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Santeria, Wicca, and Satanism are often considered to have the same beliefs by people that don’t understand the major differences between the three. In her book _Devil Bones_, Kathy Reichs uses her main character, forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, to teach the reader about these religions and their differences. In the book a Santeria altar is found in an old basement. On the altar are a human skull and other bones. Later, a young boy is found decapitated with satanic symbols carved into his body by a river. Both are assumed to be murder, and seem to be connected. The main suspect is a man who attends a Wiccan camp that is not far from where the young boy was found. The police later discover that the man isn't the killer; his religion not being anything like that of Satanism. Sadly, it was too late; a man had already taken justice into his own hands and murdered the Wiccan man. If the public had been more educated on the differences of these religions an innocent man may not have died. At the end of the book the public generally doesn't understand the differences between these religions. Some, however, understand that there are differences and just because some things may seem alike, that doesn't mean that they are.
THE GOD AND GODDESS: Generally, Wiccans believe in two deities, a God and a Goddess. The God and Goddess are often thought of as opposites that balance each other, similar to yin and yang in Taoism. The God is often depicted with horns and is associated with nature, wilderness, sexuality, hunting, and the life cycle and is symbolized by the sun. He has been given multiple names such as: Cernunnos, Pan, Atho, and Karnayna. The Goddess is often considered a Triple Goddess, meaning she is a triadic deity, consisting of a Maiden Godess, a Mother Goddess, and a Crone Goddess. Each associated with different things such as: virginity, fertility and wisdom, respectively. She is often symbolized by the Earth and the moon, and is sometimes called Diana, after the Roman Goddess. HOLIDAYS: Samhain - October 31. - Origin: Celtic Paganism - Associated with death and ancestors. Yuletide - December 21 or 22 - Origin: Germanic Paganism - Associated with the winter solstice and rebirth of the sun. Ostara - March 21 or 22 - Origin: Germanic Paganism - Associated with the spring equinox Litha - June 21 or 22 - Origin: unknown, possibly Neolithic - Associated with the summer solstice Mabon - September 21 or 22 - Origin: Unknown - Associated with the autumn equinox and the harvest of fruit. OTHER: Most Wiccans believe that hurting others is wrong, and do not sacrifice as some people believe. Most Wiccans do believe in magic as 'the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will,' as stated by Aleister Crowley. Some symbols used by Wiccans are: the pentagram, representing the five elements (earth, air, water, fire, and spirit), the triqueta and the triple moon symbol of the Triple Goddess
The God and Goddess
Santeria is a religion that was used by slaves brought to the Carribean for sugar plantations to conceal the fact that they were practicing their own religion. It is a combination of Yoruba, Roman Catholic, and Native American traditions. Santeria does practice animal sacrifice. The main gods in Santeria are: Eleggua, Oggn, Oshn, Chang, Oya, Obatal, Yemaya, and Orula; relating to New World Traditions, politics and war, love and diplomacy, thunder and lightning, the Niger river, handicapped, the ocean and motherhood, and purity and cures, respectively. By using depictions of Catholic saints, the religion was able to be hidden.
Satanism is the worship of Satan as a deity. The Church of Satan was founded in 1966 by Anton LaVey. The most common symbol of Satanism is the inverted pentagram. Satanists of the church of Satan believe in 9 sins: Stupidity, Pretentiousness, Solipsism, Self-deceit, Herd Conformity, Lack of Perspective, Forgetfulness of Past Orthodoxies, Counterproductive Pride, and Lack of Aesthetics And 11 rules of Earth Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them. When in another's lair, show them respect or else do not go there. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat them cruelly and without mercy. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and they cry out to be relieved. Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself. Do not harm little children. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask them to stop. If they don’t stop, destroy them.
Yemaya
Eshu yourself
Anton Lavey, founder of the Church of Satan
