‘Black Mass’ on Harvard Campus Canceled

[Heathen Hammer]

A Harvard University student club’s planned re-enactment of a satanic ritual was canceled at the last minute, amid backlash from students, alumni and the Archdiocese of Boston.

The “black mass,” to be hosted by the Harvard Extension School’s Cultural Studies Club, would have taken place at a pub on the school’s Cambridge campus Monday night. The club called it a “re-enactment” that was intended solely for educational purposes. The ritual was historically performed to mock the Roman Catholic Church.


About an hour before the ritual would have been held, the dean of student affairs at Harvard’s Extension School said in a statement that the black mass had been moved to an off-campus location. Fox Boston later reported that the group then canceled the event because it was unable to secure a new location.

http://time.com/96785/black-mass-har...pus-cancelled/



Of course, university has a right to cancel whatever the events it likes on its own grounds. But the troubling detail is that the decision for its cancellation came due to massive campaigning by raging Christian fundamentalists, which sets up a dangerous precedent. Now any religious group may pressure universities and other establishments to act upon their will just by massively demonstrating or campaigning for/against whatever they want.
So was the University's decision just or not?
Discuss.

[Roma_Victrix]

MY VOODOO IS BETTER THAN YOUR VOODOO! AND MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN YOUR GOD! THEREFORE I WIN!

Seriously, how dare they. If this was ancient Athens and similar hoodlums had questioned the Gods, they'd all be drinking hemlock poison just like Socrates.

Also, the dude is just doing this as a publicity stunt according to the video, which makes it absolutely funny that all these diehard Christians are coming out and protesting what is basically a giant trolling event...not even the real Church of Satan!

And yes, institutions should respect the rights of religious minorities under constitutional law. Freedom of speech, it's in the First Amendment.

[The Despondent Mind]

MY VOODOO IS BETTER THAN YOUR VOODOO! AND MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN YOUR GOD! THEREFORE I WIN!

[Earl Dibbles Jr]

If they're openly mocking a religion, it's perfectly fine to say that they can't have their "ritual" in a certain place.

Think of it this way; If a Christian group was out in the streets praying and singing about how Muslims should all be killed, how would you react?

Someone in my city finally does something that I'm proud of. Good on you 'dean of student affairs.'

[Heathen Hammer]

If they're openly mocking a religion, it's perfectly fine to say that they can't have their "ritual" in a certain place.

Think of it this way; If a Christian group was out in the streets praying and singing about how Muslims should all be killed, how would you react?

You can't really compare Black Mass to calls for mass murder.
And accusations of "mocking" religion are irrelevant. The whole "your freedom of speech ends where muh feelings begin" doesn't really make much logical sense. The presence at that Black Mass wasn't mandatory, every Christian had a right to ignore it, even if they'd find it offensive.

[Earl Dibbles Jr]

You can't really compare Black Mass to calls for mass murder.
And accusations of "mocking" religion are irrelevant. The whole "your freedom of speech ends where muh feelings begin" doesn't really make much logical sense. The presence at that Black Mass wasn't mandatory, every Christian had a right to ignore it, even if they'd find it offensive.

Considering how radical many of the people in that video were, combined with the fact that Satanists are literally a hate group against Christians, and I think it's good thing that they were stopped. They can do it in the comfort of a Satanic church or whatever they do their rituals in usually.

[Heathen Hammer]

Considering how radical many of the people in that video were,

And fundamentalist Christians were not?! Plus what do you mean by "radicalism"?

combined with the fact that Satanists are literally a hate group against Christians,

Simply false and incorrect.

and I think it's good thing that they were stopped. They can do it in the comfort of a Satanic church or whatever they do their rituals in usually.

Why not limit religious activities of other groups as well then?

[Earl Dibbles Jr]

And fundamentalist Christians were not?! Plus what do you mean by "radicalism"?

Watch the video and listen to some of the Satanists and you'll see what I mean by "radicalism"

Simply false and incorrect.

They vehemently hate Christians. Albeit, hating Christians isn't their primary purpose but it's pretty high on the list. They're really just a hate group using religion as a disguise.

Why not limit religious activities of other groups as well then?

They didn't limit the Satanists religious activities, they simply said that they could do it elsewhere. It was on private property (Cambridge campus) after all. If someone tried to stage a mass in my backyard, I would tell them to leave and if they didn't I'd call the cops.

That Satanists hate Christianity is not what's in question here, it's the providing them and then denying them a public forum that is the problem.

It's on the Cambridge Campus.

[justicar5]

Considering how radical many of the people in that video were, combined with the fact that Satanists are literally a hate group against Christians, and I think it's good thing that they were stopped. They can do it in the comfort of a Satanic church or whatever they do their rituals in usually.

considering what the bible actually calls for, genocide, gang rapes, forced marriages and paedophillia being some of the highlights, it is a hate group against non-believers.....hmm maybe we can get the bible banned for it's incitement to rape adn incitement to murder...

in this case there are two only options.
either these "people" are either "true" satanists who try to rebel against society with stupid ways and should be treated by a phycologist which i think this case is more on par with reality

Or be forced into 'treatment' seriously if you are a Christian you should be treated and placed on the sex offender register for what that book calls for, child rape and gang rape, genocide and slavery....nice book.

[Earl Dibbles Jr]

considering what the bible actually calls for, genocide, gang rapes, forced marriages and paedophillia being some of the highlights, it is a hate group against non-believers.....hmm maybe we can get the bible banned for it's incitement to rape adn incitement to murder...

The only part you're correct about is forced marriages, the rest is complete B.S. that can only be backed up if you take it out of context from the scripture.

