good or evil or not
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Final Poject, RS 105TRANSCRIPT
Good or Evil or Not at all? By: Fernando Garibay
Crux of the issue • Today in American popular culture there are a range of
controversial topics, symbols, and ideas integrated into major entertainment outlets used on a daily basis. In today’s entertainment, God is completely accepted. Evidence of this can be seen at nearly every turn in American society. People in television shows always say “Oh My God” and the concept of prayer before dinner on television can be seen as a normal American tradiEon. The same does not yet completely follow for the idea of Satan or anything closely affiliated. However, Satanic or Pagan concepts and symbols are slowly becoming a normal occurrence in everyday televised entertainment, especially in music videos or adverEsements. With that, many religious people are noEcing and openly voicing their objecEons to the circulaEon of this content. My goal is to determine if these symbols are truly satanic, if paganism or Satanism really is becoming accepted and integrated into American society, and to explore each side of the spectrum, to determine if there should be concern and controversy drawn from the use of symbols and ethics derived from satanic or pagan religions.
Specific example of the Crux of this issue
• Recently, Public Outrage has followed an announcement of a new FOX TV series called “Lucifer”, where over 135,000 people to date have signed a peNNon put out by the American Family AssociaNon urging FOX to stop its plans of premiering the show.
• The peNNon states, “The program previews mischaracterize satan, depart from true biblical teachings about him and inaccurately portray the beliefs of the ChrisNan faith”, and While the peNNon did not stop the premiere of the show, over 135,000 concerned individuals gives perspecNve on how many people view this as an important subject.
Symbols that are common in Satanic or pagan religions.
The Pentacle Baphomet
RepresenNng Idea, Sustenance, life, secret knowledge and the hidden mysteries within the earth. Commonly in western religion, divine knowledge is reserved and designated only for the deity (NicMhacha)
The face of Satanism, witchcraZ and black magic, Baphomet seems to most commonly represent a balance of both good and evil, However in many occulNst religions, Baphomet represents the process of reaching Enlightenment or Accessing a certain state of mind. (Vigilant ciNzen)
Where have these symbols been used in America’s modern forms of entertainment?
Pictures from Rihanna’s new hit music video and album adverNsement: ”The ANTIdiary” Horns are placed purposely in the background to seemingly represent Baphomet.
Another Example of the use of a satanic symbol in a major music video. From popular rapper A$AP Rocky.
• An observaNon that I have made recently is that the blatant use of satanic or pagan symbols in videos is not only typical of Heavy-‐Metal music or Rock and Roll, but of Hip-‐Hop, Rap and R&B as well
What do religious individuals think about the use of satanic symbols? • TradiNonal ChrisNan religions focus faith
and pracNce very much in the supernatural. This perspecNve results in a view of these symbols being more dangerous in light of their supernatural meaning, in contrast to their literal representaNon. Making the symbols become hereNcal if used and a possible window for evil to manifest itself into ones life.
• To individuals with beliefs that span further than most, the increased and persistent use of Satanic symbols and concepts in music desensiNzes people toward sin. (jesus-‐is-‐savior.com)
What do Satanic and Pagan religions think about these symbols and what they represent? Satanism
• According to the foremost authority of Satanism: The Church of Satan, Satanist’s do not believe in the supernatural, so the symbols being used are not harmful to anyone seeing them in any way. But the symbols do have esoteric meaning that is allegedly meant only to represent their beliefs. Not to be mistaken to have supernatural significance.
Wiccan religion(Benevolent WitchcraO)
• Although decentralized, the Wiccan religion puts more emphasis on spiritual and religious belief, as well as supernatural significance in the symbols they use. (NicMhacha)
• Most have a pantheisNc view, which means they see the divine everywhere and in everything. Much unlike the pracNces ChrisNanity is comprised of. (Fox)
Both Religions do not menNon any doctrine that would encourage the apparent use of their Symbols in entertainment videos.
Concluding thoughts • Overall, I believe people should only mind those things that are affecNng them.
While I can understand why a ChrisNan would not want these symbols to be circulated, I also understand why a Satanist or wiccan would not see any problems with it. But it is not the duty of the member of the ChrisNan faith to keep those symbols from being seen. The way that the symbols are used, (being surely placed to represent more than what is given at face value) do not clearly have sinister intent, but do raise suspicions as to why so many famous and influenNal people seem to incorporate them into their work. Now to sum things up, If someone asked if I would allow my unborn daughter watch these things on T.V or the Internet, I would say, “ In very, very limited proporNons.”.
Works Cited • “F.A.Q Symbols and Symbolism”. www.ChurchofSatan.com. Church of Satan. 2016. Online. April 30th, 2016. • “Fox Network to air ‘Lucifer’-‐ Portraying Satan as a good guy”. www.afa.net. American Family AssociaNon. May 27th, 2015.
Online. April 27th, 2016. • Morrison, Michael. “Paganism-‐Where should we draw the line?”. www.gci.org. Grace communion internaNonal. 2015.
Online. April 29th, 2016. • Peter Carota. “TradiNonal Sacred heart of Jesus”. www.tradiNonalcatholicpriest.com. n.p. June 7th, 2013. Online. May 1st,
2016. • “PILOTE LITE: Lucifer (2016 TV series) “. www.Comicbookmedia.com. n.p. N.d. Online. April 28th, 2016. • “Satans Music”. www.Jesus-‐is-‐savior.com. n.p. n.d. Online. May 1st, 2016. • Fox, Selena. “IntroducNon to the wiccan religion and contemporary paganism”. www.circlesanctuary.org. n.p. 2016. Online.
April 30th, 2016. • Macleod NicMhacha, Sharynne. “The Star Of Life”. Witchvox.com. The Withces’ voice inc. July 16th, 2000. Online. April 28th,
2016. • Vigilant CiNzen. “Who is Baphomet?”. www.vigilantciNzen.com. n.p. December 13th,2011. Online. April 28th, 2016. • Vigilant CiNzen. “The Occult meaning of Rihanna’s ‘ANTIdiaRy’ videos”. www.vigilantciNzen.com. February, 2016. Online.
April 29th, 2016.