Get Your Holiday Spirits Before It's too Late

LaVey was many things, foremost a great showman. He recalled being an organist in a cabaret during his youth, seeing wild-eyed men drinking it up, and lusting after the dancers. On Sunday, during Anton's shift, working for the tent-show evangelists, there would be some of the same men, wives and children in tow, playing up the pious family man role.

I believe Hagee knows very well who he is, and what he's out to accomplish, and he, along with countless others are absolutely great at it. He would definitely consider his manipulative practices (at least in public) to be for the greater good -- HIS "positive impact". LaVey would've certainly questioned the intelligence of the congregation, yet, more than likely determined that Hagee and herd were a perfect match: a dumbed down public getting just what they deserved, as a smarter, more capable individual utilizes their ignorance for his own personal gain. Predator and prey -- a playing field where "sin" simply does not exist.

"Sin" or "Evil", stripped of all it's relative religious connotations and decor, can simply be defined as being something one doesn't like, or find virtuous. Sin is one of those ambiguous piles of goo that people throw around, whenever possible, to see if and where it will stick. The fears and prejudices of the people take the wheel from there, until a smarter or indifferent generation renders the sin harmless or worthwhile.

While I might not see the doggy doo thing to be a sin, and could rattle off a handful of people who I believe surely deserve a porch full of dog shit, I don't prepare these little housewarming gifts because it's not advantageous to me. LaVey compared such behavior to those who pull wings off butterflies, just to feel naughty: where is the payoff? Sinning, for the sake of being seen as a "sinner" accomplishes nothing. I experience a face-palm moment, every time I see a dollar store version of Marilyn Manson, who assumes that substance abuse, gesticulating "devil horns" and "Death Metal" are his tickets to sitting at the right hoof of "Satan".

When discussing and debating the concept of "sin", there's always a few who want to equate sexual freedom or various forms of indulgence with (of course) an extreme, like murder or child molestation, for example. "Sin IS sin, afterall!". Lavey had his finger on the pulse of this type of mentality, and did well to make STUPIDITY number one on the list of "Satanic Sins".

I'll have to check out Van Impe, though good ol' "God hates fags" Phelps I'm quite familiar with, as well as his family of up and coming sideshows.

"Brother Stair", of Overcomer Ministries was a hoot also, before he got arrested (again) for sexual misconduct. In his sermons, he calls upon his listeners to "offer everything to God" (sign over all your property and monetary holdings to ME) and move to my compound in N.C.." The late rapper Craig Mack was one of his members.

The congregation/pastor relationship is like that old TV show, Candid Camera, where most of the viewers know the marks are being duped, only when the cameras close in and Alan Funt appears, the oblivious marks remain faithful to the prank.

It's not just San Angelo that isn't kind to "alternative religions." Most Americans have varying tolerance levels. Anyone too far off of the reservation is going to be a target for scrutiny. Building a compound is generally not acceptable. Like what happened with Bill Cosby's criticism of Hollywood and various left and liberal movements, indiscretions that would otherwise be overlooked are likely to be exposed, blown out of proportion and exaggerated, or possibly even fabricated once an individual steps too far out of line. Meanwhile, the cabaret goes on.

And yes, some people do enjoy "pulling wings off of butterflies." Those people are often psychopaths.

Maybe it's an existential choice, but I like RR/ZZ's idea of the shepherd tending a flock. Preying on others seems like it would have profoundly negative consequences for society and, eventually, for the predatory person. You'll have to lay on some deeper Sith knowledge if you mean to bring me around on that point.