Who was more dangerous. Anton LaVay or Mike Warnke?

Question

Warnke went around the country trying to scare people into becoming Christians by telling his 'story' of being a former 'Satanic High Priest', whatever the hell that is, and scaring them into donating money to help teens that didn't exist while he bought new homes.

Warnke turned out to be a pathological liar and was exposed by a Christian publication called Cornerstone, but not before he had convinced law enforcement agencies, 20/20 news style shows and Christians of every stripe that there was a vast conspiracy of Satan worshipers abducting and sacrificing children all across America.

LaVay set up a campy Church of Satan, full of B-Movie references and large breasted minions, which looked more like the set of the Addams Family than anything else.

Who did more damage? Who lied more?

Who was more dangerous? The Christian or the 'Satan Worshiper'?

I notice that most Christians don't seem to be willing to respond.

Tracy H, as I commented in the previous post, you are a nutter.

Although you didn't mention Warnke in the previous post, I had you pegged as the type to fall for his lies.

And Viola! You prove me right again.

Warnke is a sick twisted little man, and he shows what your religion is all about.

Warnke NEVER admitted to anything other than his infidelity and tax issues. He still claims he was a Satanist of his web site.

You have a sign 'Vacancy' sign flashing in your eyes, Tracy H.

Answer 1

God will be their judge and give them the proper punishment.

I would say LaVay if I was to choose the more wicked of the two, he wrote the Satanic bible and still has much influence, once the other guy was exposed he was history. LaVay is the epitome of evil.

Answer 2

Funny how when people try to bash Anton LaVey (more often than not misspelling his name) or the Church of Satan, it either takes the form of 1) a straw man argument against ideas that the COS never practiced in the first place (which Christians love to do), 2) ad hominem attacks (which disgruntled, white trash devil worshipers love to do), or as we see here 3) a dismissal based purely on a dislike of the fun aesthetics. But I digress.

If we're going to compare the two, Mike Warnke was clearly the one who was the hypocritical, fear-inflicting criminal.

Looking back at that whole "Satanic Panic" of the 80s, I remember how the sensationalist talk shows always had some hysteric claiming there were groups of devil worshipers hiding around every corner, breeding babies for sacrifice, and heavy metal music was somehow a "gateway" to this. Whenever they also had a representative from the Church of Satan on the show too, to explain the difference between actual Satanism and isolated incidents of crazy people who happen to use occult trappings, he or she usually just got 30 seconds to talk. They were usually booed out as people hung on to every word, without question, of the latest "abduction viction".

Once the FBI looked into these outrageous claims (millions of people being abducted and ritualistically sacrificed, etc.), they couldn't find a shred of evidence. So once again we can thank evangelical scumbags like Warnke for fueling this hysteria. He's the reason why people like the West Memphis 3 are still in jail.

But then again, what do I know? Anybody who disagrees with Warnke must be some liar possessed by Satan, right?

Answer 3

I think Warnke probably exploited Christian fears. Did he actually BELIEVE his BS, or was he just using the Christian propensity to fear satan as a way of generating income? I'm not sure we can call him a Christian. I really hate the "well he's not a TRUE Christian" argument, but claiming to be Christian for the purpose of exploitation and claiming to be Christian while remaining a sinner are two entirely different concepts. With the former, the claim of Christianity is merely a front for a deceit, while the latter is accepting Jesus as your saviour while remaining a human being with the tendency to sin.

Answer 4

I think the most dangerous part of the whole mess is that with a system whose foundation is based on the supernatural, unfalsifiable claims can be made by anyone. It that person is also charismatic then you can bet he's going to build a following among a group of people who are rather credulous to begin with. So the danger is that the supernatural element of religion makes believers a target that is ripe for exploitation by losers like Warnke.

Answer 5

Mike Warnke! What a wanker! As someone who was actaully a Satanist in the 80s he provided me with many a laugh.

I have no problem what so ever with large breasted minions but at the same time there is something to be said for small and firm too.

Ahhhh... The hard choices in life.

Answer 6

I never thought I would do this, but I must agree with you that Warnke was probably the one who did greater damage!

This is not say that LaVay was not dangerous. What he set up was far worse than just a "campy Church of Satan". He has led many people into Hell with his "church."

That being said, he was, at least, honest and above board with his agenda. Warnke lied and exaggerated about his background! And that is truly more harmful!

However, he has since repented of his lies and misleading. And that is the difference. Through Jesus, Warnke was provided a way to turn away from his sin and clean himself up, spiritually. Now LaVay had that same avenue, but chose not to take advantage of it.

Society wants us to be forgiving of the murderer who admits what he did and is repentant! Why can we not do the same for someone who lied and deceived, but didn't murder?

Answer 7

As a neutral, yet occasionally amused, party in the rabid fundies versus increasingly rabid (and snarky) atheists debate, it seems to me that this Warnke guy wasn't a "christian". Sounds to me like he was just a regular con-man who was running a bizarrely original scam. LaVey was just a horny old opium fiend who decided to cash in on the neo-mysticism of the 60's and established his own nookie-palace in the name of "satanism".

Neither of them could really be considered "dangerous". They're both scam-artists.

Answer 8

Liars are a disgrace period, I'd say in this case the "Christian" though because he is mixing his lies with God's truth and obviously now, making unbelievers feel more validating in their position.
Also, THANKS for this information.... I knew of Mike Warnke while I was growing up and read "The Satan Seller" one of his books, and had no idea, he'd been exposed, I'll have to read up now.
Blessings!

Answer 9

hehe you should've given them the url which debunks his story:
http://www.cornerstonemag.com/features/iss098/sellingsatan.htm

By far, Warnke is the more dangerous. I grew up in that era and remember well his stories of Satanic ritual, baby stealing, etc.. I also saw that 20/20 show he appeared on.. as his friends/family put it: "he always said he'd never make a living with his hands. He'd do it with his mouth" "Mike has always been a big story teller" "He would always stay in character"
This man's lies have threatened people for far too long.
LaVay is nothing in comparison.

Answer 10

Mike Warnke. Lavey was never anything other than amusing, and besides, he's dead. You're totally correct about MW's spiritual McCarthyism.

Mike Warnke shows a refreshing lack of shame. He's still on the lecture circuit, and can be reached at:

http://www.mikewarnke.org/

Answer 11

Mike Warnke by a landslide

LaVay was harmless

But based on what you described Warnke was not a Christian just a con man