Black magic Quote by Anton Szandor LaVey
““Whenever a nation comes under a new form of government, the heroes of the past becomes the villains of the present. So it is with religion. The earliest Christians believed that the Pagan deities were devils, and to employ them was to use "black magic." Miraculous heavenly events they termed "white magic"; this was the sole distinction between the two. The old gods did not die, they fell into Hell and became devils. The bogey, goblin, or bugaboo used to frighten children is derived from the Slavonic "Bog" which means "god," as does Bhaga in Hundu””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Devil’s Advocate, 1965
Power shifts recast historical figures, turning former heroes into villains, especially in religion where reinterpretation fuels moral dichotomies.
In simple terms: Changing regimes rewrite past heroes as enemies.
Key Takeaway
Question how narratives change with power.
Themes
history
religion
politics
mythmaking
identity
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Political campaigns
- religious debates
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Narrative theory
social construction
iconoclasm
Questions to Reflect On
- Who decides which heroes become villains?
- Can we separate myth from fact?
A Different Perspective
Simplifies complex histories into good vs. evil.