Also, you seem to forget that people don't interpret the Bible literally, much like how other religions don't interpret their scriptures literally.

[clone]

You can't really compare Black Mass to calls for mass murder.
And accusations of "mocking" religion are irrelevant. The whole "your freedom of speech ends where muh feelings begin" doesn't really make much logical sense. The presence at that Black Mass wasn't mandatory, every Christian had a right to ignore it, even if they'd find it offensive.

in this case there are two only options.
either these "people" are either "true" satanists who try to rebel against society with stupid ways and should be treated by a phycologist which i think this case is more on par with reality

[Heathen Hammer]

who try to rebel against society with stupid ways and should be treated by a phycologist which i think this case is more on par with reality

I don't really see why should they be discriminated against.

[clone]

What do you mean by "true" Satanists and why should they "burn alive"? If you read Old Testament, you'd see that Javeh is more of an evil god then Satan, just by the virtue of the kill-count.

I don't really see why should they be discriminated against.

they are satanists. simple as that

[Himster]

in this case there are two only options.
either these "people" are either "true" satanists who try to rebel against society with stupid ways and should be treated by a phycologist which i think this case is more on par with reality

Claiming the most extreme form of any given religion to be the only "true" form of that religion is an absurd fallacy called no true Scotsman.

(My first sentence is an illustration of a No True Scotsman fallacy, just to make sure you know what it is, I do not believe a "true" Christian has to do any of those things, obviously.)

[Mayer]

Welcome to the world of private property.

Mises to Milton Friedman, Hayek and others: "You're all a bunch of socialists!"

[Caelifer_1991]

in this case there are two only options.
either these "people" are either "true" satanists and they need to burn alive or are some bunch of clowns who try to rebel against society with stupid ways and should be treated by a phycologist which i think this case is more on par with reality

You would burn people alive for disagreeing with you?

[clone]

You would burn people alive for disagreeing with you?

as i said satan is bad. plus i said that those people more or less who want to rebel against the system.

[Roma_Victrix]

That Satanists hate Christianity is not what's in question here, it's the providing them and then denying them a public forum that is the problem. Hate groups like the Westboro Baptist Church, the Ku Klux Klan, the Nazi Party, the Black Panther Party, etc. are all able to march and do stuff in public so long as they're not actually harming anyone or threatening violence. So why not allow the Satanists to do the same thing? I really don't see what the big deal is. They are a silly bunch anyway...would any normal person take a Satanist seriously or at his word?

Tomorrow I could go out and start a social group or religion that also takes an extremely unpopular stance, like an organization nefariously called Destroy All The Bacon.

Theoretically, under my guaranteed rights to freedom of speech from the First Amendment, I could then get an agreement by the municipality or public institution to hold a rally outside some public place and demand that everyone destroy their sweet, sweet bacon.

What I wouldn't be allowed to do is commit an act of violence or theft, like storm a nearby cafe and destroy the owner's property, taking a flamethrower to all his bacon until nothing is left but charred, inedible pieces of extra crispy pig meat.

Get what I'm saying, Mr. ZanyGaming?

By the way, I would be the first person to lead the counter protest in defense of eating bacon.

[Heathen Hammer]

That Satanists hate Christianity is not what's in question here, it's the providing them and then denying them a public forum that is the problem. Hate groups like the Westboro Baptist Church, the Ku Klux Klan, the Nazi Party, the Black Panther Party, etc. are all able to march and do stuff in public so long as they're not actually harming anyone or threatening violence. So why not allow the Satanists to do the same thing? I really don't see what the big deal is. They are a silly bunch anyway...would any normal person take a Satanist seriously or at his word?

Millions still take words of semi-fictional "prophets" from thousands of your ago.
And Satanism in LaVey's interpretation is a rather interesting set of ideas.

Watch the video and listen to some of the Satanists and you'll see what I mean by "radicalism"

What exactly is so "radical"? They were clearly less agressive the Christians there.

They vehemently hate Christians. Albeit, hating Christians isn't their primary purpose but it's pretty high on the list. They're really just a hate group using religion as a disguise.

You don't know much about Satanism, do you?
Satanism has nothing to do with hating Christians. Unless you can show me quote in Satanic Bible that would prove otherwise.
Plus aren't most Abrahamic religions hateful towards those that refuse to follow them or pursue lifestyle that doesn't fit their belief?

They didn't limit the Satanists religious activities, they simply said that they could do it elsewhere. It was on private property (Cambridge campus) after all. If someone tried to stage a mass in my backyard, I would tell them to leave and if they didn't I'd call the cops.

No doubt, they have a right to cancel whatever they want, but it opens door for all sorts of bias. They should either allow all groups to express their views, or bar religious activities altogether.

[Earl Dibbles Jr]

Millions still take words of semi-fictional "prophets" from thousands of your ago.
And Satanism in LaVey's interpretation is a rather interesting set of ideas.

You think these are interesting? A majority is common-sense masked in weird wording, and the rest involves you beating up people because they annoy you. Although number 10 would cause some hunting-nuts to be outraged.

• 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 him respect or else do not go there.
• If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him 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 he cries 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 him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.

Edit: Just want to say I don't support any religion and I consider a lot of the Christian Commandments to be common sense and idiotic as well.

What exactly is so "radical"? They were clearly less agressive the Christians there.

Did you listen to what the chunky dude was saying? lol

No doubt, they have a right to cancel whatever they want, but it opens door for all sorts of bias. They should either allow all groups to express their views, or bar religious activities altogether.

So, because they stopped a ritual due to public outrage, they should ban all other religious activities? Righty-o.