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Satanists have spiritual beliefs. Druids have spiritual beliefs. Christians and people of other religions have spiritual beliefs. Most atheists, on the other hand, don't have spiritual beliefs, and those atheists who call themselves "spiritual" usually have a naturalistic spirituality that entails no belief in imaginary gods, devils, angels, demons and the like. Trying to link atheism to satanism is ridiculous.

Some Christians, however, truly are "satanic". Hitler, for example, had spiritual beliefs and remained a member of the Catholic Church until his suicide. And the abominable sex abuse by clergy is so widespread that is has become synonymous with religion. It is "satanic". Of course there are atheists who have also behaved "satanically". The point is, however, that neither traditional spiritual beliefs, nor a lack thereof, necessarily entail "satanic" behavior. Like many people who hold traditional spiritual beliefs, most atheists are caring, law-abiding members of their communities. Indeed, some studies suggest that they are less pone to criminality than people who hold tradition religious and spiritual beliefs.

Attempts to link atheism with satanism just don't stand up to even superficial scrutiny.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑December 31st, 2024, 8:37 am

Fanman wrote: ↑December 30th, 2024, 10:45 pm Are you implying I am not contributing effectively or productively to the discussion?

No. I have become quite lost here. You seem to take meaning from my words that I didn't intend. Probably my fault. Sorry.

No problem.

Sy Borg wrote: ↑December 31st, 2024, 3:04 pm At least Christians don't deliver death sentences for apostasy.

At least that is true in recent history, but I'm not sure when that stopped.

There still is a degree of militancy in some areas of Christianity that is cause for concern.

The more militant policies seem to arise when people think their heritage is in danger.

Stoppelmann wrote: ↑Today, 8:33 am

Sy Borg wrote: ↑December 31st, 2024, 3:04 pm At least Christians don't deliver death sentences for apostasy.

At least that is true in recent history, but I'm not sure when that stopped.

There still is a degree of militancy in some areas of Christianity that is cause for concern.

The more militant policies seem to arise when people think their heritage is in danger.

Yes, extremism always highlights the crazy bits of any subject. In this case, religious violence. Spirituality tends to be less extreme, but this is probably because it is a vaguer and more general term that embraces much more than "religion" does. For a start, "spirituality" embraces and includes all of "religion", and more besides.

But it is also true, I think, that when we are diverted into extremism, we find there is little there that is of interest, no?