The first, and as I have come to expect, the most usual misinterpretation of what Satanism is, is that it is some kind of devil worship, or sacrificial cult.

Only a  brief acquantance with the Satanic Bible or some genuine Satanic philosophy removes this thin fable, but I believe that there is another one laying underneath- that Satanism is grounds for being an asshole.

This is not necessarily the case.

Some of the principle rules of Satanism (the Nine Satanic Statements) involve pursuing vengeance and respecting only those who you feel deserve it, but this doesn’t mean that one should stop being a nice guy.  At least, I hope it doesn’t.  I tend to be very giving, I will go out of my way to avoid a conflict, I will keep silent when I would rather call someone out or criticize.  This may have served me well in the past, better to avoid a potentially explosive argument, right?  But often one’s integrity and principles are sacrificed in the process, and I think Satanists recognizes this.  If we abstain from these sorts of social faux pas, then we aren’t standing up for ourselves.  Thus follows hypocrisy, thus the lesser ideas seem victorious.  Thus defeat.

However, those who do deserve your respect should garner it.  Good works are still rewarded, effort should see its just reward- so Satanism doesn’t give you license to be a dick, but it does ask something of us, or at least it does to me.  It asks me to reflect on how I behave around other people, it wonders if I am being authentic.

I can see now this devil, sizing me up, red eyes trailing over me from head to toe and asking, “Who’s interests do you serve?  ‘Cause they ought to be your own.”

I don’t know if I can stop being a nice guy, but this month I must look at how I meter out my respect.  I should weight it against each person’s worth, and ask whether it is in my best interests to treat this person as I would like to be treated.

Being a Satanist does not require you to be rude.  It requires you to respect yourself.