Why anti-religion music isn’t Satanic—it’s pro-freedom
Anti-religion music isn’t Satanic; it’s anti-control. Here’s why artists like Forge and Manson get it right, and why that should matter to libertarians.
Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not a Satanist, but I’ll defend your right to pretend to be one on stage.
That’s why I’ve always had a casual admiration for guys like Tobias Forge (Ghost) and Marilyn Manson, two artists pearl-clutchers write off as devil-worshipping degenerates.
And yet, the real degeneracy? That often lies in the conformity, obedience, and moral rigidity of the people wagging their fingers.
The satanic panic never died
Despite living in a digital age where everything is a Google search (I use Brave) away, too many still confuse artistic rebellion with literal evil.
Forge and Manson don’t summon demons. They summon discomfort. They’re poking at the bloated underbelly of institutionalized faith, and in doing so, they expose just how fragile that faith is when theater and metaphor confront it.
Their use of Satan isn’t theological. It’s philosophical. And if you’re a libertarian, you should get that.
The hypocrisy in libertarian circles
What baffles me is how many self-proclaimed libertarians preach about liberty while clinging to religious dogma. So many of them rail against government control, but romanticize theocracy.
They worship at the altar of freedom, but I swear more than a few of them would freak out over musicians in corpse paint.
You can’t have it both ways. You don’t get to be a champion of individual sovereignty and then lose your mind over symbols that offend your religious comfort zone.
Either you believe in free thought, or you don’t. And either you believe in the separation of church and state, or you want a spiritual dictatorship under a cross.
That said, some religious libertarians do walk the walk. They defend unpopular speech, tolerate offense, and reject state religion.
Christianity: The philosophy vs. the cult
I don’t hate Christianity. In fact, I support some of its core ideas, like personal accountability, free will, and love thy neighbor. They all fit perfectly into a libertarian worldview.
But the culture around it? That’s where I tap out.
Because too often, Christianity’s performative, and I’ve seen it firsthand more often than I can count. People become different the moment a cross enters the room, or when they walk into a sanctuary. They stiffen up, speak in code, and act like morality is a competition.
And to be frank, it’s disgusting.
It’s not about virtue anymore, if it ever was. To me, and it’s been the case since grade school, it’s always been about control.
From my lens and my own experiences, Christianity’s been more about hellfire and guilt over grace and growth.
And when that happens, it stops being faith and turns into compliance theater. The same thing libertarians claim to hate in government schools, the media, and corporate wokeism.
Funny how a lot of them don’t see it when it’s dressed in Sunday clothes.
Why Forge and Manson matter
You don’t have to love their music, and you don’t have to wear eyeliner or light black candles.
But if you believe in freedom of expression, in the right to question power—especially moral and spiritual power—then you owe them at least a nod.
They remind us that the right to offend is sacred, and that sometimes, the most “dangerous” art is just honest rebellion with a costume budget.
So no, they’re not Satanists in a traditional sense, even if a lot of people claim they are. They’re just freer than most of the people who claim to be.
Oh, just to rub salt into the wounds of anyone who I just pissed off for being blunt, I ain’t selling you anything today, even if I just ranted like my main protagonist in Beyond the Lost. Instead, I’ll just introduce you to Ghost.
