by Barbara Stiles

Created on: October 20, 2008

Witchcraft and Satanism, for some awful reason, always seem to go hand in hand when you ask your random Catholic on the street. Witches must get their power from Satan and therefore are Satanists, right? Wrong! The term "Satanist" came from Anton Lavey's written moral code, "The Satanic Bible". Quite a fascinating read, in my opinion. A Satanist is merely someone who doesn't see the seven deadly sins as sin at all, but a natural instinct to all humans. Satanists are only called Satanists because their beliefs polarize most that's learned from the bible. They feel no remorse for things that come naturally to them. They believe in righteous revenge, never turning the other cheek. LaVey even refers to this moral structure as Humanism. Satan is merely a figurehead; some kind of representation of their ideals. They also coin the term, 'satanic witch' in similar literature. But a Satanic witch and a witch are completely different things. Satanic witchcraft involves temptation and using natural attributes the body possesses in order to successfully attract a person to you. Something as simple as knowing different body structures, it is said in this book, can aid you in attracting the person you've got your eye on. In other words, a Satanic Witch is merely a master of temptation, and most often a women (don't ask why).

Your average Witch most likely has a faith system in which Satan is absent. The Pagan Lord can often be misinterpreted as Satan, but only because of stolen attributes. Cernnunos, The Horned God, for example; though to Pagans He is a deity that brings about life and warmth (most likely personifying the Sun), the Catholics have dubbed the Horned God as the enemy of their own deity. Of course the Pagans had been celebrating Cernnunos many many years before the alleged "coming of Christ", but that would only make Him a greater candidate to be the Devil. Nevertheless, Witches deal with the forces of nature, never to harm anyone that crosses their path. "An ye harm none," The Rede tells us. If someone would make an enemy of us, worry us not because karma is strong and Witches do believe in the ultimate Balance of nature, never getting in the way of the great force but merely shaping it to our will on occassion also knowing that it's shape will return to normal in time. Witches get their power from mother Earth, not Satan.

Another big difference between the two people is that Witches have a detailed belief structure. Every living thing has its own essence and in essence is part of the great spirit of earth. Witches believe they return to the source of the power after death. Satanists, or moreover Satanism, isn't really in depth as far as the afterlife or what is responsible for all creation. In fact, some would call Satanism a philosophy, more than a religion. It is the philosophy of believing in the power of oneself with the word "Satan" being adlibbed for you. Satan represents you and the power to rebel against a religious mass that punishes themselves for doing what comes natural to humans.

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