From: Jon.Ericson@jpl.nasa.gov 
  
 "Arthur L. Rubin"  writes: 
  
 > Jon Ericson wrote: 
 >> 
 >> maxine in ri  writes: 
 >> 
 >> > Robert McClenon wrote: 
 >> >> 
 >> >> As a Catholic Christian, I am not sure that the concept of Satanism 
 >> >> is evil, because I am not sure what Satanism is, or what it has to 
 >> >> do with any particular Christian (or Muslim) concept of Satan. 
 >> 
 >> > Considering that it was a creation of Christianity, perhaps you 
 >> > should look into what your scriptures have to say on the topic. 
 >> 
 >> Satan first appeared in either Job or Genesis, depending on how you 
 >> date the Old Testament. 
 > 
 > The reference to the snake as Satan is not a Jewish construct. 
  
 Well, Paul *was* Jewish. :-)  Also, I seem to recall reference to the 
 idea being found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Granted, modern Jews don't 
 tend interpret Genesis 3 that way. 
  
 > The leaves Job, where "Satan" may not be a proper name, but a 
 > description (the adversary). 
  
 In any case, Christianity didn't invent the concept of an adversary of 
 God. 
  
 > This discussion would probably not be relavent in the 
 > proposed group, marginally so in a Jewish group, and 
 > probably in some Christian group.  Just in the interest 
 > of correctess.... 
  
 What would a Satanism group discuss if Satan was off-topic?  Or am I 
 misunderstanding something? 
  
 > (And I don't think I'll vote against this one, even though 
 > an unmoderated religious group almost certainly cannot 
 > succeed. 
  
 I guess it depends on what the group considers success. 
  
 Jon 
  
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  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)