Family Estrangement and The Catholic Church vs. The Church of Satan?

[mommamaree]

I came across this today and it upset me a bit. I had briefly done some research on the Satanic Principles and the Church of Satan years back, but had forgotten most of what I read. I have highlighted three of the principles in red, as these are the ones that concern me the most. Please scan this list and see my questions below.

The Church of Satan espouses nine statements of beliefs:

Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence.
Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams.
Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit.
Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates.
Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek.
Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires.
Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development”, has become the most vicious animal of all.
Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification.
Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years.

So my questions are:
How is familial estrangement in situations of abuse or maltreatment consistent with the Christian life? It would seem very consistent with “kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates.”
How is going “No Contact” with a family member who continues to abuse or mistreat a person not vengeance? We may call it “setting boundaries” or “protecting ourselves” but is that really accurate? How is that consistent with “turning the other cheek”?
Psychic vampires are a phenomenon I learned about several years ago in my research on toxic family relationships. In fact, I have a book on my bookshelf that has that term in the title. Does that mean I have a book promoting Satanic ideals over Christian themes?

I might have more questions soon, depending upon what kind of feedback people here at CAF Family Life forum have. And just so that no one is imagining that I am pointing fingers at anyone, these questions are self-accusatory, as I am going through these issues now in my personal life, as some of you already know.

Thanks in advance. I know that I have come here a lot with such questions lately, but I truly have found it to be very helpful. And I will not be seeking further professional counseling for these issues. Counseling has not worked out in the past, while asking questions here and relying upon my supportive husband and MIL has helped. I will stick with what is working. So thanks again.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

I wouldn’t worry too much about what the Church of Satan says. In my opinion, and limited experience, its a shock-value religion targeted to males in their teens and early-mid 20’s who want to be different and get attention.

Asking about the theological differences between the Catholic church and the Church of Satan seems pretty futile, since the latter doesn’t have much theology.

But to answer your questions, IMO vengeance is a waste of time. It only perpetuates hurt and it keeps you entangled with destructive people longer.

I believe that kindness should be shown to everyone, until they really give you a reason to not. In which case then its time to remove yourself from the situation and possibly relationship with dignity.

I also believe in showing responsibility and loyalty to the people who matter to you, and basic respect and humanity to those that don’t. You shouldn’t let people hurt and take advantage of you, but you don’t need to put yourself above others and decide what they “deserve”.

 

[mommamaree]

I believe that kindness should be shown to everyone, until they really give you a reason to not. In which case then its time to remove yourself from the situation and possibly relationship with dignity.

I also believe in showing responsibility and loyalty to the people who matter to you, and basic respect and humanity to those that don’t. You shouldn’t let people hurt and take advantage of you, but you don’t need to put yourself above others and decide what they “deserve”.

(Edited for emphasis)
Thanks BEL, for your feedback. I know that, while you are not Catholic, you still have a strong sense of loyalty and duty with regards to relationships with people.

The first highlighted statement: I feel that your description is accurate for my situation. I did not treat the person badly, but I did decide that my emotional health was suffering and I could not handle any more and stay sane. So, I respectfully removed myself from the relationship, but have never been anything other than loving and polite (I love this person dearly, even though I do honestly feel some anger about how she has treated me all these years.).

The second highlighted statement: The emotional toll the pain of that relationship was having on me meant that I was not able to function as a mother. I was having regular anxiety attacks and feeling like I was losing my grip on reality, due to all the gas-lighting I was experiencing. I felt like, in order to preserve my relationships with my husband and children, I had to give myself that emotional distance. So, to the people who “matter to me” (even though the person I have no contact with still matters to me) the change has been a positive one.

 

[runningdude]

Refraining from contact with abusive family members is not incompatible with the Christian faith.

The ‘church of satan’ does not dictate moral or immoral behavior. Avoiding its beliefs is not a proper guide to proper Christian behavior.

 

[EasterJoy]

The Church of Satan is not literally a church founded by Satan. It is an organization founded by some guy named Anton Szandor LaVey who, like Satan, worshipped his own view of the cosmos. To be blunt, it is called the Church of Satan because Mr. LaVey flattered himself into thinking that he had founded a new religion with a wisdom worthy of an archangel. May God pardon him and all the errors that the man spread.

The real Satan is the ultimate psychic vampire, since he desires to usurp the worship that belongs to God alone. Satan isn’t responsible to the responsible; Satan is a liar and a thief. I don’t know what evidence anyone could have that Satan cares about defiling anything, wise or not. Satan doesn’t waste any kindness on anybody! Satan does whatever serves Satan’s self-worshipping ends. In this, the Church of Satan is like their namesake, for it is a religion that worships the lowest version of the self. It is founded on the belief that the best society will come when people are allowed to openly and unapologetically worship themselves. (Talk about hypocritical self-deceit!)

I want you to put yourself in the place of a so-called “psychic vampire”. How is this person going to become the best version of themselves? Which response from you gives this person the best chance to repent? Being allowed to continue offensive behavior without any natural consequences? You might come to that conclusion in some cases, but in many cases, the situation is just the opposite! We have to keep our eyes on the ball, and the goal for that “ball” is NOT that the soul finds the going pleasant, but that the soul turns to God and lives. That is true whether the soul is our own or another’s. If you stay around and allow a person to sin against you with no rebuke and no consequence, how is that person going to be moved to change? If you have become a near occasion of sin for them, not an occasion for them to grow in holiness, then denying the person access to you is the best thing you can do for their immortal soul, not to mention their chances of living in a way that might make them truly happy in this life.

Think, if you will, about the story of the Prodigal Son. What did the son’s father do, when the son strayed off to waste half of his father’s estates? The father let him go. He looked for his return, he looked to forgive and reconcile at the moment of the repentant son’s return, but he let him go.

What did the Lord say to those who were trying to spread the Gospel, but were rejected?

*As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words - go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. * Matt. 10:12-15 There is obviously a point where you have to be satisfied that your message is not going to be received.

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matt. 7:6 There is obviously no automatic merit in getting yourself torn to pieces.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.” Matt. 10:34-36 There is also no commandment that a Christian has to make her family like her.

Did the Apostles go out to convert Saul? No, having made certain Saul heard the Gospel, they left Saul to the Lord. It was the Lord who brought their former adversary to them, who made him into St. Paul.

A family member who has a habit of offensive behavior, who has resisted every attempt at correction and rebuke, will usually get to the point where the best thing to do is to take leave of them and let God handle their repentance: “*If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” *Matt. 18:15-17 By treating them as a Gentile or a tax collector, it means to treat them as a stranger, as someone who doesn’t recognize the same moral code as you do. It doesn’t mean that you are unkind or rude, but it does mean that you exclude them from the circle of those you can trust.

 

[mommamaree]

EasterJoy,
Wow. Awesome advice as always. That really helped to clear up my confusion. Thanks.

Consider question answered then!