I fell into the same conclusion as well, though I am not so sure that every Satanist came to be one by reading the Satanic Bible™. The philosophies of living for yourself and rejecting the unprovable false threats of damnation by Abrahamic religion and the ideas of subjective VS. objective morality relate very well into their lives, and mine as well. But like you, I also find no real need to even attempt to classify myself into any group of religion or philosophy except as a means to help explain my point of view. which is explained in (#5. Herd Conformity) of the Satanic Sins listed above.
Satanism has evolved well passed the ideas put forth in the Satanic Bible™, into something that doesn't even resemble a religion at all, it resembles more of a "philosophy towards life" of completely accepting the human nature in all of it's desires. And many modern self identified Satanists do not even attempt to relate to the ritual aspect of it at all. It fails as being a called a "religion" as much as (creationism is a form of science) or (Islam and Christianity are a religion of peace and tolerance)...Basically saying that attempting to describe them as such, words tend to lose all of their meaning.
I still have not gotten a straight answer out of self-identified Satanists on why even call yourself such as you do not pay homage to any form of deity. but what I have learned, it seems to have more with the ease of describing your beliefs to others by attaching some kind of title too it, and they have adopted one that everyone knows is the absolute rejection of everything having to with god, gods establishments and everything religion stands for, while also embracing free-thought and wisdom with little bit of rebelliousness.
Theistic Satanists are closer to "good old fashioned devil worship" than modern satanists. Theistic Satanists actually do believe in the concept of God and the Devil, of heaven and hell. But view Satan as a positive necessary destructive force in this world, like Yin and Yang, the way forest fires are necessary for the regrowth of new vegetation.
Lucifer is a Latin word, literally meaning "light-bearer", which in that language is used as a name for the dawn appearance of the planet Venus, heralding daylight. in the same way in modern times we refer to the Morning Star. He is used as the god of wisdom and enlightenment where his opposing counterpart Yahweh is the embodiment of ignorance and destruction.
Theistic Satanists in my opinion really are as completely full of shit as their christian counterparts, except Theistic Satanists tend to be a lot more open-minded.
But let us not forget....they are Satanists, so by definition they make all Christians very, very uncomfortable if not outright hostile. Which is why I would be very surprised if a christian posted in here desiring to learn more, if only at least it was to help them understand their enemy. but this line of reasoning, philosophy and thought is like Kryptonite to Superman. It smashes everything a Christian thinks they know about life and the human condition, and is directly opposed to everything they hold sacred in their beliefs.
So Satanist's can't be all to bad in my book. I'll still buy them a beer.
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