Restriction on Occult and Satanic Books

[LV426]

Parents want district to remove ‘satanic’ books
01/31/2004


WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, (AP) -- School district officials being asked to restrict access to "satanic’’ material in libraries say they’re taking parental concerns seriously but haven’t agreed to pull the books.

A group called National Concerned Citizens for Youth is campaigning in Gloucester County’s Washington Township for restricted access, citing two books in particular, "The Devil’s Storybook’’ and "The Devil: Great Mysteries, Opposing Viewpoints.’’

While the group concedes those books may have some educational value, its members say they don’t want elementary and middle-schoolers having access to them.

"I don’t think Thomas Jefferson intended for the First Amendment to be used for this stuff,’’ Tahir Mella told the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill for Friday’s editions.

Washington Township School Superintendent Tom Fleming said the district had received no previous complaints about the books, but the school board is now reviewing their content.

Mella maintains that the books sparked his 14-year-old stepson’s interest in Satanism and led him down a dark path that included self-mutilation. The teenager now attends church weekly, Mella said.

While the two books once checked out by his stepson might be appropriate for older high school students, Mella said, younger adolescents "don’t need to know about this stuff any more than they need to know how to make a homemade bomb.’’

Others disagree. Schools should be able to expose students to different ideas, said Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

"Assuming the books were appropriately chosen by library professionals, then one individual or group should not have a right to veto the books for everybody just because they don’t want their child exposed to them,’’ she told the newspaper.

Thomas Schouweiler, whose book, "The Devil: Great Mysteries, Opposing Viewpoints,’’ was published in 1992 as part of an educational series, said the book discusses the history of Satanism.

"It’s certainly not advocating Satanism and it’s not even very titillating,’’ Schouweiler said.

But the Mellas and the parents’ group, which includes about 20 other parents, plan to take their campaign next to chain bookstores, which they say should treat occult books the same as pornography.

As an experiment, Wanda Mella recently sent her 11-year-old daughter into some area bookstores to buy a copy of the "Satanic Bible’’ by Anton LaVey. Although the girl didn’t buy the book, her mother said the clerks gladly helped her find it.

"I’m not trying to be a fanatic about the wrongdoings of the devil, but what we’re talking about is obscene,’’ she said.

[Wraywolf]

Soon they'll be banning Islamic and Hindu books too.

All "Protect the children!" parental groups should have run off a cliff by now, like lemmings.

[kat]

Well, I'm not surprised, but I can't say that I really care about it either. It wasn't wrong for those shopowners to gladly help the kid in finding the "Satanic Bible", but I can see where the mother wouldn't like it.

This is all going to come down to a matter of opinion.

By the way, Wray, the first few lines specifically says that they haven't pulled the books off the shelves.

[Hellcat]

.

This is all going to come down to a matter of opinion.

.


yeah, and a potential for subtle brainwashing if the God Gang get their way :D

[punisher]

As an intelligent christian, I always find this topic interesting. Most old texts on Satan are from catholic priests. What happened to the "known thine enemy" idea? If you don't hink your religion can hold up to scrutiny and comparison, it's not a very good religion in my view. I think LeVay's book should be widely available. I personally think he is an utter moron, but I will be the first one standing up for his right to say what he wants, within the confines of the law. I've also seen people get in trouble for "pagan" books. Many Bible thumpers spend far too much time burning books that they should be reading. Many lump wiccans, Satanists, devil-worshippers, Settees, and other religions different from the norm into one pile. I've read the Satanic Bibles, the Necronomicons, the Book of Enoch, The Keys of King Solomon, The Malleus Malefarcum(sp), The Book of the Dead, and numerous other occult texts. I've never killed myself, harmed others, participated in black masses, sacrificed babies, etc. I think we should protect our children by teaching them to think for themselves so when they go out into the world they don't have to depend on others to protect them.

