Being I don't believe in a Satan, it doesn't bother me to much, but regardless if I did or not, somebody's religion is their own business, as long as they don't harm anybody/anything and don't force their religion on other people. As long as the person is happy, let them believe what they like
From what I understand, the various sects of Satanism can be divided into two main categories: those who actually believe the Satan established by Western religious beliefs to be a deity, and those who don't actually believe in/worship Lucifer as a theological entity, but rather as a symbol of moral liberation.
The former seem to generally be misguided pre-teens to teens who need an outlet of differentiating themselves from their parents (who are usually of some kind of Christian faith). I say "misguided" because the devil as represented in Abrahamic religious isn't the kind of "ruler of the underworld" that the Greek influence would later add, but rather a celestial manifestation of humanity's "negative energy" (for lack of a better word).
The later normally don't consider their Satanist beliefs to be as religious as they are strictly philosophical. "Satan" for them is a metaphor of a Lockean mankind that is, by nature, evil. Their duties in life, as defined by most scholars of the subject, are to further individualism while protecting the ability to do so. I think this seems a bit more rational, but using "Satan" as a basis for a lifestyle ideology is still ridiculous.
Well from my understanding the whole "Satanism" as lifestyle ideology came from a need to oppose other religious beliefs. Catholicisms has the seven deadly sins Pride, Greed, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, "Vanity", Envy, vanity was to my understanding substituted with Wrath. So since these are all sins against god and blasphemy, then the only option is Satan, because most of these deadly sins are just human nature and Satanism today is simply indulging yourself in life without regret.
The former seem to generally be misguided pre-teens to teens who need an outlet of differentiating themselves from their parents (who are usually of some kind of Christian faith). I say "misguided" because the devil as represented in Abrahamic religious isn't the kind of "ruler of the underworld" that the Greek influence would later add, but rather a celestial manifestation of humanity's "negative energy" (for lack of a better word).
The later normally don't consider their Satanist beliefs to be as religious as they are strictly philosophical. "Satan" for them is a metaphor of a Lockean mankind that is, by nature, evil. Their duties in life, as defined by most scholars of the subject, are to further individualism while protecting the ability to do so. I think this seems a bit more rational, but using "Satan" as a basis for a lifestyle ideology is still ridiculous.
But on the subject, I'm atheist so all this means nothing to me hahaha.