Opinions on the purpose of Black Mass

[Accipeveldare]

I have never personally participated in a black mass before but from what I've been told it's sort of like an inverted Catholic mass intended to mock them. I could be mistaken however. I work with many deities considered to be Satanic so I was wondering if participating in such a thing actually has any spiritual intent or it's just plain mockery.

 

[Gregorius]

From what I have heard(noob so take with a grain of salt) it seems like the edgy substance less satanic stuff

 

[Xenophon]

I have heard the Black Mass defended as a way of purging oneself of lingering loyalties to one's former faith. Even if one was not raised religious, the reasoning runs, deep habits of thinking, feeling, reacting are all conditioned by the 15-20 centuries hold the church had on the West. The Black Mass is a way to explicitly start rooting these out.

Maybe.

It strikes me that a strong need to show defiance indicates one is still very much in thrall to the old system. Regularly repudiating that system can simply become a way of continuing its worst habits and features. If one really needs to disconvert (sic?), he can go steal penny candy, take the Lord's name in vain, and covet his neighbor's wife. Or he can GTFU and get on with practicing his works of magick.

 

[Aeternus]

I have never personally participated in a black mass before but from what I've been told it's sort of like an inverted Catholic mass intended to mock them. I could be mistaken however. I work with many deities considered to be Satanic so I was wondering if participating in such a thing actually has any spiritual intent or it's just plain mockery.

To me the Black Mass is certainly just a mockery and a feeling of muh rebellion in the case of the Church of Satan.

The Church of Satan is atheistic Satanism, so how can they be practicing magic when they are atheist? That is the first question that I would put and I would consider thinking twice before engaging within them.

When we talk about those Black Mass ceremonies, it is usually some dark fantasy stuff, powerful to those who believe in it, and very weak to little effect to those who mostly don't give an F when it comes to it.

There are several people who are "miscasts" when it comes to being Christian or Catholic and they never participated in any black mass.

 

[Xenophon]

To me the Black Mass is certainly just a mockery and a feeling of muh rebellion in the case of the Church of Satan.

The Church of Satan is atheistic Satanism, so how can they be practicing magic when they are atheist? That is the first question that I would put and I would consider thinking twice before engaging within them.

When we talk about those Black Mass ceremonies, it is usually some dark fantasy stuff, powerful to those who believe in it, and very weak to little effect to those who mostly don't give an F when it comes to it.

There are several people who are "miscasts" when it comes to being Christian or Catholic and they never participated in any black mass.

Of course, there are "theistic Satanists" out there who practice the Black Mass. For some it's what I consider an unhealthy addiction. By rejecting something too vociferously, one becomes tied to it. So with some Satanists and the Roman Catholic Mass. For others, the Black Mass is but a way station. One does it to prove to himself he's no longer bound by the creed he rejects. Then, once he's sure on that score, he moves on. You've doubtless heard how feudal Japan required the few foreigners allowed to enter the country to first "tread the cross"---stomp on a crucifix. The Black Mass is akin to that. One steps on the crucifix and, hey, welcome to Osaka. One does not linger at the border stomping the wood into toothpicks 'n slivers. Or so the latter reasoning runs. Myself, I've never attended a Black Mass and feel no need.