The Church of Rational Satanism helped me build a solid foundation for which I can create a better self to aid me on my path. I know that the development of my critical thinking now helps me adapt to the ever changing environment that we live in without having to renege on my core values.
Sean Twomey
I suffer from Dissociative amnesia due to being sexually abused as a child; involved with this condition are disruptions or breakdowns of memory, consciousness, awareness, identity, and/or perception.
I have been a Satanist for some time and followed Lavey’s philosophies, but felt I needed something with a modern philosophical ideology as Lavey’s writings at the time were created when Satanism was young and targeted towards a different generation.
Whilst looking for a satanic organization that was offering a modern philosophical system I came across The Church of Rational Satanism.
I discovered that CORS Philosophy was looking at everything rationally and logically, this was exactly what I had been searching for.
I began the Philosophers program which has helped me along my path of recovery from my childhood experiences.
The program has made me look at my behavioural patterns and to come to understand my feelings and thoughts, I have also learnt how to use these feelings and behavioural patterns in a more proactive way.
The Church of Rational Satanism teaches in its accreditation program philosophies such as a system called 90%-10% thinking, this has made so much sense to me as I do feel I use a percentage of my mind to rationalize and the other part for my thoughts of fantasy or psychodrama to be placed within the 10% of my mind.
I am still working on the accreditation program and hope one day to become an area rep for the organization.
Cal MacIntyre
I have been a Satanist and occultist for over 25 years and I am always yearning to learn more about Satanism and myself. I joined CoRS a short time ago via a friend who thought it would be suited to my ever changing and evolving self. He was right, I love the adaptability of the systems I also love to question myself on pretty much everything that I do and the CoRS core systems enables me to do this freely. We are all different and CoRS lets this still be a thing, It has modern and refreshing concepts and is steps ahead of most other Satanic groups out there.
Stuart Morris
Life has many twists and turns, I know mine has. And that's good; these seemingly random events that bring change and challenge us. Adaptation is why the human race, for all its flaws, became the dominant species. I was introduced to CoRS by a long standing member and it was a breath of fresh air, like minded individuals with little to prove and everything to offer. Lee had a well-developed system I could relate to with 90%10% thinking and we got along well I think, still do considering we're a pair of cunts ;) It was the first genuinely original Satanic concept I'd seen. Later came the idea that the things we all talked about, the systems that were being developed, were coalescing into something bigger than 90/10 it was adaptable and future proof, it was a truly individual thing. Things happen quickly at CoRS, ideas take shape get shared and thrashed out, made solid. Often they're a recognition of what we already do or think, sometimes it's an epiphany that needs utilising in addition to already adopted systems like the inspired S-Theory concept. The Philosopher Accreditation program is a fantastic example of how learning, adapting and integrating the CoRS philosophy into everyday life can give instant results. For me it's a kinda Family, something I've grown loyal to and people I'm very fond of.
John Wait
What experience have I had since becoming a Rational Satanist.
My background was Catholic which gave me a guilt complex is everything was a sin and punishment was hell and damnation. But God was good that's why my sister died as a baby and why I was born with a hole in my heart it was God's will,so I accepted my lot and got on with life. My wife committed suicide which was a terrible sin, was it bollocks she had manic depression a medical condition. I became wheelchair bound due to a disease of the nervous system and act of God or just tough luck.
Life is not about gods or entities invented by man it's about going forward with a positive mental attitude. I had a friend who was a Baptist minister, he visited me and noticed a buddha statute that a friend of mine from Singapore sent me, get rid of that he said to God that image is dog dirt an insult and evil, my reply was simply if it bothers you that much you know where the door is, I never saw him again.
Then about 6 or 7 year's ago I was searching the Internet and saw a Web page about Rational Satanism it introduced me to a young man from Wolverhampton called Lee Banks and his book Rational Satanism I read it in one go then again and again something clicked, this was the answer be positive, say what you think, beware of people who use you then make you feel guilty for saying no. Brilliant stuff, although I'm in a wheelchair I'm not a pushover (no pun intended). The changes in my outlook have been outstanding, I no longer pity or put myself down, my confidence has always been high but I'm more mentally alert, I would recommend anyone to look at Rational Satanism it's not about sacrificing goats or sex orgys, it is the opposite, being honest well behaved, having respect for those that deserve it and most of all looking in the mirror and hailing thyself.