[GoldShadowHunt]

Two things:
1. Parenting: IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR KID READING IT, DON'T LET THEM READ IT! It's called being a parent, knowing what your children are doing, and being involved. (I, personally, am rather liberal, and if my kid wants to read the satanic bible, fine. "Just don't break laws or harm others, okay Johnny?")
2. Ignorance: The only thing that pulling books from shelves leads to is a lack of knowledge. It leads to ignorance and closemindedness. Besides, wasn't it Hitler who held mass burnings of books?

Keep an eye on your kids and mind your own damn business. Enough said.

[kaycee]

I think all books are educational in ways. As a parent, I wouldn't want my child reading these sort of books, but once they matured, I think it'd be ok. As long as they read them for entertainment or just out of curiousity. So, I have to agree with not giving access to elementary and middle school kids. An immature age might cause problems reading such books.

[Frostbeard]

I think LeVay's book should be widely available. I personally think he is an utter moron, but I will be the first one standing up for his right to say what he wants, within the confines of the law.

That won't be necessary - he has been dead for a couple of years now. ;)

I think we should protect our children by teaching them to think for themselves so when they go out into the world they don't have to depend on others to protect them.

That's what we SHOULD do, yes. The likelihood of that happening any time soon is slim to none, however. Why? Because it would take actual effort and responsibility, and maybe even some PARENTING, on the part of the parents. We're a lazy, lazy society.

[ArcaneWolf]

An immature mind too. I can't say how many young adults (ie over 18) I've met who're way too immature for their own good.

Strongly agree with that! some kids are more mature then some adults.

"But the Mellas and the parents’ group, which includes about 20 other parents, plan to take their campaign next to chain bookstores, which they say should treat occult books the same as pornography. "

That really pisses me off, so that the christian fanatics are trying to make you have to be 18 to look at the occult. Thats crud! Censorship is oppresion! no differnet then the Soviet Communists or Nazis. I greatly oppose anyone who wishes to censor art, books or music! If they try to really get the ball rolling in their favor, they'll see me in the streets ready to fight them off.

[Ves]

But the Mellas and the parents’ group, which includes about 20 other parents, plan to take their campaign next to chain bookstores, which they say should treat occult books the same as pornography.

Fair enough *Goes and gets a copy of the Bible and puts it on the top shelf next to "Oo How Did That Carrot Get There?" by Veronica Rampage*

[Hellcat]

Nobody knows a child like the child's parents. I think it is up to the parent to decide whether or not their child is mature enough to read such material, but I think someone has already said that.

[GoldShadowHunt]

If they try to really get the ball rolling in their favor, they'll see me in the streets ready to fight them off.

Count me in!!! :buttrock:

[lycanthrope012_8_03]

Count me in!!! :buttrock:
Me as well

[J.L.R.]

As an intelligent christian, I always find this topic interesting. Most old texts on Satan are from catholic priests. What happened to the "known thine enemy" idea? If you don't hink your religion can hold up to scrutiny and comparison, it's not a very good religion in my view. I think LeVay's book should be widely available. I personally think he is an utter moron, but I will be the first one standing up for his right to say what he wants, within the confines of the law. I've also seen people get in trouble for "pagan" books. Many Bible thumpers spend far too much time burning books that they should be reading. Many lump wiccans, Satanists, devil-worshippers, Settees, and other religions different from the norm into one pile. I've read the Satanic Bibles, the Necronomicons, the Book of Enoch, The Keys of King Solomon, The Malleus Malefarcum(sp), The Book of the Dead, and numerous other occult texts. I've never killed myself, harmed others, participated in black masses, sacrificed babies, etc. I think we should protect our children by teaching them to think for themselves so when they go out into the world they don't have to depend on others to protect them.

I agree as well. It is a great misfortune to get rid of other educational materials, even if the subject matter is deemed questionable. It isn't like you read these books, and subliminal lines program you to sacrifice your cat to Madam Bianca of the 12th Century who was flipped off by Morgra the God of Cheese, during the revelution of Tar Tar...

