Uppity-Negro.com

Repost from June 21, 2002:

Some people have a deep need for enemies. And what better (or worse) enemy could there possibly be than honest-to-Lucifer Satan worshipers?

That's where, for some, the Yazidis come in:

The belief of Yazidis is a mixture of the beliefs of Islam and Christianity. Their most important book, entitled Kitab-ul-jalwa, is in Arabic and Kurdish, which was translated into German by Maximillian Butner and was edited in 1331 A.H. [1913]. They worship Satan. They call the devil "angel" and "peacock." They will kill any person who swears at the devil.

The only problem is, this isn't quite right.

The term Yezidi comes from the ancient Iranian term for angel or divine being -- similar to the Sanskrit concept of the devi or powerful being, somewhat less than a God, but far beyond the powers of ordinary mortals or superbeings. Thus, the Yezidis are better thought of as angel worshippers than devil worshippers -- although the Angel that they worship is indeed Lucifer

Although there are others who would argue the above is apologetics for evil, evil people.

Confused yet?

Good.

Near as I can piece together from various, conflicting articles, in their version of events, the Peacock Angel Lucifer, also called Melek Taus (transliterated, so the spelling isn't consistent between sources) apologized for his sin of pride (peacocks are known even in the West as a prideful lot, odd since there aren't any here. . .) and was accepted back into the Heavenly Host by God, who's something of an absentee landlord and leaves the Angels to take care of the day-to-day running of the Universe, while He works on his Hendrix riffs.

Oh, and there's no hell:

Malak Ta'us filled 7 jars of tears through 7,000 years. His tears were used to extinguish the fire in hell. Therefore there is no hell in Yazidism.

What's that? The more information you get, the more confusing it all seems?

Maybe you missed this the last time:

Welcome to the real world.

Today seems like as good a day as any to have a nice sit-down with Satan.

Maybe better than most.

Oh yes, and to kick it Britannica style:

Yazidi :
Middle Eastern religion, a syncretic combination of Zoroastrian, Manichaean, Jewish, Nestorian Christian, and Islamic elements.

Its adherents, numbering fewer than 100,000, are found in Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Armenia, the Caucasus, and Iran. Most speak Kurdish. They believe that they were created separately from the rest of humankind and segregate themselves from the rest of society. In Yazidi belief, seven angels, subordinate to a supreme but uninvolved God, rule the universe. The belief that God restored the Devil to his position as chief of the angels upon the Devil's repentance has earned the Yazidi an undeserved reputation as Devil worshipers. Their chief saint is Sheikh 'Adi, a 12th-century Muslim mystic. Their name derives from Yazid I (c. 645–683), from whose supporters they may be descended.

"Yazidi" Britannica Concise Encyclopedia from Encyclopædia Britannica.
http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article?eu=408417

Another update, because I am easily distracted: hybridmagazine.com:: Post-War Iraq :: Yezidis:

Q'uranic scholars consider the Yezidi heretics; under most interpretations of Sha'aria (Q'uranic Law) they are not entitled to the toleration afforded to "People of the Book" (i.e. Christians and Jews). Instead, they are to be slain as blasphemers who have set other gods beside Allah. Christians have long believed that the Yezidi were devil worshippers; the Shi'ites have linked them to the Caliph Yazid, murderer of Husayn and one of the most hated figures in the Shi'ite pantheon. The Yezidi refuse to utter the word "Satan," since they believe it is an insult aimed at Melek Taus, and their name most likely comes from "Yazad," an ancient Persian word for "angel." The Yezidi believe Melek Taus is ruler and creator of the material world," left in charge after God lost interest in dealing with the universe and its various complications. They follow numerous taboos; they will not eat lettuce, wear blue clothing, spit on the earth, or drink water in such a way that it makes a gurgling noise. As in Zoroastrianism, fire is revered; Melek Taus is frequently compared with fire, which can both warm and burn.

The Yezidi are ethnic Kurds, but that has not endeared them to their Kurdish neighbors. There is a long history of intertribal squabbling among the Kurds: traditionally they have united to wage war against an invader and then, when that invader is repelled, returned to fighting amongst themselves. The Yezidis, who claim to have preserved the ancient Kurdish religion, have set themselves apart from other Kurds. One is born a Yezidi; there is no conversion into Yezidism, nor is intermarriage permitted between Yezidis and Moslem or Christian Kurds.

Darn. And here I was hoping they were a proselytizing religion.

No idea how I only became aware of hybridmagazine.com now, but it's going on the regular links list.

np -- Believe, Franka Potente, RUN LOLA RUN original motion picture soundtrack