Quote:
Originally Posted by MutedBlue
Satan is merely a symbol for rebellion and free thinking?
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Given the patriarchal and parochial history of the Church, and its use of authoritative, fear-based dictums and tenets as the means by which to both control and punish "wrong-thinkers", your comment makes a lot of sense.
Now, from an esoteric-spiritualist POV, Satan is exactly that yes, and that's the historical, human-material truth of the matter. From a soul-spiritual understanding, Satan is an occult symbol, referencing qualities in our soul-spirit development that we are meant to identify and evolve. I've found the more one understands the difference here, the more one naturally gravitates toward the latter; towards exploring the soul-spiritual, individual and inner nature of these questions.
And the less one gets hung up on the mundane, external physical-material aspects. Given what I've seen of religions -- and atheism is its own religion -- I would guess a Satanic Temple devoted to atheistic religion is somewhat if not altogether hung up on mundane, physical-material ideas and concepts. Especially and in this case if the devotees are paying tribute to Satan or a Satanic being in some manner or form.