These books aren't turning our kids into Satanic Zombies, we have Rap to thank for that... :D

I saw a special on J.K. Rowlings, and at one time in the interview she broke down and cried, because some Pentecostal group of ninees, burned her books, to demonstrate on their sales! Stupid people, totally over look the good story, because somebody somewhere said they were bad. Oh well...

I've seen the results of children raised by parents who overly controlled and protected their kids, and it isn't a pretty sight. In fact the specific person I am thinking of, ran away from home when he was 16. It has been a sad story ever since.

I work with the youth in my Church, and we teach our children to use thier heads. There are things to avoid, but then again, any parent would tell their kids not to use drugs, watch who they are friends with, and so on. Those are good guide lines for every child out there, but there comes a line, when personal reference or conviction comes into play. I have a girl in my group that thought it was evil to listen to Country Music, while in all honestly that horrid music is of the devil (METAL TO THE MAX BABY! --JUNO REACTOR!) and she went on to say that you should only listen to Christian Music. I explained to her that that is her own personal conviction. It is fine for her, but that doesn't mean it is wrong for some por country sap, who needs music therapy...er never mind. Country's cool, but only for short periods of time, when I want to punish myself...
Some Christians though, don't seperate what the Bible says, from what THEY say, and thus, they end up putting their words into God's mouth...

[Thought]

I think one of the biggest problem with schools is the lack of classes on comparitive religion. It is still the strongest motivating force in the world, and yet most people don't know anything about any religion unless they grew up with it. Most of the posters here fall outside the norm in that they have researched and learned at least a little about a number off different religions, and are able to state informed opinions based on that. But most people know nothing about religions other than their own.

Those books should not only be available to youths, there should be classes that discuss their content, as well as those relating to other religions.

[Darth Cluich]

But most people know nothing about religions other than their own.

Most people don't even know their own religions well enough to discuss them intelligently. Many Catholics, for instance, seem to be content not reading the Bible and just taking the snippets they get at Sunday Mass. "Uh...the Bible? Never read it, but I hear it got great reviews."

[Lucius]

As an intelligent christian, I always find this topic interesting. Most old texts on Satan are from catholic priests. What happened to the "known thine enemy" idea? If you don't hink your religion can hold up to scrutiny and comparison, it's not a very good religion in my view. I think LeVay's book should be widely available. I personally think he is an utter moron, but I will be the first one standing up for his right to say what he wants, within the confines of the law. I've also seen people get in trouble for "pagan" books. Many Bible thumpers spend far too much time burning books that they should be reading. Many lump wiccans, Satanists, devil-worshippers, Settees, and other religions different from the norm into one pile. I've read the Satanic Bibles, the Necronomicons, the Book of Enoch, The Keys of King Solomon, The Malleus Malefarcum(sp), The Book of the Dead, and numerous other occult texts. I've never killed myself, harmed others, participated in black masses, sacrificed babies, etc. I think we should protect our children by teaching them to think for themselves so when they go out into the world they don't have to depend on others to protect them.


As an intelligent christian,
-----------------------------
When juxtaposed, these two words cancel each other out.But, I get the joke, very amusing.
-----------------------------
I think LeVay's book should be widely available. I personally think he is an utter moron,
-----------------------------
You wouldn't be the first to 'charge' Anton Szandor LaVey(note the correct spelling of the man's last name-might help your case)
with something as vacuous as being a moron;however, it does show that either a: you haven't read the Satanic Bible as you claim to have already done.(sidenote-'Satanic Bibles'--I hadn't realized there were more than one, LaVey's)
or b: having read it, you understood zilch about the philosophy much less the man himself. I'm not a member of any organization officially affiliated with Satanism, but I do identify as one. I also happen to enjoy the Werewolf aesthetic,explaining my presence here. If you aren't already offended past the point of reason, I would suggest reading an essay by Anton LaVey entitled "How to Become a Werewolf". You can find it in the book,"The Devil's Notebook" written by said individual. This is about as giving as I usually get, so please accept it with a modicum of grace and reserve.


One's ability to entertain thought does not mean they are Thinking.