clothes at Macy's is conforming since others do the same, even if you may have exercised your personal tastes in selecting them.

Breathing oxygen is conformist, everyone is doing it.

Maybe you should stop.

I don't have to act. You DON'T know what you are talking about.

Pinko, I'm taking this opportunity to remind you that you are a guest here and rudeness to our hierarchy will not be tolerated. This is not a public board and all who come stay at the discretion of the board owner and his appointed moderators.

In short, I' a pms-ing moderator with an itchy trigger finger on a ban button who'd like nothing more than for you to make my day.

Happy trails,

Y~

It amuses me when people think this is some big "stumper" question or contradiction in Satanism.


That's like going to an internet forum on fishing, and having to say "Oh and by 'bass' I mean the fish, not the musical instrument." We know who we are.


And is thus why WE have dibs on the term "Satanism". There was no actual, real-life applicable religion under that name before Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan. Thus terms like "LaVeyan Satanism" are reundant. The only purposes of using that term is from devil worshippers who to try to give credibility for what they're doing (they're NOT a different sect of the same religion), and for journalists who are too lazy or don't want to face history.

Getting back to the original question: no, paying a one-time fee for membership in an international organization that reflects one's religious and philosophical convictions, is not "conformity". It's just an act of literally putting one's money where one's mouth is. It's not like the Church of Satan demands social activity between members, or religious services, etc.

However, popular compulsive attitudes such as striving to never show affiliation or support for any idea with a label, or think that adopting any one-word descriptions is an act of conformity, do seem rather conformist.

A hypocrite is someone who says one thing but does something entirely different.

Your "question" is a thinly veiled but inadequate attempt at disinformation.

If taken seriously it is hypocracy.

If taken humorously it is still in bad taste.

Bye bye.

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