HMS Beelzebub?

[el duerino]

Satanism in the Royal Navy. What do people reckon?

[Oneeyedvic]

each to their own - its a bit like the should a police officer be allowed to join the bnp (though the royal navy do say that they will take anyone of any religion, whereas the police do say you are not allowed to be a member of any political party).

Snap reaction is obviously it is ludicous, but thinking logically, why not - it is a religion after all - we wouldn't ban any other religion would we!

[bernardo]

I agree - he should be allowed to join.  The rules already say that he can be disciplined or removed if he is disruptive or damaging to morale or to other people.  He has said that Satanism basically just means indulging a few sins like gluttony or adultery; it's not as if he's going to be allowed to sacrifice a goat or a hippopotamus on board the deck of the ship.  GSTQ

[ll_billym]

Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea eh? I don't see a problem with it but there's been so much fuss made about it that I don't think that the poor guy is going to have a very good experience in the RN.

[incuriam]

If Cranmer wants to dress in black and ponce about the place ringing his bell and banging his gong then fair play to him.

 

But surely a religion which requires it's devotees to acknowledge any successful use of magic has no place in the armed forces. Could you imagine the stink if someone like Admiral Sir Michael Boyce stood up in a press conference and said, "Well, yeah, we did kick the crap out of the North Korean Navy, so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Pan and his magical minions. Hail Satan!" 

[Oneeyedvic]

"But surely a religion which requires it's devotees to acknowledge any successful use of magic has no place in the armed forces" - this is as opposed to a "will of God" - a supernatural Being who is everywhere all the time? Is it really as stupid as saying "God was on our side"?

[jimmer]

"these days it's not so much get ye behind me oh satan, as come on in mate, have a cup of tea". Cant see anything wrong with it, i mean, he's working for satan anyway.... sorry cheap shot.

As far as i can tell satanism involves standing around an alter in silly costumes talking crap, how's it different from other religions?

 

jim

[WaldoMcFroog]

Agree with everyone else. It seems to me that being a Satanist is just an excuse for people to indulge their  desires, and from that perspective, it's a little sad. At least have the courage to admit 'em, you know. But, Saatanism is far from the way it's portrayed by bad films and the more hysterical parts of the press, and it's not really going to have any impact on the Navy whatsoever.

[incuriam]

Oneeyedvic: In my opinion, it certainly isn't any more stupid than saying, "God was on our side." But, "God was on our side" is normal during conflicts; it's not just accepted, it's expected. So "Hail Satan!" just wouldn't work. It would create divisions within the armed forces, and cause controversy at home.

[LeMarchand]

Surely the whole raison d'etre of Satanism is to be an inversion of Christianity? I'm not a Christian, but most of it's principles are those that most people abide by (fairness, helping others etc). That means that Satanism is the opposite of this - do we want that sort of person as one of our envoys?

 

Also, is he from some sort of "toned down" branch of Satanism - does he not have to make the odd blood sacrifice? (I suppose the occasional orgy might make those long sea voyages pass quicker).

 

Why not let some practising Rastafarians in? At least if the navy is all on the wacky baccy they wont be going around killing people!

[LeMarchand]

P.S. "HMS Beelzebub", sounds like a case of Satanic Warship.

[el duerino]

lol ive a good mind to report that one. smiling in spite of myself. ;)

 

I dont really think he worships the lord of darkness as it were. satanism has got a bad rap, it can mean other stuff as far as I know.

[tartanwiz]

Most so-called Satanists are not actually worshippers of evil, otherwise there could be no living with them. They'd go around doing everything bad and sick and wrong all the time. No, so-called Satanists are just sad plonkers, and many of them don't even believe in Satan anyway!

[jenstar]

I would have thought a satanist would be right at home in the military...

[cruthinboy]

I think if you look at the late (?) Anton La Vey's Church of Satan  website, you'll see that most satanism iseems to meansimply being selfish without a conscience - whether you think that's good or bad - it's nothing better or worse than that.

[LeMarchand]

I think that "real" Satanists (and many others) would decry LaVey as a charlatan. Surely to be a Satanist, by definition you have to worship evil. Otherwise (for instance) all practising vegetarians could claim to be Muslims or Hindus - as they don't eat pork or beef either. You can't just pick the bits of a religion you like and claim to be one of its adherents to get special treatment. (Though it seems that you can in the Royal Navy).

[el duerino]

depends what you define satan as really.

 

as for picking which bits of a religion to follow and which to ignore - lol, that is every single religion on the planet basically. 

[tartanwiz]

LeMarchand is spot on. To worship Satan (by definition the spirit of evil), you have to follow and practice evil. Cruthinboy - you put a (?) mark at 'late', but you are right - Anton Zandor LaVey is indeed dead. But he is (was) a charlatan. In his so-called Satanic Bible (I actually have a copy) he actually declares that he doesn't believe in Satan. But yes, did preach on being selfish without a conscience, the bumhole. Such a philosophy is a step backwards, I'm sure anyone would agree.