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A note on LaVeyan Satanism
By Psyche | January 22, 2008
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Far too long has the subject of Satanic magic and philosophy been written down by wild-eyed journalists of the right-hand path.–Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible.1
While not a “wild-eyed journalist of the right-hand path” (whether defined in Tantric, Blavatskian or newage terms), I have, over the past few months, shared some rather amusing sensationalist news stories written by those who are2. I thought it only fair to take the time to write a short piece on “real” Satanism and go beyond highlighting some of the more absurd stories that rise up out of the deep.
This is a little tricky as Satanism is a broad term these days encompassing a variety of religions. There’s “traditional” Satanism which does involve devil-worship and Luciferianism which (sometimes) runs along similar veins. However, there’s also “modern” and LaVeyan Satanism which does not, as these Satanists are atheistic, holding the self in the highest position of reverence.
For years I managed the website for the Satanic e-list EvilOne.org (now defunct) - a great bunch who inspired a fondness for all things Satanic in my3 heart4. The list was primarily inspired by LaVeyan and modern Satanism, though not affiliated with any specific organization, and that’s what we’ll look at today.
Anton Szandor LaVey (born Howard Stanton Levey, 1930-1997) was the first to formulate an organized Satanic religion. For LaVey, Satan represented a force of nature:
…the powers of darkness which have been named for just that because no religion has taken the forces out of the darkness. Nor has science been able to apply technical terminology to this force. It is an untapped reservoir that few can make use of because they lack the ability to use a tool without having to first break down and label all the parts which make it run. It is this incessant need to analyze which prohibits most people from taking advantage of this many faceted key to the unknown – which the Satanist chooses to call “Satan”5.
The ironically named Church of Satan6 was officially created on April 30th, 1966, though born out of an earlier lecture group, the Magic Circle. It was a church without gods that encouraged reservation of belief:
It has been said that “the truth will make men free”. The truth alone has never set anyone free. It is only DOUBT which will bring mental emancipation. Without the wonderful element of doubt, the doorway through which truth passes would be tightly shut, impervious to the most strenuous poundings of a thousand Lucifers7.
The Church he established is still active today, and for a mere two hundred dollars American8 and a signed statement affirming one’s intention to join, becoming a card carrying member of the Church of Satan is quite simple.
In 1969 LaVey released The Satanic Bible, the defining text of what has come to be known as LaVeyan Satanism and subsequently inspired many of its derivatives. The Satanic Bible clearly laid out the tenets, rites and rituals of Satanism for the first time written by and for self-proclaimed Satanists.
Philosophically, LaVey was strongly influenced by the will to power of Frederick Nietzsche and the Objectivism of Ayn Rand, layered with a ritual magick predominately taken from Aleister Crowley. LaVey advocated a “controlled selfishness” tempered with a straightforward approach to personal conduct, promoting “responsibility to the responsible”.
LaVey writes:
“Satanism is based on a very sound philosophy,” say the emancipated. “But why call it Satanism? Why not call it something like ‘Humanism’ or a name that would have the connotation of a witchcraft group, something a little more esoteric – something less blatant”. There is more than one reason for this. Humanism is not a religion. It is simply a way of life with no ceremony or dogma. Satanism has both ceremony and dogma9.
Indeed, in general the philosophy is quite sensible and morally upstanding from a rational standpoint. Pointing out that LaVey wrote specifically against ritual murder, animal sacrifice and torture may seem superfluous, but it’s quite surprising to discover how many intelligent and otherwise well informed people seem to have this misguided estimation of Satanic practice.
For more information on LaVeyan and modern Satanism, see The Satanic Bible and the various works by Anton LaVey, as well as The Satanic Scriptures by Peter Gilmore, current High Priest of the Church of Satan, the Church of Satan’s website, and SpiralNature.com’s Satanism section.
Posts Related to Satanism
- A note on LaVeyan Satanism
- LaVey, Anton. The Satanic Bible. New York: Avon, 1969, p. 21. [back]
- See News: Catholic Pope orders bishops to set up “exorcism squads”, News: Residents of Reeves, Louisiana finally “escape” the 666 area code, News: Satanic hand severed, microwaved and a plane-flying rat brain and News: Motion 666 calls for the disestablishment of the Church of England to start. [back]
- cold, black [back]
- I don’t currently have any Satanic affiliations. [back]
- p. 62 [back]
- Or “The Satanic Church” as it was initially titled. [back]
- p. 39 [back]
- Sorry Canada, it was a better deal a few months ago. Don’t worry, the it’ll go down again! [back]
- p. 50. [back]
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January 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Thanks for posting this. I’ve often wondered about LaVey, and still do. (I mean, why bother raising the point that it should be called “humanism” when you’re the one who founded something called the Church of Satan, rather than the Church of Human?)
I’m not terrifically surprised that people don’t know LaVey’s branch of Satanism doesn’t condone animal sacrifice. I doubt very many people have educated themselves to that point. In fact, do you know which, if any, DO condone (or encourage) animal sacrifice? I know it’s occasionally done in African-based religions, but have never seen proof that it’s on the Satanism menu — just a lot of conjecture.
[Reply]
Psyche reply on January 22nd, 2008:
“Satanism” is a reactionary term and carries a powerful glamour. Would you be intrigued and want to learn more about LaVey if he had started the “Church of Humanism”? Probably not.
I’m not familiar with any Satanic denominations which officially condone it as standard pratice. It’s illegal in many countries, and this could be a contributing factor.
In fact, in The Satanic Bible, LaVey writes:
“The inhibitive and asinine absurdity in the need to kill an innocent living creature in the high point of a ritual…is obviously their “lesser of evils” [when compared to "sexual orgasm and anger"] when a discharge of energy is called for. These pour conscious-stricken fools, who have been calling themselves witches and warlocks, would sooner chop the head of a goat or chicken in attempt to harness its death agony, than have the “blasphemous” bravery to masturbate in full view of the Jehovah they claim to deny! The only way these mystical cowards can ritualistically release themselves is through the agony of another’s death (actually their own, by proxy) rather than the indulgent force which produces life!”
As you can see, he was quite adamant on the point. A few caveats are given, but not considered reasonable and certainly not standard.
In Vodou and Santeria animal sacrifice is viewed in a completely different light, but that’s comparing apples and goats.
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
“Satanism” is a reactionary term and carries a powerful glamour.
That’s exactly my point. Someone who would raise the issue that it should be called Humanism or the Church of Humanism, but instead continue to call it the Church of Satan, seems like someone who is more interested in getting a rise out of people than in creating an honest religious practice. It doesn’t make sense to me that LaVey devoted his life (or latter life, in any case) to creating this institution, but he gave it such a charged name that he wasted incredible amounts of time and energy correcting people — energy that could have been better spent helping people find their way to the church.
And, yes, while I get that he was adamantly against animal sacrifice, you point out that LaVey’s approach to Satanism is only one of many. I was wondering if the *other* branches had anything to say on the topic, that you’re aware of. If you can point me in a direction for further research, I’ll take that, too — this is going to become important to me further down the road. :)
[Reply]
Five reply on January 23rd, 2008:
Not that Im condoning it, but the Order of Nine Angles is a satanic order that ’sends curses’ in the form of ‘mail bombs’…
I don’t imagine killing a chicken is going to push their boundaries too much, you know?
[Reply]