Conversion

Conversion is the latest rave. Most T.V. channels are discussing it, with the panelists excitedly and hotly debating it. The proposal to frame a law against it has fervent proponents and opponents.

This has given me an idea. Why should I too not convert, when others are doing it, or at least talking about it ?

  The question,however is : to which religion should I convert ?

 For that I went on the net to find out the existing religions, and select one I regard most suitable ( I do not wish to found a new religion as I am not a prophet ).

 After exhaustive search I found out the religion I was looking for. It is called ' Satanism ' or Devil Worship, and there are about 100,000 followers of this religion in the world.

 This religion believes in worship of Satan ( also called Shaitan ). Followers of Satanism believe that Satan has been unjustifiedly reviled and defamed in history by other religions. In fact he is an inspiring and liberating figure, and he is wrongly denounced by the well known orthodox religions..

 Worshippers of Satan have been horribly persecuted by all other religions. Many were burnt at the stake.The Marquis de Sade ( 1740-1814 ) who was an ardent Satanist was imprisoned for over 30 years. Many Satanists were martyred. There were ' witch trials ' in Europe and America. Yet Satanism flourished, though covertly e.g.the Hell Fire Clubs in England where Black Mass was celebrated. Dr. Faust wagered his soul with Satan ( he was then known as Mephistopheles ). The celebrated  American Senator Daniel Webster had a narrow escape from his clutches ( see the story ' The Devil and Daniel Webster online ). Count Dracula converted many souls and made them vampires.

  I thought Satanism is the best religion to convert to because in reality many people in the world, are already Satanists, though they may not admit it. So I will be in good company.

 The basic beliefs and values of Satanism are selfishness, cheating, amassing wealth by crooked means,immorality  wickedness,etc They are best depicted in the 12th chapter ( Skanda ) of the Bhagawad Purana while describing Kaliyug :

" As the Age turns to evil (that is, when Kaliyug begins) every virtue decays and vanishes : honesty, forbearance, kindness, memory and strength disappear.

Wealth replaces a noble birth, character and conduct.

Might becomes right, for might alone determines dharma and justice.

Trade and fraudulent practice become synonymous.

The law will favour only the rich, and will have no regard for justice. He that can curse and swear best will be considered the finest scholar.

Poverty will be sufficient cause to establish guilt in the eyes of the law, while wealth and ostentation will be indices of character.

Rudeness and brashness of speech will be equal to dharma.

He that maintains his family by the foulest means will be considered respectable. Dharma will be observed only for exhibition.

Whoever is strong and daring will become the king, and will rule like greedy lustful bandits, with plunder and rapine of their own subjects, who will often flee such tyranny and seek refuge in forests and mountains.

Exhausted by cruel taxes, deprived of rains in lands from which true dharma has fled, the people will subsist on wild vegetation, roots, flesh, fruits, flowers, etc.

Kings will become mere robbers, and men, driven by despair and poverty, will become thieves, liars and murderers.

Men will become bestial and perverse-- miserly, ruthless, greedy and vindictive for the flimsiest reasons.

Arrogance, hypocrisy, deception, dishonesty, sloth, somnolence, cruelty of every kind, delusion, terror and wretchedness will rule.

Brigands and robbers will rule the land. Kings will all be tyrants. People will espouse gluttony, lasciviousness and venality of every kind.

The vilest men will become the foremost traders, making cheating and thievery the common practice of the marketplace. Even when they are not threatened with any danger, men will take to forbidden means to earn their livelihood, and pride themselves on it.

Relationships between parents and children, brothers, friends and relations will not be valued.

Seated upon the sacred thrones of great and holy gurus of yore, men that are masters only of vice will expound dharma to the gullible populace.

Depleted by dreadful taxes, tormented by drought, starved, owning none of the bare necessities of life---homes, clothes, food and drink, a bed, a bath,etc. --men will seem more like bhutas and pishachas.

Over small matters, members of the same family will fight their own blood relations, even unto death, forgetting all ties of affection.

No one will bother to look after their old parents any more, they will only live for themselves, and will neglect their own children. "

 So those who accept these values of Kaliyug are welcome to join this religion. I think most people will readily join it.

 At present Satanism is practised mainly in America, and to some extent in Europe. We shall therefore have to set up an Indianized version, using the 12th chapter of the Bhagwad Puran as our holy scripture.

  Hari Om