Satanic cult vandalizes church?

[MichaelMyers]

DANVILLE, Va. -- Danville police are investigating the vandalism of a century-old church.

Media outlets report that someone spray-painted an upside- down cross, several other symbols and Latin words that translate to "Hail Satan" in red on the rear outside wall of the Schoolfield Church of the Brethren.

A church member discovered the graffiti Saturday.

The church was founded in 1911 by Marion Prather. The current pastor is his great-great grandson, the Rev. Richard Berkley.

Berkley's daughter, Branwen Hall, says the church has endured through World Wars I and II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars. She says the graffiti isn't going to change the way members worship.

http://www.wtop.com/120/3411879/Hail...-old-Va-church

[Biff Wellington]

I personally have a hard time believing in "True" modern day satanists. I mean you do have Anton Lavey's church but they always struck me more as hedonists using satanism as a symbol. That being said, it's most likely bored kids that listen to Heavy Metal sub-genres & think it's cool to do ridiculous things like this. Kids tend to be pretty dumb & narcissistic so it's only a matter of time before they get themselves caught for this or something similar.

[Bren]

Originally Posted by Biff Wellington

I personally have a hard time believing in "True" modern day satanists. I mean you do have Anton Lavey's church but they always struck me more as hedonists using satanism as a symbol. That being said, it's most likely bored kids that listen to Heavy Metal sub-genres & think it's cool to do ridiculous things like this. Kids tend to be pretty dumb & narcissistic so it's only a matter of time before they get themselves caught for this or something similar.

Me also. Satanists are atheists with a shock value name. Yes it's true that they are anti Christianity but in an extreme sense that they do not believe in Christianity altogether including God and the Devil.

That vandalism is done by what I like to call 'Fruit cakes'. Idiots who watch horror films like 'Rosemary's baby' which are a Hollywood fallacy of Satanism and choose to enact this out in order to look bad ass and scare their parents. They are referred to as 'Luciferian' rather than Satanist.

[bloodsuckinmofo]

Originally Posted by Bren

Me also. Satanists are atheists with a shock value name. Yes it's true that they are anti Christianity but in an extreme sense that they do not believe in Christianity altogether including God and the Devil.

That vandalism is done by what I like to call 'Fruit cakes'. Idiots who watch horror films like 'Rosemary's baby' which are a Hollywood fallacy of Satanism and choose to enact this out in order to look bad ass and scare their parents. They are referred to as 'Luciferian' rather than Satanist.

LaVeyian Satanists usually believe in God and the Devil as metaphors for elements of human nature, which kinda makes the bible like... Aesop's fables for adults, doesn't make it insignificant even if they don't believe it in a literal sense.

Vandalizing churches seems like a form of protest to me, all part of the extremist anti-theist movement. That, or they're just bored kids. Either way, must be a slow news day in Virginia. :p

[staceybethh]

What mofo said. As a LaVeyan Satanist myself, I don't have my beliefs for shock value. Satan is more like a "mascot", if that makes sense?

I'm sure the little turds that vandalized that church have no idea what they're even doing or what the symbols mean other than "OMG Satan!!".

[The Villain]

I don't get the use of an upside down cross as a satanic symbol. I believe it was Peter, one of Jesus' apostles who asked to be crucified upside down because he didn't feel worthy enough to be crucified in the same manner of Jesus. In that sense it seems more of a sign of respect towards Jesus then anything relating to Satan. I'm pretty sure the upside down cross was made popular by movies. I wonder if real Satanists have it as a symbol or if its just a pop culture symbol.

[staceybethh]

Originally Posted by The Villain

I don't get the use of an upside down cross as a satanic symbol. I believe it was Peter, one of Jesus' apostles who asked to be crucified upside down because he didn't feel worthy enough to be crucified in the same manner of Jesus. In that sense it seems more of a sign of respect towards Jesus then anything relating to Satan. I'm pretty sure the upside down cross was made popular by movies. I wonder if real Satanists have it as a symbol or if its just a pop culture symbol.

Just to clarify, the upside down cross being a symbol of humbleness is really only confined to the "hardcore" Christians. People like to use that argument against Satanists a lot I've noticed. The crossing of two lines has been used in religions for thousands of years. They mostly hold simple meanings but in others they show the paradox and chaos that can happen when two lines cross and become one. In voodoo, crosses are used a lot but but have nothing to do with Christ.

A theistic Satanist (who has been practicing for almost 14 years) buddy of mine says they invert the cross of Christ for two reasons; to show the disrespect and mockery at the suffering of Christ as well as to deny him and his life.

If you do some research, you'll see the symbol also has some roots in alchemy as one of 6 known symbols to represent sulphur or brimstone.

Take the swastika as a perfect example of symbols having numerous meanings!

Hope that cleared up a little of this for ya. :)

[The Villain]

Originally Posted by staceybethh

Just to clarify, the upside down cross being a symbol of humbleness is really only confined to the "hardcore" Christians. People like to use that argument against Satanists a lot I've noticed. The crossing of two lines has been used in religions for thousands of years. They mostly hold simple meanings but in others they show the paradox and chaos that can happen when two lines cross and become one. In voodoo, crosses are used a lot but but have nothing to do with Christ.

A theistic Satanist (who has been practicing for almost 14 years) buddy of mine says they invert the cross of Christ for two reasons; to show the disrespect and mockery at the suffering of Christ as well as to deny him and his life.

If you do some research, you'll see the symbol also has some roots in alchemy as one of 6 known symbols to represent sulphur or brimstone.

Take the swastika as a perfect example of symbols having numerous meanings!

Hope that cleared up a little of this for ya. :)

But that's exactly my point. How can it be a sign of disrespect when it in fact was a sign of respect towards Jesus? It just seems like a strange symbol to use negatively towards Christianity when it has positive roots in Christianity

[staceybethh]

Originally Posted by The Villain

But that's exactly my point. How can it be a sign of disrespect when it in fact was a sign of respect towards Jesus? It just seems like a strange symbol to use negatively towards Christianity when it has positive roots in Christianity

I suppose because they're not looking at it being connected with the St. Peter's myth. Symbols are construed all kinds of ways! Satanists have their own reasons for using the upside down cross. I never use the symbol myself because it's so overplayed and taken the wrong way many times. Most don't really care to explain why the believe what they believe or use what they use but I like helping people understand better something that can be a little confusing.

If it still doesn't make sense to you, that's cool! It's not for everyone. :)

[The Villain]

Originally Posted by staceybethh

I suppose because they're not looking at it being connected with the St. Peter's myth. Symbols are construed all kinds of ways! Satanists have their own reasons for using the upside down cross. I never use the symbol myself because it's so overplayed and taken the wrong way many times. Most don't really care to explain why the believe what they believe or use what they use but I like helping people understand better something that can be a little confusing.

If it still doesn't make sense to you, that's cool! It's not for everyone. :)

The cross thing was really the only thing that confused me. Despite being a Christian, I have no problem with Satanists. Everyone has a right to believe what they want. However vandalizing a church is wrong regardless.