Why do people think Satanists are evil?

Dude, the white is white and the black is black, there's no gray between them...so, the light is the light and the darkness the darkness...and they will not be the same never.

So, if you like to be into de darkness thinking that's good ...probably you're so confuse about what you really want to..

I'm not talking about a kind a holy war or something like that, as a budist guy you have to understand those differences. This is not about a good people about it's simply about the evil and their beliefs...

;)

Satan is the symbol of evil (some say an actual evil being). Going simply by the name, most people think the Satanists worship Satan. If they worship evil, doesn't that mean they are evil?

OTOH, I just went out and read the official website. Much of what I read seems harmless or good manners (don't enter someone else's home without permission, etc.). My main objections to the beliefs come from the belief that humans are only animals. This denies our basic reality -- our soul -- and leads to behavior that may or may not be helpful to spiritual growth. If you believe, as I do, that in this life we should acquire virtues and grow spiritually, then this is evil in that it leads people to a lifestyle that will leave them handicapped in the next world.

Imagine that you are a bird in a cage. You have a choice - you can spend your life fighting over birdseed on the bottom of the cage or you can practice flying so that your wings will be strong. When you are released from the cage, your strong wings will carry you higher and farther than those of your overweight, unexercised friends. Now imagine that those wings are the spiritual qualities you develop in this world. You will enjoy the next world to the extent you have developed those virtues. Anything -- Satanism, selfishness, materialism -- that focuses on the fight over birdseed and neglects the need to develop spiritual qualities -- is evil, in that it makes us less than we can be.

Well, most people have no clue about what the Church of Satan (LaVey's group) is about, so they only rely on the silly christian concept of these people worshipping their christian 'devil'. Which they really don't. They're more about fulfilling personal desires through will power, knowledge, and various magickal practices.

These are the only actual Satanists that go by that name. Is there another subset of folks who were christian and now worship the christian 'devil' and perform horrible sacrifices and what not like in the movies? Is there some sort of darker esoteric form of evil worship inside christianity or any of the other major religions? Perhaps. But they certainly aren't going to be open about it if they are causing harm to others.

So, why do they think they're evil? Because modern Satanists chose to use a name most unknowing folks believe is wholly related to evil. Though, they often forget that Satan was supposed to be their God's favorite and that their God would've created him and therefore created evil. But they miss out on that concept of balance and only think in black and white.

because if they truely follow the teachings...they hold hate higher than anything else in their lives...which most people find to be 'evil'. Also satanists do make living sacrafices...which most major religions no longer accept. Don't get me wrong...I'm open minded an in no way judge anyone. I think the main thing is so many people think what they see on tv is reality, which of course we know for many things is not true!! Also, there have been many people who have committed nasty things (serial murders as an example) and blamed it on being a satanist.

Because they do not understand them. Also, Satanism preeches some things that a lot of people consider evil, particularly 'an eye for an eye' rather than forgiveness. I do not believe Satanists are evil, and I know rather a lot about them (I study all religious paths), although I do not agree with many of the things they stand for.

This is in large part due to the prominence of Judeo-Christian values which say that Satan is the supreme evil in the universe, therefore worshipping him is, shall we say, undesirable at best. As I am a Christian myself, I think Satanists are very misguided to say the least.

Because the Bible tells us so! The Devil (Satan) is against all that Christ stands for, and thus is evil.

' The great dragon was hurdled down- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurdled to earth, and all of his angles with him.' Revelations 12:9

The idea of Satan is one filled with evil. How? Satan= Temptation, sin, etc. Satan was the one who tempted Eve and began sin and evil in this world as we know it. Satanists are against the basic morals that Christians and people of other religions with similar morals believe.

Satanists are good people and live by more morals then all other religions like loving life, kids, animals and the law!

Satanist don't actually worship Satan.Why does it have Satan in the word?I don't know.Satanism is the celebration of self.They don't actually worship satan,they just satisfy all of their urges that the bible speaks against.There can be nice people who satisfy their urges by having pre-marital sex,drinking,smoking, having homosexual encounters etc.Doesn't really mean that they kill people,although some might.

Because in Judeo-Christian societies, Satan is the advisary of our souls, wanting us to fail so he can take us from Gods grace and punish us eternaly. Therefore, anyone who is viewed as being in league with him is also viewed as the advisary of man. However in the Old Testiment, The Devil is seen more as the angel of death, where as the great dragon is seen as the tourmentor and punisher. But we live in a New Testiment society where the two of them have become one.