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Back in the beginning of my journey into the realm of Satanism, I began to ponder more and more my Christian upbringing and how my disbelief about its doctrine led me down the path of Satanism. After watching The Satanic Temple-focused documentary “Hail Satan?” by Magnolia Pictures, I was truly disgusted by witnessing “faith-based” and “God-fearing” individuals and organizations threaten and verbally attack those who did not conform to their Christian beliefs and values. These not only horrified me, but also convinced me that I was heading down the right path. Nonetheless, I was concerned as to how quick these children of a loving God were to react with hostility and anger to those who didn’t agree with their viewpoints. They clearly forgot their The Sixth Commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” and chose instead to act and speak in ways that compel them towards violence against those whose beliefs differ.

There have been many examples throughout history of hostility by Christians to non-Christians. The most notable ones immediately come to mind: the Inquisition, the burning of witches and others judged to be heretics, the shunning by family and friends of individuals for their lifestyle choices which contradict what their faithful believe is God’s demand, such as one’s gender preference or sexual identity. Let us not forget the numerous other examples that happen in our daily lives of those who are rejected by friends, family, communities, jobs or larger communal groups for not conforming to society’s vision of the status quo, regardless of faith or beliefs system. How many countless Satanists have lost out on job and career opportunities for publicly proclaiming their faith through social media or indirectly through their jewelry, hair, clothing or tattoos?

Speaking specifically of Christianity, I have, since embracing my Satanic identity, contemplated the prospect of facing harassment, either online or face-to-face, by Christians who are angry at me for expressing my Satanic faith and views publicly, which is my legal right to do in the United States. Recently, I compiled a list of how I would hypothetically respond to Christians who engage with me and attempt to use their so-called “faith” as a justification to lash out against me. My goal with this list would be to use a Christian’s faith, beliefs, doctrine such as the Ten Commandments and other aspects of their faith to defend myself against their verbal attacks when they engage me with hate while expressing their faith.

Here’s the list that I came up with:

1. Your God has granted me free well. Why are you trying to interfere with the choices God is allowing me to make?
2. Everything that happens to me is part of God‘s plan, is it not? Aren’t all of my actions – good or bad – part of God‘s plan?
3. Oh just pray for me, I’m sure that will change me.
4. Your Bible verses mean nothing to me, they are nothing more than fiction and a few historical references. I demand proof not blind faith.
5. Is your faith so weak that you see me as a threat against your perfect divine creator?
6. If this is against the law of God, then why is your God allowing it to happen?
7. Do you really think that yelling and screaming at me to repent is going to change my ways?
8. Oh, so you’re threatening to harm me? Doesn’t The Sixth Commandment specifically tell you not to do that?
9. Why would I believe in a loving God who allows needless suffering as part of his “perfect” plan?
10. If your faith and beliefs are part of a perfect religion by a part of God, then why do you care what happens to me? Aren’t I simply going to burn in hell for doing all of this?
11. Why do you protest so vehemently about some “sins,” such as abortion and heresy, more than lying, the mistreatment of children, theft, adultery, etc.? Are you only fighting for these beliefs because they matter to you?

The problem with arguing Christian beliefs to actual Christians is twofold. First of all, you’re attempting to insert logic and reason into a mind that vehemently rejects such thinking in favor of blind faith. Most Christians are so entrenched in believing that their way is the correct and right one that they will simply refuse to contemplate that their beliefs in reality may be false. Whether it be through the feeling of superiority or a sense of arrogance, these individuals simply will not accept the fact that their core beliefs may not actually be correct.

The second problem is, people who are engaging with you against your Satanic faith who are already angry and, when engaging with an individual in a larger group such as at a rally of pro-life demonstrators and surrounded by people who will have their back, they are more likely to engage in violence to support and defend what they believe in. Attempting to start a rational argument with very irrational people will not calm them down and make them more contemplative, but in fact the reverse often seems to happen: they will become more angry and more entrenched in their ideals as they see you as a threat not only to their morals and beliefs but to their family, community and way of life. They will lash out at you – perhaps with violence – justifying their flawed human responses as a defense of their deity’s perceived values.

While debates over God and related beliefs thereof may be possible in the proper setting, it is best to avoid engaging those that think different than you who are in a group environment and who may become, if not already are, provoked to harm you or others in order while thinking that they are morally or religiously justified in doing so. Likewise, engaging with individuals online is extremely risky, as they are free to say whatever without any repercussions as might happen in a face-to-face encounter.

The goal of engaging Christians on their beliefs should never be to antagonize or harass them, but to get them to think differently and see the irrationality and falsehoods of their belief. One should never argue with a Christian in an attempt to convert them away from their beliefs or towards Satanism; one’s religious choice should be respected the same as one bodily autonomy as both body and mind are the same.

As Satanists, we are always the underdogs and are already seen as outsiders because we don’t conform to modern society’s norms, especially when society has caused us harm and mistreated us for trying to be ourselves, questioning the status quo of social norms or attempting to go a different path that strays from commonly accepted lifestyle choices. While you should always stand up for what you believe in, as a Satanist the burden is on you to choose your battles carefully as the wrong battles can lead to not only negative press and societal reaction but physical harm to you and any Satanists who may be with you. There is a double standard in our society where a Christian is rarely mentioned with regards to their faith when referencing an act of violence in the news, but a Satanist will certainly be called out for their religious views for the same acts. One must stand firm in their Satanic beliefs, choosing to be non-confrontational with hostile Christians and only engaging Christians in respectful debate when it is welcomed. To do this is not only living your Satanic values, but also ensuring the safety of our Satanic community and preventing negative attention being placed on us.