What do you think about LaVey Satanism.?

Question

I was born Catholic. I believe in God I just don't agree with certain values of religions. Therefore I guess you could say I am no longer catholic. My bestfriend amanda told me about LaVey Satanism. I think it is an intresting look on life and the human behavior. I agree with a lot of what it says. What do you think about it?

Ok people i'm not really searching for the perfect religion. I am just asking your opinion on one. I know I could never be tied down to one religion.I don't believe marriage is necessary. i don't like original sin concept. Jesus may not have been the messiah. To me God and the devil are not tangible or solid beings. You are god. That's what I think anyway since god is always there and knows the "wrong" things you do (your concience.) Devil being the things you do you know or think are "bad" Even so if god and the devil were forms than the devil plays a necessary part in his plan. that plan being he wants to give you an ultimatum.Good and Bad depend on perspective. Some religions point of veiws I like and some I don't. Don't judge what I believe in. You have no power over me.

Answer 1

There was a time when I considered myself a follower of the "Left Hand Path", but I'm a wiser person now. LaVey founded the Church of Satan in 1966 to cash in on the occult craze of the 1960's. LaVey's philosophy is one of hedonism and "free love" (hardly news for the 60's), and featured rituals with his nude wife and bare breasted female followers, which shows why males would want to join...even at the cost of $20 per meeting back then. LaVey didn't live up to his claims nor did he follow his own creed. Even though Satanism eschews charity of any kind, LaVey and his family lived on welfare and handouts during the late 70s-80s. Even though LaVey claimed Satanic magic could give "mastery of the earth", he still died bankrupt in a house he didn't own. LaVey lied about his accomplishments in life (i.e., an oboist for an orchestra, lion tamer, criminologist, etc.)and was in fact, just a high school dropout.

While LaVey claimed he tried to "keep the nuts out" and disavowed criminal activity within his Satanic church, he admitted in several writings of engaging in a "cannibal feast" and forced females followers into prostitution...beating them when they did not bring back enough money. In the 1980s his common law wife Diane left him and sued, claiming LaVey beat her all during their relationship, which is confirmed by LaVey's children. LaVey claimed Satanists did not believe in harming children but according to his daughter Zeena, he was the passive witness to the molestation of his grandson Stanton, by a Church of Satan member.

LaVey would reverse himself on many issues over the years. At first, the church of Satan welcomed gays and lesbians, but when LaVey saw the only people he could attract were mostly Neo-Nazis, his later writings gave hints of racism and of being anti-gay. After his death, the truth about him came out, but people still plunk down $7.95 for his "Satanic Bible", which is mostly plagiarized from other sources (Atlas Shrugged, Might Is Right, and the writings of Aleister Crowley) .

Of course most Satanists would tell you it's the "worship of the self". Most people who identify themselves as Satanists are the "LaVeyian" variety. Anton LaVey was a liar, fraud, bankrupt wife beating pimp. BTW, one idiot actually had the nerve to say "Everyone beat their wife in the fifties" when informed of this(even though he beat Diane from the 60's into the 80's). And no, not everyone did, and it was still wrong.

This shows that rather than standing on their own two feet, Satanists slavishly make excuses for their cult figure, not unlike they way Scientologists do fo L. Ron Hubbard. That's all it really is; a personality cult centered around an overated sociopath.

LaVey was apraoched by Avon books to wrote a book on witchcraft to cash in on the occult craze of the 1960's. He cobbled together "The Satanic Bible" from a forgotten right-wing political tract (Where of the material from the Book of Satan comes from), Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, and the superstitous occult material of John Dee.

LaVey never really seemed to know what Satanism was himself. Some of his writings seemed atheistic, at other times he called Satan "the dark side of nature" and often refers to Satan as a personification. One thing is for certian, the Satanic Bible gives specific instructions on timing, tools to be used, specific rituals for sex spells, revenge spells, etc (The Book of Belial)., and it seemed he expected results.

Eventually, people realized the spells didn't work, and so began the whole "Well, it's really a philosophy" excuse. In the 1980's, when LaVey was living in poverty he then claimed he was shunning consumer materialism ( a complete role reversal from "Indulgence instead of abstinence!") ala Pee Wee Herman's "I meant to do that!"

LaVey claimed that nuts were given "the bum's rush" when trying to join the Church of Satan, but clearly nut was in the eye of the beholder. LaVey has admited to holding a "Cannibal feast" of a human leg in at least 3 books. The Satanic Bible &Satanic Rituals certainly describe many things most normal people would consider pychotic such as Nude girl is used as an altar (Satanic Bible, Satanic Rituals)A human skull is used in Die Elektrischen Vorspiele ritual (Satanic Rituals, p. 109)Human leg bone or arm bone is used in Homage to Tchort ritual (p.137)
Woman dressed as nun urinates before group into a bedpan in the Black Mass ritual (p.43) Urine is then sprinkled like holy water (p.44)Man climbs into coffin with nude woman (or nude man if he is gay) in Le Epais ritual (p.59). Certainly normal people would find these things psychotic. The rituals seem particularly degrading to women.

