This has been explained by others better then me, but since this is such an important topic I wish to take some time to remind.
We are PAGAN. Others have said we are Paganism wrapped up in a Satanist box. That is true to an extent. However in one perspective this is true. But when we look deeper it is actually the other way around. The word Pagan means country dweller, which is in reference to when they were force converting everyone and the people out in the country were harder to get too as they were all spread out. So the word Pagan is recent and came with Christianity.
The word Satan however is much more ancient. Sat, Sanat, Satan are all words for Eternal Truth in Sanskrit. The original religion was called Sanatana Dharma, Dharma meant ISM basically but more spiritual. So Sanatanaism, or Satanism. The Oldest God Shiva was originally called Satanas. So if you use the shortened prefix, It would be Satanism with the main God Satan.
So actually it is the other way around, Paganism is pretending to be Satanism. But either way both are valid words for the same thing. It is better to call oneself a Pagan in public, as this they understand. As a Pagan our more secret Advanced Occult Knowledge is that we are Satanists. But that should remain Hidden from Public life.
Many people in the past thought that Satanism was a corruption and Hebrewized form of Paganism, This is not the case at all. Satanism is the highest form of Paganism. What is important to understand is that we are not Modern Satanism, we are essentially Paganism. But we are also an ancient form of Satanism.
Words can help, but as you can see sometimes the same words have different meaning as to your perspective. So in one way to our Perspective we would be Satanist, but to the Lavey Cult we would be Anti Satanist, to the Public we are Pagan and to the Pagan community we are Dark Pagan. So when considering all this, It is important to understand Perspectives.
Instead of freaking out because we use the word Satan. To feel Pagan which is the origin, but not run off to some Wiccan Convention thinking you are going to find true Paganism. Is it confusing? Yes, that is why it has confused the fuck out of our people for many years. So I wrote this in hopes that it can bring Clarity. I may post Links latter to some Sermons, But sometimes Simplicity and getting the point quickly are more effectively, then you can study on your own as to the coming of the conclusion.
Aldrick Strickland Hail Father Satan Forever
