Satanists plan to apply the Hobby Lobby SCOTUS decision

[Tallpine]

Funny, Satan is an invention of the Catholic Church 

[erictank]

http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Churches-&-Religious-Organizations/Churches--Defined
http://www.irs.gov/irm/part4/irm_04-076-006.html

Courts (correctly) get hinky about defining what is or is not a religion. Any specific individual is free to believe any or all religions or churches is not a religion, obviously. But in a legal sense, if it's a church for tax reasons, it's a church. Otherwise, it's entirely subjective but not relevant.



Wut?

If one may define "freedom of religion" as worship of one of a select group of "bonafide" deities, as opposed to "user's choice", and thus exclude non-approved sorts as "not a religion" and unworthy of First Amendment protections, then surely worship of NO god (agnostic/atheist) must also fall under that definition and likewise be excluded.

That's pretty much a violation of what we actually understand the First Amendment to protect. The government must have NO say in who you may worship, or even IF you worship. It doesn't get to say, "Well, Satan is only a fallen angel, not a god," and say that Satanism is therefore not a "real" religion, any more than it may say, "You can worship whichever god or gods you prefer, but you may not choose NOT to worship."

Just contesting the notion that Satanism could be truthfully argued to be "not a religion" and thus have no standing in any religious argument. Outside of that, I've not read up on this particular case, so I don't really have an opinion on it at the moment.

[TommyGunn]

Funny, Satan is an invention of the Catholic Church 

Pretty sure Satan had Biblical origins .....

[roo_ster]

Just contesting the notion that Satanism could be truthfully argued to be "not a religion" and thus have no standing in any religious argument. Outside of that, I've not read up on this particular case, so I don't really have an opinion on it at the moment.

Many flavors of satanism explicitly reject theism and have no doctrine or organization.  So, not a religion.  Sort of like trying to claim one's "freedom of ruben sandwiches" when one has no rye, corned beef, saur kraut, swiss, or dressing. 

OTOH, such falls under freedom of conscience, which most have considered to fall under the first amendment.

Not sure how there is any nexus between the HL case, the first amendment, and abortion.  But, like fistful, I think associating satanism and abortion has its upsides.

[Balog]

Satanists are the Open Carry Texas of the abortion debate. I'm always happy to see them vocally associating themselves with the other side.

[freakazoid]

Satanists are the Open Carry Texas of the abortion debate. I'm always happy to see them vocally associating themselves with the other side.

There is a South Park episode along these lines, 

[Perd Hapley]

Funny, Satan is an invention of the Catholic Church 

That's odd, because I recall reading about Satan in one of the oldest Jewish documents extant. I guess I've been misinformed on the church of Rome's chronology.

[Balog]

That's odd, because I recall reading about Satan in one of the oldest Jewish documents extant. I guess I've been misinformed on the church of Rome's chronology.

Catholicism is a Jewish conspiracy.

[Tallpine]

That's odd, because I recall reading about Satan in one of the oldest Jewish documents extant. I guess I've been misinformed on the church of Rome's chronology.

So the Satanists are really Jews 

I guess if you don't believe in "God", it's important to choose which "god" you don't believe in 

[onions!]

Is the proper noun,Satan,actually used in the ancient texts?Or is it assumed from a later edition or translation?

From what I've gleaned over the years I figure the latter is most likely.
Could be wrong.

I just wish it'd rain.

[makattak]

Is the proper noun,Satan,actually used in the ancient texts?Or is it assumed from a later edition or translation?

From what I've gleaned over the years I figure the latter is most likely.
Could be wrong.

I just wish it'd rain.

 וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם--וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים, לְהִתְיַצֵּב עַל-יְהוָה; וַיָּבוֹא גַם-הַשָּׂטָן, בְּתוֹכָם.

Now it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

שָּׂטָן = Satan.

Actual transliteration of the Hebrew.

[KD5NRH]

Now it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

שָּׂטָן = Satan.

Actual transliteration of the Hebrew.

That was just a misprint.  It was really Stan, the first Health and Safety Inspector.  Often confused with Satan, the Father of Lies, since they're both part of the HR Department.

[makattak]

That was just a misprint.  It was really Stan, the first Health and Safety Inspector.  Often confused with Satan, the Father of Lies, since they're both part of the HR Department.

I don't know if you meant this or not, but the original Hebrew had no vowels, just the consonants STN.

So your joke is even funnier to me because you can claim it should be read as Stan.

[MillCreek]

I liked the HR Department link.

[KD5NRH]

I don't know if you meant this or not, but the original Hebrew had no vowels, just the consonants STN.

So your joke is even funnier to me because you can claim it should be read as Stan.

Or maybe it just meant they were passing around a plate of seitan as a snack.

[Balog]

Cotton is the fabric of our lives.

Satin is the fabric of pure evil.

[White Horseradish]

Cotton is the fabric of our lives.

Satin is the fabric of pure evil.

Be on the lookout for muslin militants.

[Balog]

Be on the lookout for muslin militants.

They're weaving their way into the very fabric of our society as we speak. Danger looms.

[Tallpine]

They're weaving their way into the very fabric of our society as we speak. Danger looms.

This thread has become warped 

[SADShooter]

This thread has become warped 

Reaping what we sew, perhaps.

[Doggy Daddy]

This thread has become warped 

That may be sew, but it's keeping me in stitches.

[RoadKingLarry]

This thread has become warped 

Because the children weft.

[Tallpine]

Stan made me do it