Colin Mitchell
“I was raised Christian but always felt off and that it wasn't for me and that I didn't belong. I was always into different things that my parents aka my mom didn't approve of because according to her it was demonic. Which I knew was nothing but nonsense. Eventually I broke away from religion because it did nothing but worsen my depression, I felt that all it did was spread hate instead of loving others and acceptance, which I did. My Christian friend would do nothing but rant about her hatred of gays, in the meantime I was bisexual and never came out to close friends until today. This was ages ago, and that feeling made me feel even more sad and angry towards myself, it made me feel like there wasn't a God and eventually I stumbled upon a YouTube channel called cult of dusty. My journey began there, the beginning to think for myself. I was never allowed to share my ideas with my mom because she would scream “read the bible,” so I just kept it to myself, the one person who I do talk about my success and journey to this day is my close friend, she is a Buddhist and we share many of the same thoughts on life. She has been a major support in this for me as well as my boyfriend. Fast forward to this year my boyfriend mentioned Satanism and I stated looking around the internet for what it is and eventually I found the rational Satanists church on Facebook, I felt the urge to connect with it. The more I learnt about it the more I said hey this is me, and honestly since I joined it's helped my depression 10 fold. You see at 19 I had a mental breakdown and over time I got sick of using my families’ religion to cope so I turned to alcohol and pills to soothe the pain and suffering. I have been trying to recover slowly and discovering this has honestly helped me like you wouldn't believe, I have a purpose again”
Ashley
Forced to go to Sunday school as a child, I always found it hard to listen and believe what I was being told. I didn’t fit in and soon was asked to leave as I was classed a disruptive and argumentative child because I asked questions instead of just believing.
Fast forward to last year and I was going through a really tough time. I had no one to turn to and felt very alone. Suffering from PTSD due to childhood trauma my loneliness and depression grew. As a mother of three young daughters I knew I had to get out of the cycle for their sake as well as my own. One day I was having a conversation with a friend who told me that he had read a book that had helped him see his life in a different light and gave it to me to read.
The book was the entombed edition of the rational Satanist collection and I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it. It was like a lightbulb moment. It made me realise that sitting waiting for things to improve was never going to make anything better. I was in charge of my own destiny and therefore I had to change things. I contacted Lee and very quickly joined the facebook group and then became affiliated. Unlike most satanic groups which try to get you to follow their way of thinking, the church of rational Satanism makes you look at your life as an individual. With the 90% 10% concept you are able to live the life you want. They don’t laugh at you for having strange ideas they just show you to leave it in the 10% and concentrate on the 90%.
They are the nicest and most supportive group of people I know. I am now promotions manager and wanted to take on the role because I want as many people as possible to read the philosophy and improve their lives. Even if they are not satanic the philosophy can be adapted for everyone.
Claire Holbrook
For countless ages, people have been programmed with irrational fears about worthless dogmas which serve only to manipulate their minds and make them as slaves to useless systems. Our minds become twisted and corrupted with false ideologies and illusions about what is. This leads to confusion and undesirable feelings of being powerless. Thus, creating a co-dependency upon these false ideologies of having to appease a higher power to remedy their own issues. Truly, this is a control tactic and it is something that I know from my own personal experience. I am writing this to reach out to others who are trapped within this mindset and ask you to consider a different perspective. As a new affiliate in the CoRS, I have recently begun my journey and am into my first book of the series (Rational Satanism Entombed Edition). I have found great revelation within its pages and it profoundly resonates within me as I am seeing the illusion shatter before me. It is very empowering and I am beginning to feel fully in control for once in my life. That I need to appease only myself and how others can be dealt with easily. The realm of possibilities is unfolding before my eyes and it is showing me just how I can be successful with what I chose to set my mind to. We can do more than we imagine if only we are willing to first know our own selves. Anyways, I shall end my testimony here and hope that whomever reads this will consider Rational Satanism as their next step in their evolution."
Shannon Williams
When I first came across the Church of Rational Satanism, I was in the early stages of understanding I was a Satanist. For 12 years prior, I had devoted my life to Christianity and wasan active ordained minister. After losing my faith, I was given a copy of the Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey, and saw my reflection in it. However, I was experiencing a lot of cognitive dissonance, due to still deprogramming myself from religion. I was also finding it difficult to grasp and understand Greater Magic. began to read through the essays on the website and picked up Rational Satanism and 90/10 Thinking. Rational Satanism clearly explained Greater Magic as Mentalism, and provided me the opportunity to form my own unique approach to ritual. This helped me overcome the cognitive dissonance that I was facing. It also confirmed that I was heading in the right direction for creating my own unique system to follow. 90/10 Thinking provided a means of division within my paradigm, to separate my 90% critical thinking, from my 10% subjective thinking. This way my subjective experiences were no longer allowed to interfere with my rational decision making
process.
The philosophy and material made available by CoRS have not been the only thing beneficial to me. I have had the opportunity to interact and become friends with a some amazing people. It can be overwhelming, being a new person stepping into the Satanic community. The CoRS Team and members have been both welcoming and patient. They have made me feel like a part of the pack, while still holding fast to my individuality and nonconformity. To put it plain and simple, I’ll be sticking around as long as they’ll have me here. Becoming an a member of CoRS has made a positive impact on my life. The philosophy has been most influential in cutting and polishing this diamond in the rough. It’s helped provide me with the self-confidence to step forward and embrace this journey of mine along the Left Hand Path. Where there was once fog within my mind and a sense no direction, is now a clear vision of the Self and my true will. I finally feel like I’m able to move beyond the shackles of Christianity, and be exactly who I am and want to be. I’m proud say I’m a part of the Church of Rational Satanism. I’m a unique individual! I am a Rational Satanist! Hail Thyself and Spiral out!
James Turnbloom