A question for Satanists?

Question

I asked for some reading suggestions, and someone suggested the Satanic BIble by Anton LeVey, I've never seen it before, so I took a look at it. The nine rules thing was cool... different from what I expected, but, I was confused by some of the prayer like stuff and ritual. I am curious, is it intended to be the flip side of the same coin (of christianity) or a diversion from it? It appears to acknowledge a god, and glorify an alternative of the same origin. Could someone clarify for me satanists perspective of creator? (I probably didn't peruse quite enough to get everything out of it, sorry), but I'd like to understand your beliefs a bit more.

Atheist

Agnostic Libra... it was a good suggestion, I found it interesting... just a bit more complex for one read than I thought. Thanks for the site references.

Morpheus... I was hoping to hear from you..thanks.

Answer 1

You really have to read it from the beginning to get an understanding of the context.

The Satanic Bible is split into four parts:
The Book of Satan (Fire)
The Book of Lucifer (Air)
The Book of Belial (Earth)
The Book of Leviathan (Water)

The last two books deal with Satanic Ritual. But we'll come to that.

It is the first two books which you have to understand. Lavey spent his adolescance working in the circus and then the carnival, and this is when he came across the Occult. (There are various stories about him being brought up by Translyvanian Gypsies - most of them are just lies). He worked as a photographer for the police, taking pictures of bloody crime scenes. This would give anyone a twisted take on things, I guess.

Lavey could only see hypocrisy in the Church and created his own in the name of Satan. He saw the Devil being blamed for everything, when in truth, it was all a great self-denial to him. Other names like 'Goat of a thousand Young' 'Two Horned Goat', and 'Scapegoat'. The last name, you get an idea of what Satanism is truly about.

Christianity was the true sin to Lavey, ignorance - often deliberate. People have been blindfolded by the Church for countless centuries and this is a deliberate backlash. After all, the Church has been exposed as for what it is - corrupt, lying and full of hypocrisy (and often paedophilia). It has told the masses what to do and how to think when quite the opposite was happening in its higher ranks!

Satanism states that we're simply not much better than beasts. We can't expect too much of ourselves morally. Why repress hate or love to another person when restraint often leads to unhappiness and more suffering. It is the now that matters, not a guilt-ridden future. Heaven or Hell, who cares? Most Christians will end up in Hell for a lifetime of sin, even though they didn't realize it. We need to live for the here and now.

There is a creator, but it is certainly not loving - it has by all degrees abandoned us to our own devices. It doesn't really care if we send up a prayer or not, what matters is that we are happy within ourselves. It is up to ourselves to make a difference and not wallow in spiritual pipe dreams - hoping a messiah will come and save us all.

The rituals themselves are serious. At Christian ceremonies you're supposed to sing words of love and praise. But what if you feel angry? God seems to hold responsibility for everything, but Satanism says you reap your own rewards and mistakes. It's a more realistic, practical, responsible approach. The ceremonies in the book can be substituted - you don't need a big gong and a lot of worshippers - but it is the atmosphere you create and the release you have. The design is to be far more intense and satisfying than church prayer.

Satanism is more concerned with ideas and questioning than following and obeying blindly, but it classes itself as a religion because the point is to be the ultimate blasphemy. Why worry about Gods around you as so much as the liars and decievers around. I guess that's its main functioning appeal, a motivating philosophy with it's own identity.

Repression is NOT a Satanic interest. Why should we be unhappy with ourselves? We should indulge and empower ourselves - that's what makes us better people. There's always going to be someone who wants to start a fight. We just have to prepare ourselves the best we can.

Ok, it doesn't appeal to everyone, granted. It is much more lax with the idea of Satan in my opinion, and it relies on bashing Christianity for its own sake. But that is kind of the point - the Church, to Satanists, the holiest organization that ever was - in reality only represents ignorance and deceit. So just admit it - you're always going to be a sinner. There, don't you feel better?

Right,. I've been typing for ages, I'm skinning up.

Answer 2

Okay, you've obviously been listening to the Christians for a bit too long... Satanists do not worship the Devil. At all. They worship Satan, BUT in their religion Satan means power, so basically the whole Satanism thing is about self empowerment. Not worshipping the Devil or trying to raise the dead or sacrificing livestock of any sort. Satanism is an atheist religion (an oxymoron, I know), and as such Satanists do not believe in God or the Devil, so they cannot be against him. See what I'm saying?!?!

Answer 3

This probably won't help, but I'll give it a shot.

My husband used to have a friend who was a Satanist. He said they believed that God had become too arrogant and that Satan left to try to show God his wrong doing. Since, of course, God would not admit he is wrong, he punished Satan.

I don't know if this has anything to do with the Satanic Bible, but I hope it helps.

Answer 4

My understanding is that the Anton Levey Satanic Bible actually isn't a satanist religious tract.

I am NOT an expert on the topic, but I think levay is actually considered an atheist by many.

I have no idea if there are different branches of santanism...I'd just always assumed it was teen agers who'd played too much dungeons and dragons and were trying to piss off their parents.

Answer 5

I'm not a Satanist, but if you read the comments by LaVey, you'll see that the rituals are intended as psychodrama. A way of breaking loose from the mental construct imposed by Christianity. That's why they parody Christian rituals. It's a way to overcome mental restraints to personal freedom.

Answer 6

well i'm not a satanist and i was the one who suggested it anyway laveyan satanism doesn't worship any satan he's seen as symbolic this form of satanism is more about self worship i read up on it online it is pretty interesting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaVeyan_Satanism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Bible

http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/NineStatements.html

Answer 7

i read this book 10 years ago and its funny and a few satanists i met are atheists they just use all the pagentry to uspet people read his last book the devil speaks it made me laugh my *** off

Answer 8

Do satanists exist? I mean, goth's who havent come out of the closet yet....they dont qualify as far as im concerned.

Answer 9

Satan is the exact opposite of God.