Giving Satanism a Bad Name
The lawyers of Lawrence Douglas Harris Sr., on trial for murdering both of his young stepdaughters, are trying to get references to The Satanic Bible banned during trial. Personally, I think the Church of Satan should be requesting the same thing.
According to this article, prosecutors are suggesting that Harris was working a ritual out of The Satanic Bible when he killed the girls. If that is the case, prosecutors have clearly never actually read the book.
LaVeyan Satanists treasure children because they aren't yet burdened down with the constraints of society. Satanists are against ever harming children: statement #9 of the Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth is "Do not harm little children."
And while The Satanic Bible does speak of destroying one's enemies "by proxy" (as prosecutors claim), the context clearly states that the proxy is an object representing the target, which will effectively function like a Voodoo doll. Murdering children to destroy their mother by proxy is a completely nonsensical idea in Satanism, not to mention repulsive.
Harris is not being harmed by being associated with Satanists; Satanists are being harmed by association with Harris.
Comments
Sad. Satanists aren’t evil, but society probably won’t realize that for several more years. Other religions do way more harm than Satanism!
I wonder if the Church of Satan will get involved at all? Will the lawyers even [i] read [/i] the book?
No, they probably will not. The are just taking advantage of people’s fears.
Satan’s Girl
http://www.bookmarkall.com/topic/list/3638.html
Nice work! This is the Press Release the CoS has sent about:
Ever since Lawrence Harris committed the most heinous and repulsive of all crimes, Satanists have endured a continual assault against our religion, both in the media and within the courtroom. As a result, and to prevent another decade long Satanic panic Satanists are asking responsible journalists to do their jobs properly and research Satanism prior to printing/reporting any further misinformation.
From the moment this crime was committed the Church of Satan found itself in the unenviable position of wanting to deal with Harris Satanically—meaning we want justice with no forgiveness for his horrific crimes, while in no way wanting to validate Harris’ defense.
We are thoroughly frustrated that the most basic information about our religion and this case specifically is being ignored! The following are verifiable facts that have been ignored, either intentionally for the purpose of sensationalism, or through the ignorance and laziness of those reporting:
1. Harris was never a member of the Church of Satan.
2. Harris was not a Satanist.
3. There are no rituals in The Satanic Bible that require or even imply any form of living sacrifice.
4. There are no rituals/ceremonies in the entire canon of Satanic dogma that requires or even implies living sacrifice.
5. Satanism prohibits the harming of children and animals.
6. The Church of Satan does not endorse, and will terminate the membership of those who commit, criminal activity.
After 43 years as a legal, growing religion there are hundreds of other quotes and samples of our dogma that could be used here to substantiate our point, but surely these examples would seem worthy of mention when reporters are writing about this case. There certainly has been no shortage falsehoods printed as if they were fact!
Twenty years ago Satanists were forced to hide and were persecuted because a cottage industry sprung up where evangelists, unethical therapists, notoriety hungry authors and dubious journalists created a myth about sacrifices, breeders, and other completely untrue crimes attributed to Satanists/Satanism. The end result was thousands of NON_Satanists had their lives destroyed and many Satanists were forced underground. When the smoke cleared, with the FBI’s Lanning Report, one would have thought humanity would have learned something. Instead journalists are swallowing the same lies with the same disregard for truth. We can only hope their refusal to do the most perfunctory research, won’t again, destroy the lives of the innocent.
The Church of Satan’s High Priest, Magus Peter Gilmore ushered in the age of Justice after 9/11. In that spirit the membership of the Church of Satan wants nothing more than to see Lawrence Harris pay dearly and brutally for his heinous and repugnant crime. One fact about the religion of Satanism that might be of interest is that Satanists do not do forgiveness, and Harris is worthy of no mercy. The same harshness however is not deserved by the many legally practicing Satanists who are being slandered and libeled each and every day.
The information is available and it is free. Surely it isn’t too much to ask professional journalists to look at it before making statements that hurt the innocent.
Sincerely,
Magistra Ygraine Mitchell
Church of Satan
“Will the lawyers even [i] read [/i] the book? ”
Funny you should ask. The defense attempted to recruit the Church of Satan and was met with contempt. The prosecution and the Church of Satan argued before the presiding judge over the use of the name Satanism and The satanic Bible.
Magus Gilmore submitted at least one thorough affidavit in the hopes of making it clear the CoS supports the punishment of this monster but is most upset that the prosecutor has either not read the book, or is intentionally lying about the book.
Eventually the situation was unresolved and remains such with each mention up for scrutiny.
MagistraY~
Why would prosecutors need to even mention Satanism in prosecuting a murderer anyway? The act of murdering children in and of itself is damning enough to stand on its own.