FAQs
By Syn Holiday

"A true Satanist can be happy with his/her current state, but never content with it."

~Syn Holiday~

Index:

• Are you an Internet coven/grotto?
• What are the required criteria for membership?
• What area are you based in?
• How rigid is the structure of your organization?
• What does the Syndicate view as the basic Satanic Principles?
• Is your organization anti-Christian?
• Does the Syndicate view Satanism as the opposite of Christianity?
• What are your views on Satanic titles?
• In the past, the Syndicate has granted such media entities as NBC and Disinformation permission to shoot footage of interviews and rituals.   Does the Syndicate aim to commercialize Satanism?
• What magical path does the Syndicate view as the proper or correct one?
• What is your agenda?
• Why use a label that alienates?
• What do the Satanic label and Satanic symbols represent?
• What is your belief concerning the afterlife?
  

Are you an Internet coven/grotto?

No, we're not.  There does not exist such a thing in the true sense.  Click here to read the Ninth Covenant's statement on this particular subject.  Rather, we're a group working within the Syndicate of the Five Points, a live coven based in Southern California. 

What are the required criteria for membership?

First of all, a potential member must reside within a geographical proximity which can allow for active participation in our local meetings, rituals, outings, and other activities.  In the future, we hope to branch out to other areas.

What area are you based in?

We're based in the South Bay area of California.  Events are generally coordinated within the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, but some events do occur outside of this.

How rigid is the structure of your Satanic organization?

Our ideals concerning a true Satanist has, at its core, one's ability to truly be individual.   Through simple common logic, this cannot occur within a cramped, rigid, dictatorship-style organization.  No one is expected to worship a cult leader.  Beyond a common basic wire-framework of Satanic principles, our members are encouraged to expand where they may in regards to lifestyles, magical paths, creative endeavors, or sources of pleasure.  We have no interest in being part of a lifeless army of faceless clones with identical characteristics.

Being individuals, all members within the Syndicate of the Five Points are on equal footing and are respected as such.  Camaraderie over hierarchy.  Additionally, any member can step up and assume the role of Coordinator simply by coming up with an idea and taking the initiative to follow through (coordinating the activity, sending announcements, making reservations, providing directions, composing rituals, or whatever else is required for the particular activity).  Of course, we do not require each member to act as a Coordinator,  but member ideas are still encouraged and welcomed on the table.

What does the Syndicate view as the basic Satanic principles?

1.   A sense of self-worship.
2.   An ability to independently think for oneself.
3.   An ability to shape one's own perspective.
4.   An ability to find pleasure in this life.
5.   An abiltiy to see things for what they really are.
6.   A recognition of the reality of magic.
7.   A respect for those who are deserving of it (a respect to those who show respect).
8.   A wolfpack sense (holding near and dear those important to oneself).
9.   A sense of social responsibility.
10.   A natural common sense.

Is your organization anti-Christian?

No, absolutely not.  We stand behind the Constitutional First Amendment right to Freedom of Religion.  Satanism is but one chosen path of many.  Although we do not follow the Christian path, we are in no way opposed to another's right to do so.

Does the Syndicate view Satanism as an opposite of Christianity?

No, we do not feel that Satanism rests on acting as the opposite of any religion.  To attempt to be the ultimate opposite of any religion is to be weakly dependent on that opposing religion.  Satanism is an independent religion which stands on its own.

What are your views on Satanic titles?

They serve no real purpose and have proven to actually be more counter-productive than anything else.  We understand there are many Satanists, especially younger less-mature ones, who feel the need for titles, either to feed their budding self-esteems or impoverished egos.  For those who fit this description, we encourage them to start a coven of their own and self-appoint themselves all the big titles they wish.   However, within the Ninth Covenant and the Syndicate of the Five Points, maturity and intelligence level is expected to be beyond dependence on meaningless crutches.

In the past, the Syndicate has granted such media entities as NBC
and Disinformation permission to shoot footage of interviews and
rituals.  Does the Syndicate aim to commercialize Satanism?

Absolutely not.

The fact is, we have yet to meet the Satanist who lives on a sole-inhabitant island, or the Satanic hermit thriving in some deep forest.  On the other hand, nearly all of the Satanists we do know live life within--and affected by--society.  Our view is that, if Satanism as we know it is bound to moving about within society, it is much more desirable for it to be judged by what it really is and not by its misconceptions.

If so many Satanists claim to be so brutally honest and speak things the way they really are, then why not walk the talk and do just that?  Speak of Satanism the way it really is and quit hiding.  We have surprisingly had some Satanists accuse us of speaking the truth, then turn around and complain about the perils of being a member of such a misconceived religion.   They will persecute the Christian or the Wiccan for not knowing what Satanism is really about, but at the same time turn on organizations such as us for speaking.  If this is not hypocrisy, then explain what is?

Then there are those Satanists who worship bands/artists that actually do outright commercialize Satanism and feed the misconceptions.  That's all fine--we have no opinion on what others entertain in--but we do hope they recognize this fact before accusing us of attempting to commercialize Satanism..

Our aim is not to convert others, nor to gain mass acceptance of Satanism.  True Satanists will always be an elite few, a select bunch who are not taught Satanism but simply are.  This is merely the nature of the human population and this realistically will never likely change.  The majority of the population will always need religions based on strict moralisms, anthropomorphic deities, sheep mentality, fear, and promised afterlife enticements.  Even many Satanic organizations display such needs, as evidenced by groups that breed conformity within their ranks yet speak of their individualism, or groups that despise the strict, complex, and lengthy Christian set of morals, yet replace it with a strict, complex, and vast Satanic one.