As a "philosophy", Satanism could be boiled down to hedonism, which was hardly a new idea in the 1960's. Oddly enough, most Satanists don't fit the bill as swingers. Some seem to lead fairly uneventful lives. Here's an example:

"I've been forced to give up coffee - the acid was responsible for a minor ulcer and I can no longer take any chances with my health. This was my solitary vice - now it is gone. I do not drink, do not smoke, do not use recreational drugs and have nothing remotely resembling a sex life!"
--"Lord" Egan of "The First Church of Satan"

Wow! What a swinger! So then the picture begins to develop that Satanism is not so much a philosophy of life as it is a fantasy; a means to escape a life not worth living.

If you want to be a bankrupt, a prostitute, a cannibal, a battered wife, and a liar, perhaps Satanism is for you! LaVey couldn't make it work...not as magic nor philosophy... and neither will your friend or any of the self proclaimed Satanists here. That might not be wanted to hear, but it is the truth.

Read everything by C.S. Lewis you can find. You'll be better off.

Answer 2

From what I understand from a friend of mine, it's actually a form of atheism, and has nothing at all to do with worshiping satan, or even believing in satan. But other than that, I don't really have much info. I guess I'll have to ask her more about it sometime. =)

Answer 3

Dynamite way get back at mom and dad.
Please don't fall for that La Vey crap.
You're just gonna get involved with a whole bunch of mentally ill people who think crucifying a frog upside down is a hoot.
And La Vey has been around for YEARS .....DECADES!!!!
I remember seeing that book in like 1968.
CRAZY LARRY was reading it.
He also wanted to be first on board when Atlantis rose from the ocean to claim his piece of it.
And he had a bit of a NAZI fetish.

I don't do dogma and I ain't real comfortable with "god is on our side! No! he is on OUR side."
Cause there is no stronger motivation for committing atrocities
than religion.
even business....with it's "invisible hand"....guess WHO the invisible hand belongs to?

I am agnostic with Buddhist leanings and I leave it at that.
Might be tougher for a person from a religious family though.
Leave La Vey alone.

Answer 4

In Satanism they don't believe in God, as you claim to do. Live your life the best way possible. If you get wrapped up in Satanism you will encounter weirdos because there are so many ways people claim to worship Satan.

Answer 5

Many satanics are mean and evil. basicly they care about themselves and that it. (at least my brother's uncle did and he was satanic) but they don't actually worship the devil, and are very ritualistic.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/satanism.htm

There are many religions that are similar to Satansm, that belive in energies sprits and practice magick. Wicca is one and it shares a common founder,(Alester Crowley) but is much more earth based, and worship a goddess and a god, and takes bits and peices of older ancient stories, myths, song and rituals.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm

Im am sure there are others although at this time my mind draws up a blank. Anyways do the research for yourself and decide what feels right for yourself.

Answer 6

I think it is shallow and self-centered. I think the human being is fulfilled when he puts others first, but Laveyan Satanism -- I think -- puts the self first. I do not think it fulfills the human being. But I admittedly don't know much about it.
I believe in altruism.

This is just me though. I don't think it is as "dangerous" as many will fear it is. They do not even believe in Satan.

Answer 7

I only know what I read on wikipedia (link below). I'm an atheist but I am definitely NOT a LeVey Satanist. First, I think the "symbology" is stupid. But looking past that, I strongly disagree with a few things, especially their emphasis on vengence, and the reactive golden rule.

Answer 8

From what I read in Wik it sounds very interesting and a lot better then christianity, Although in my opinion a religion is a religion and can do harm weather small or big. I don't beleave in God so I am an athiest.

Satanist do not beleave in a god eather so that is not for you, probably wicca is for you.

Answer 9

Last i heard of LaVey he had stepped down as the head of his church. Satan still has to answer to God as God made him to be the tempter of the human soul to lead it away from Gods laws. and as Jesus foe to tr and keep Him for Completing his mission on Earth. and When Jesus was crucified .HE went down into Hell to battle with Satan for the keys to the gates of Hell . So that those that are there can leave and face the Judgment Day.As will ST. Lucifer and the other rebel Angels that followed Him.

Answer 10

Read the Satanic Bible, it is the only Satanism. anything else is worshipping a christian god and that would make you a christian, not a Satanist

Answer 11

It is a very interesting religion that deals with indulging in the earthly pleasures. It does have guidelines and it is NOT what Christians want you to think it is. I know little, but it probably worth your time to read up on. Read as much as you can about everything I guess.