What's up with Satanism?

Answer 1

Howard Anton Levey (a.k.a Anton Szandor 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.

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).

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.

To anyone intersested in becoming a Satanist, my advice is to rethink the whole thing and try reading something more worth while and life affirming, like C.S. Lewis.

Answer 2

Satanism, as defined by Anton LaVey, is essentially an egocentric philosophy that, in reality, has little in common with the Christian devil aside from symbolism.

In fact, LaVey stated that his religion was largely reflected in the writings and philosophy of Ayn Rand, author of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.

LaVey was a notorious misanthrope as are many of his followers. In fact, one needn't look far in either LaVey or Rand's writings to discover a philosophy which boils down to "Might makes right."

Although their followers chafe at the notion, both LaVey and Rand could be described as crytpofascists. They both felt immensely superior to most other people, who they usually held in high distain. They believed that human intelligence and effort in the service of the less fortunate was utter folly.

Just a personal note - my experience with people who are into Satanism (and Rand's preposterously self-titled philosophy Objectivism) is that these people are total dweebs. And while both Satanists and right-wing libertarians (rightfully) scorn the world's institutional religions, these people are just as dogmatic as any pope, mullah or rabbi.

Answer 3

Many times, it's because of oppressive behaviour by Christians.

People think, damn this is obnoxious being 'preached-to' all the time, so, they decide to do (what they think is) the 'opposite'-thing and worship Satan.

Not realizing that the concept of a "Satan" was created by the same group that created 'Christianity' as a way to both scare people into believing, and a 'straw-man' to use as the 'alternative'-to their belief/s.

It's all part of the "my-way-or-no-way" black-and-white way that the mindset works, either You believe MY 'god' OR Your god is Satan.....

Basically, it's a trap set by Christians to stifle rational thought about their belief-system. IMO

Answer 4

Modern Satanism [The kind you hear about the most] is an atheistic religion that's basic premise is gratification of the ego. Basically, take responsibility, but if you like to do it, do it. Each person is their own god. etc.

Basically, it is self-cerntered, but there are times when the group needs to do things.

Needless to point out, large groups of Satanists tend to not sustain themselves for long.

Answer 5

i've got constantly thought that Satanism become created as an "Anti-Christianity." as the thank you to revolt against mainstream way of existence and scare human beings (use of pentacles and 666, the two tabo sybmols in Christianity, yet never linked earlier). i think of considering that then it quite is been reformed or divided. I as quickly as observed this "Satanist" female on the information being interviewed on her faith, and he or she suggested it become approximately "taking section in existence via fact there is not any longer something after death."

Answer 6

well i'm agnostic but what form of satanism are you talking about are you asking about atheistic satanism or traditional theistic satanism anyway you can always look it up on wikipedia

Answer 7

There's only a very small sect of True Satanist out there. They have a church in New York city. 9/10 self proclaimed Satanists are merely kids wanting to be cool and rebellious.

If a Satanist claims that God is a fantasy God then isnt he being a bit hypocritical? Doesnt the belief in Satan involve the belief in God?

Answer 8

What are you talking about?????

It has nothing to do with a devil!
It is all about doing what you want to do and being responcibile for the choices and actions that you make!
There is no one that is saying do anything you want and tell some invisible fantasy God that you are sorry and that makes it all better!
There is also no guilt or crap about having sex or enjoying the naked body! You are free to do what you enjoy without crap from a fantasy God!

Oh yes and there is NOTHING to be saved from!

Answer 9

We're just rock'in

Looks like we're in for another big snow storm this weekend and gosh darn it, I bought a season pass to Copper Mountain this year.

Answer 10

Will you come over tonight? I want to make you a white russian and explain it all to you in terms that the Dude can relate to.Plus, I love your car......dude.