Satanism will never be the religion of choice.  This is the reason those with delusions of grandeur of turning the future world into a Satanic one are about as ludicrous as the Christians who believe in an international Satanic conspiracy.

What magical path does the Syndicate view as the proper or correct one?

Magic that works--simple as that.

The only magic worth anything is the magic that proves to be effective to the individual working the magic, regardless of what path the ritual originated from.   The only important factor is that the force of your desire is put into an effective working form.

A ritual might not always have the purpose of directing external events.   Sometimes, a ritual will be performed as a dedication, or a proclamation, or even just for the exhilaration and self-empowerment that group rituals provide.  As long as it fulfills the purpose, then it is relevant magic.

Anyone who passes themself off as an authority on magic and professes there to be a sole "proper" or "correct" magical path can immediately be ruled a quack.  The only authority on the magic personally effective to you is yourself. 

We encourage our members to experiment with whatever magical paths they are drawn to, regardless of originating paradigm.  As a group, we can benefit from experimenting as well since the magical possibilities within our group rituals become even more diverse with each new member who brings a new perspective or idea.

What is your agenda?

There is quite a list of specific items on our agenda, but generally they can be summarized as follows:

• Pursuit of magic, and striving always to become better magicians.   We aim to benefit from effective magic and encourage experimentation.  Only through experimentation, trial-and-error, adjustments to approach, fine-tuning of perspective, strengthening of the Will, and exercises in vivid visualization, are effective magicians made.
• Through whatever form we deem effective, push for mass awareness of what modern Satanism is really about.  As mentioned before, we're not pushing for converts, nor even acceptance, but simply for awareness so as Satanism to be judged on its real worth (as opposed to its misconceptions).  This leads to the greater likelihood that Satanic individuals themselves will be judged on realistic grounds.  We have no interest nor dependence on being martyrs.
• Exchange of information among our members.  The nature of our organizational structure gives much room for a vast array of knowledge and ideas, and this can be used to the organization's benefit.  Syndicate members, although all Satanists, are not all cloned and like-minded.
• Build lasting bonds of friendship.  Most Satanists, although individual, still enjoy being the social creatures they are.  Of course we have no opinions against solitary Satanists, but obviously the solitary would have no reason in reading this.
• Enjoy ourselves.  As humans, we naturally enjoy indulging in earthly pleasures, but as Satanists we do so responsibly.  Aside from providing excellent settings for building bonds within the group, it's simply fun.  And of course, a good sense of humor is highly revered.

Why use a label that alienates?

This was probably the most common question that I experienced working the Syndicate booth at the Panpipes Pagan Day Fest.  The most significant reasons are as follows:

• The label acts as a filter.  It serves to filter out those who are afraid of labels, or those who are afraid to look behind the curtain for what really lies behind the symbols.  Satanists naturally have an open-minded curiosity and posses the intelligence to be unaffected by labels and their misconceptions.
• We realize that if we were to switch to a more "safe" or "tame" label, the floodgates would open for those who would only step in when the waters are "safe".  These are not the individuals we want to attract.  In doing so, Satanism would likely end up another trendy passive New Age path, or a casual book on the metaphysical shelf.
• Satanism is not a religion that focuses on increasing its member base.  The Syndicate does, however, seek to attract those who already posses Satanic qualities.  Since we're not out to convert, we have no concern for the propaganda quality (or the lack thereof) of the label we choose.
• Very few labels provoke as much reaction and as much thought as "Satan".   It is, no doubt, quite a vibrant, energy-charged word.  It is seldom seen as a neutral or blasé term, so it  is a fitting term for a religion such as this.  Satanism is not a passive religion.  Rather, it is a religion based on the individual assuming the role of the god/goddess and taking responsibility for the change in his/her own life.
• The original meanings (pre-Bible) of "Satan" are accurate descriptions of what we feel Satanism is about.  In Latin, its origination was "Bearer of Light", or "Bringer of Light".  In Hebrew, "Adversary" or "Opponent to the Status Quo" which can be interpreted as "Opponent to the Herd".  Individualism and creativity can only come about through possesing these characteristics.
• Although Satanists recognize no divine importance in the Christian Bible, it is interesting to note that Jesus referred to Satan as the "Prince of the World," and St. Paul referred to him as "God of This World."  As self-worshippers in this world, these are fitting descriptions.
• The label is fun, and the symbols and imageries are prideful and bold--befitting of a religion such as this.

What do the Satanic label and Satanic symbols represent?

Generally, they are external symbols used to represent our own inner selves.  In essence, when the Satanic names and symbols are hailed during rituals, the congregants in actuality are hailing their own inner natures.  This, of course, is contrary to the misconception that all Satanists worship some sort of external anthropomorphic deity.  The Syndicate of the Five Points obviously does not.

Some Satanists do believe in the existence of an external dark force which permeates the universe, but this is far from the Devil character described in the Christian Bible and isn't viewed as a force to be worshipped.  It is simply a belief or perception among some Satanists.

What is your belief on the afterlife?

The secrets of the afterlife are flat-out a mystery.  No living person knows for a fact what is to happen.  All theories or beliefs regarding the afterlife are exactly that--theories and beliefs, unproven ideas.  They're merely preferences.  Since every belief is about as factworthy as the next, and no one (except the dead) knows for sure which one is the correct one, we place minimal focus on this matter.  What is relevant is the here-and-now, and that is what we feel is the most relevant issue.

We therefore prefer not to dictate to our members a particular belief concerning the afterlife.  Every member's belief regarding this is a personal one.