Hail Satan

"Hail Satan", sometimes expressed in a Latinized version as "Ave Satana", "Ave Satanas", or "Ave Satani", is an expression used by some self-identified Satanists [] as with the Mr. Show sketch "Hail Satan Network" which includes characters who are Satanic televangelists. [cite news|first=Scott|last=Serilla|title='Run' to the 'Mr. Show' DVD|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/content/run-mr-show-dvd|work=Michigan Daily|publisher=|date=September 4, 2003|accessdate=2008-08-13] It received another humorous use when Bart Simpson was punished for using it to end the Pledge of Allegiance. [cite news|first=Richard|last=Corliss|title=The Cartoon Character |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988514,00.html
work=Time magazine |date=June 8, 1998|accessdate=2008-08-16]

Reputation

Some of those who believe in backward masking, along with some fundamentalist Christians, believe messages such "Hail Satan" may subliminally inspire people to do evil, [cite book|title=The Beast of Adam Gorightly: Collected Rantings (1992-2004)|last=Gorightly|first=Adam|year=2005|publisher=Virtualbookworm Publishing|location=|isbn=1589397819|pages=27|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fH_R_iP3yQ8C&pg=PA26&dq=%22hail+satan%22&lr=&sig=ACfU3U3RpkgedAibNE3DzFU_4IlOaSDAFA#PPA27,M1] a view which may have received some reinforcement when the phrase was used as part of the vandalizing of churches, [cite web|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/news/x1346898655/Church-hit-with-satanic-graffiti|title=Church hit with satanic graffiti|accessdate=2008-08-13|author=Staff reports|date=August 4, 2008|publisher=wickedlocal.com] however its use then may have been the expression of a general anti-religious sentiment indicated by its use along with slogans such as "Think, don't Pray." [cite web|url=http://www.nbc10.com/news/14205738/detail.html|title=Satanic, Anti-Religious Graffiti Spray-Painted On Area Churches|accessdate=2008-08-13] Vandalism accompanying it may include the anarchy symbol or other slogans intended to shock, such as racial slurs. [cite web|url=http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4105891.html|title=MOUNTLAKE TERRACE - "We're going to catch these guys."|accessdate=2008-08-13] It may accompany symbols such as a swastika, pentagram or inverted cross. Such vandalism is usually by rebellious young people rather than Satanists, whose activities are not often criminal. [cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SB&p_theme=sb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0D989F3D4C7CC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=SATANIC ACTIVITY ON RISE BUT NOT USUALLY CRIME|accessdate=2008-08-16]

Rick Ross, whose work involves studying cults, referred to the murder trial of Scott Peterson, in which the defense made the claim that the killings were by a "Satanic cult" rather than the defendant. Ross called this a ridiculous manifestation of the Satanic panic, referred to it as a "Hail Satan Pass," similar to the Hail Mary pass in football, [cite news|first=Garrett|last=Kamps|title=June 3: Cult Expert Calls Peterson Theory 'Ridiculous' |url=http://www.ktvu.com/news/2242949/detail.html|work=KTVU.com| date=June 2, 2003|accessdate=2008-08-13] a desperate and unlikely attempt.

ee also

* Satanism
* Crazy for God (expression)
* Hail Mary
* Shemhamphorasch

Notes