I had a friend from my first go around at college that was goth. I really wasnt prep or goth, but just a really laid back style - IE - A&F shirt, blue jeans, Doc Marten oxfords, and usually a long sleeve button up shirt worn over the t-shirt unbuttoned. Not really anything.
But he was cool and he thought I was cool because I was willing to listen to him and what have you not. Although he was 100% anti-Christian, a smoker, drinker, etc., he was on the honor roll, taking Honors courses, etc. We often had lunch together or just hung out together when I had a free night and we'd go for coffee, etc.
His belief was that people are too quick to judge based on assumptions and stereotypes. He wanted to buck the trend, wear what he wanted to wear, do what he wanted to do, and break the pre-set 'mold' of success. He wanted to succeed on HIS terms not anyone elses.
Last time I chatted with him he was packing his stuff and headed to Dallas for a year.
He had a big distaste for mainstream ideas, he really was one of those brilliant free-thinkers that you often hear about when reading about Greek history. There was a method to his 'madness'.
So far as I am concerned, I have no problem with goths. They are typically quiet and prefer to stay out of trouble. They make their statement with their clothes, hair, body, and attitude.
Not all goths are devil-worshipping juvenile delinquents. Some have a pagan belief system based on ancient druidism. There are Christian goths that dress in black clothes as a symbol of their dark human nature, but not all goths share that sort of doctrine.
But almost all goths share the music and messages in the music, defying common world attitudes and/or beliefs.
Much the same way super-Christians dress conservatively, and listen to Gospel or Contemporary Christian Music, to defy common worldly attiudes and/or beliefs.
Each group are polar opposites but their reasons for dressing and or acting the way they do is actually much the same.