How does LaVeyan Satanism address hurting animals and others?

Question

Satanism isn't really much of my thing, though I do know some about it, but I recently got into a bit of an argument with some kid who claims to understand LaVeyan Satanism, and he keeps spouting off about how one of its main themes is 'not hurting animals and other people'. To my knowledge, LaVey talked about not tolerating one's enemies and vanquishing them at the drop of a hat. Where is this kid getting this stuff?

Alright, yes I'll give him animals (seeing as how I apparently spaced on rule 10), and little children I knew, but the way the view is being expressed leads me to the idea that this kid seems to think there is some huge interpersonal pascifist aspect to this set of beliefs, which I believe to be incorrect. But hey, I'm waiting to stand corrected.

Answer 1

From the 11 Satanic Rules of the Earth:

"9. Do not harm little children.
10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food."

http://www.churchofsatan.com

From LaVey himself:

"In recent years, we’ve wasted far too much time explaining that Satanism has nothing to do with kidnapping, drug abuse, child molestation, animal or child sacrifice, or any number of other acts that idiots, hysterics or opportunists would like to credit us with. Satanism is a life-loving, rational philosophy that millions of people adhere to."

Also, from "The Satanic Bunco Sheet":

"Beware of cults offering sex orgies and drugs, or killing animals in the name of Satan. As you well know, these are not part of Satanic practices."

However, to be fair, there are also these entries within the Nine Satanic Statements:

"4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates!
5. Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek!
6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires!
7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all!"

So perhaps LaVey is saying that harming innocent parties (children, animals, and people who simply don't deserve it) is a rather anti-Satanic thing to do. However, he apparently doesn't advocate tolerating abuse, either, and instead of preaching tolerance toward such abuse, he suggests that a person has a right to practice self-defense as needed. I don't know. I'm not a Satanist. This is merely speculation on my part.

Answer 2

I read "The Satanic Bible" several times over the years (including LaVey's other books) and considered myself a follower of the "Left Hand Path" at some points in my life (in my 20's). I was even briefly a member of the Temple of Set at one point.

I have changed my viewpoint by looking at the whole picture, not just the Satanic Bible. I would encourage Satanists to do the same.

LaVey was ambiguous in his approach to Satan and Satanism...sometimes calling him a "dark force in nature", but other times he seemed to indicate "the man downstairs" as he called him, was a personification. Even his former followers like Michael Aquino (who had his own spinoff) didn't really seem to know where LaVey stood on the issue. Perhaps Lavey was trying to placate both sides of the crowd; the ones who really believed in Satan, and the ones who didn't.

LaVey lied about his accomplishments in life (orchestra member, lion tamer, etc.), and in fact, was a high school dropout. Despite claims of being a millionaire, he filled for bankruptcy in the 1990's. He no longer owned the broken down house he lived in (which had once been the infamous "black house" when he died. During the 80's, his family lived in poverty and relied on handouts from his family and from public assitance (i.e., welfare, foodstamps, etc.). His teeth rotted out, which happenes to a lot of poor people.

His wife Diane sued him citing physical abuse. He had beaten her all during their 23 year shack up (they were never legally married). LaVey also abused and his his pets. A guy that beats his wife and kicks his dogs... not much of a man in anyone's book!

While LaVey claimed he tried to "keep the nuts out of the church of Satan", he claimed several times to have held a "cannibal feast" for the Church. What do you call a cannibal???

LaVey also forced his female followers into prostitution as part of his "Satanic sex therapy", and kept their earning, beating them when they didn't bring back enough money. In other words... he was a pimp! Despite the claim of not hurting children, LaVey admitted to police that he had been a passive observer while his own grandson Stanton was molested, (confirmed by police records and Zeena LaVey).

Then there's the rituals from "The Satanic Rituals"
A 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).
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)

Now, eventually, when faced with this data, one must conclude: LaVey could not make Satanism work. LaVey, rather than being the "alien elite" was little more than part of the criminal class. He abused women, children, & animals. His magic didn't work, and he died poor and bankrupt. He was even a cannibal on at least one occasion.

And before you say to yourself "..but he was Jayne Mansfield's lover, blah , blah, blah" or "...he had a degree in criminology, blah blah, blah," just CHECK AND SEE if he really did these things, or if he only LIED about it! You can make excuses for him all you want (so do followers of L.Ron Hubbard, Hitler, Sung Yun Moon, Etc.), but it doesn't change the fact he was a loser and a liar.

Did all this chage my viewpoint? It sure did! LaVey was a con artist, not a "junkyard philospher" nor "offbeat intellectual". The only thing he was, was very,very overrated!

Answer 3

See Solarius' answer. The kid gets it from LaVey.

Answer 4

Probably from the temple of Set.