St. Paul.

Satanism is based on St. Paul.

The idea that the body is the enemy of the spirit derives from the writings of St. Paul.

"for if you live according tot the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live."  Romans 8:13 (NRSV) 

"Who will rescue me from this body of death?"  Roman 7:24 (NRSV)

"For the wages of sin is death."  Roman 6:23 (NRSV)

"the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil."  Hebrews 2:14 (NRSV)

So (they reason) sex is in the death and the power of the devil.

So, if you want to have sex, you have to turn to the devil.

This is the basis of their reasoning.

But St. Paul's theology is based on ancient Asceticism.

It does not derive from Jesus' teachings at all.

Asceticism - the Mortification of the Body - the idea that to be spiritual you must kill the body is not Christian at all.   

Jesus never taught Asceticism.

Jesus teaching is the Way of Love.

And love is closer to the body than the mind or the spirit.

So. if we abandon the idea that the body is the enemy of the Spirit, and teach harmony of body, mind, and spirit, then the edifice of Satanism will collapse like a house of cards.

And we will be free!

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.] 

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