A Satanist in the Navy

There's a Satanist on board - but it's the ability to criticise an individual's belief systems that seems to have gone to hell.

Chris Cranmer, a 24-year-old naval technician, became a Satanist nine years ago. After four years in the Royal Navy, he has now won the right to practise his beliefs on board, including the right to a Satanist funeral should the worst happen. As an upstanding, equal opportunities employer, the Navy could hardly refuse. 'He went to his commanding officer with a request to practise his beliefs on board his ship and it was granted', a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. 'We believe he is the first avowed Satanist to serve in the military, but there is no official register of beliefs.'

So, an avowedly Christian country, whose head of state is also head of the Church of England, has found itself approving a worshipper of Beelzebub. This is a symptom of our relativist society, which views all beliefs as equal and a matter of personal choice. As long as you're not a racist or a paedophile, you can pretty much do as you please. Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be a lot of sacrificing of goats or virgins involved in Cranmer's beliefs. The Church says: 'Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence; Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek; and Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification.'

You wonder why Cranmer has even bothered with Satanism when he could join the rest of society in worshipping me, me, me.

The devil and the deep blue sea: Navy gives blessing to sailor Satanist, Guardian, 25 October 2004