A dangerous path

I previously posted a somewhat ironic review of this little book, but I feel that the time has come to give the Devil his due. ;-)

“Paths to Satan” is a book written by a “respectable” Satanist (if there is such a thing!). Martin McGreggor rejects what he calls “devil worship”, a mostly subcultural phenomenon centered on ostensible worship of the Christian Devil precisely because he is evil by Biblical standards. To the author, this kind of inversion is simply childish. He regards atheistic Satanism (the Church of Satan) as more serious, but ultimately rejects it, too.

McGreggor's chosen path to Satan is the theistic one, where Satan is seen as a personal god-being, albeit not necessarily an “evil” one by Christian standards. Rather, Satan is the high god of ancient polytheism. While not being strictly evil, he isn't strictly “good” either. Rather, Satan is beyond good and evil. He simply is, as the highest and most potent spiritual entity or force in the cosmos. His power, and the power of his demons, can be tapped by humans (at their own risk!), but they have no moral significance in and of themselves. The author draws a distinction between spirituality and morality, where the latter is simply a human convention. As for humans, McGreggor believes that we should indulge in “the seven deadly sins”, such as desire or wrath. Those are our natural instincts, after all. However, he also believes that humans should eventually discipline themselves, since the cosmos ultimately rewards those with self-discipline over those who lack it. “Satan helps those who help themselves”, as he puts it. Interestingly, the author condemns animal and human sacrifice, and claims that Satanist ritual abuse doesn't even exist. Presumably, he would condemn it if it did.

I think the author is obviously contradictory. If the universe is somehow karmic and ultimately punishes those who indulge themselves too much in LaVey's hedonistic black masses, isn't this *really* a form of morality? After all, at some point, morality and metaphysics must converge. Conversely, if Satan is really beyond good and evil, with what right does the author condemn sacrifice or abuse? Perhaps a self-disciplined person can use demonic powers to carry out such acts. Perhaps he can even indulge in them, while they last. The whole thing reminds me of Crowley's (consciously?) contradictory dictum “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law. Love under will”.

The author tells us that his path is dangerous, since the demons – while not “evil” in the metaphysical Christian sense – might nevertheless be very dangerous (perhaps like, say, a pride of magnificent but hungry lions). I agree that the path of Satan is dangerous, but for a very different reason. Satan, whatever or whoever he/she/it might be (an archetype?), really is a deceiver and adversary. C S Lewis had a more realistic appraisal of the lord of this world. Jack said that everyone who truly wants to meet him, will do so…and despair.