Satanism is an umbrella term describing several theistic and atheist groups, cults, movements and religions. It is generally used to reefer to Theistic Satanism, although the term has now mostly been adapted to the 20th and 21st century atheist and political movements inspired by Anton Szandor LaVey.
LaVey's movements are generally refereed to as "Modern Satanism", while the theistic movements are often refereed to as "Traditional Satanism", which, due to it's apparent inaccuracy in face of modern Interpretations and movements, can be split in multiple different sub categories and can just be refereed to by the more the neutral term "Theistic Satanism".
Atheistic Satanism
- This section is missing sources and may not be perfectly representing the believes and organizations of the movement.
Atheistic Satanism, also known as Modern Satanism or Symbolic Satanism, is the term used to reefer to the (generally) atheistic movements of the second half of the 20th and the current 21st century which were created/ inspired by Anton Szandor LaVey. Although these movements are partially recognized and registered as religions in the United Sates they can generally not be classified as such, mostly on account of them being atheist, although some organizations and members retain spiritual elements and follow a certain set of believes.
Atheistic Satanism and it's organization are therefore mostly concerned with the separation of church and state, and thus are more resembling political movements then religions.
History
The concept of symbolic Satanism was first created by Anton Szandor LaVey. LaVey created his idea of Satanism, and simultaneously founded the Church of Satan (CoS), in San Francisco, California on the night of April 30th to May 1st, 1966, on the Spring Equinox (Walpurgisnacht). LaVey died on October 29, 1997, and the next high priestess, Blanch Barton, took his place. Peter H. Gilmore succeeded her by appointment in 2001. Gilmore later moved the Church of Satan headquarters to Hell's Kitchen in New York City, New York.
Satanic Panic
See also: List of satanic ritual abuse allegations
Due to it's fast spread and success under the name "Satanism", LaVeyan Satanism was not well-researched by most people, and was assumed to be linked to extremist theistic cults (which mostly didn't exist at the time). These misconceptions caused the Satanic Panic in the 1970s and 1980s.
Beliefs
Atheistic satanists do not worship any god, metaphysical beings, or anything else, but many of them choose to view themself as a god.
While not believing in any devine morals, atheistic satanists still hold their own morals and values, including but not limited to:
- ”Do unto others as they do unto you”
- kindness and respect only to those who deserve it
- healthy skepticism
- Do not hurt any animals except for food or for protection.
Magic in LaVeyan Satanism
Some LaVeyan satanists practice a form of magic. They generally recognize there to be Greater Magic and Lesser Magic.
Greater Magic consists of three rituals: the destruction ritual, the lust ritual, and the compassion ritual. These rituals are the basis of LaVey Satanist magic, and are meant as psycho-dramas. They involve ritual, ceremony, and any other elements that are conducive to the desired effects.
Lesser magic is the use of "[...] wile and guile obtained through various devices and contrived situations, which, when utilized, can create "change in accordance with one's will." [1] Lesser magic consists of three "Glamors" by which lesser magic is accomplished. The three glamors are sex, sentiment, and wonder, or any combination of these.[1]
Books
LaVey and his successors have written many books describing the core believes and structure of the ideology and groups.
| Title | Author | Info | Acquisition |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Satanic Bible | Anton Szandor LaVey | Wiki | Amazon |
| The Satanic Rituals | Anton Szandor LaVey | Wiki | Amazon |
| The Satanic Witch | Anton Szandor LaVey | Wiki | Amazon |
| The Devil's Notebook | Anton Szandor LaVey | Wiki | Amazon |
| Satan Speaks! | Anton Szandor LaVey | Wiki | Amazon |
| The Church of Satan | Blanche Barton | Wiki | Amazon |
| The Satanic Scriptures | Peter H. Gilmore | Site | Amazon |
Theistic Satanism
Theistic Satanism, also sometimes refereed to as Traditional Satanism, is in itself an umbrella term for multiple religions, groups and cults worshiping Satan, and often also other demons, as actual entities. Theistic Satanism is, unlike Atheistic Satanism, very divided and the term encompasses many religions and groups which sometimes hold fundamentally incompatible and different believes, the only thing uniting them is their believe in Satan.
Pagan and traditional Satanism
Pagan and traditional Satanism describes the most common believes in theistic Satanism, which are mostly based upon old or even ancient occult and pagan believes & scriptures, as well as demonology. Pagan Satanism may also involve the equation of Satan with other (neo-)pagan deities, a good example of pure Pagan Satanism is the Temple of Set.
Temple of Set
The Temple of Set (TOS) is an occult order founded in 1975 by Michael Aquino, when it split from the Church of Satan. The Temple practices a religion known as "Setianism", which is often called a form of Satanism which, though true are claims denied by the Order.
The order was founded after a split from the Church of Satan in 1975 when the founder, Michael Aquino, grew dissatisfied with the direction in which LaVey was taking the Church. Aquino resigned and embarked on a ritual to invoke Satan, who revealed to him a sacred text called The Book of Coming Forth by Night. According to Aquino, in this work Satan revealed his true name to be that of Set, which had been the name used by his followers in ancient Egypt.
The Religion can thus be classified as a mixture between Kemetism and Satanism, due to it believing that a Egyptian deity is Satan.
Christian Satanism
The term Christian Satanism describes Satanist religions that involve the Bible or general Christian thought, oftentimes seeing the Judeo-Christian God as evil and Satan as good. Satan is thus viewed as either a fallen angel, or as the only true god, in which case the Judeo-Christian God is only an evil spirit that deceives large chunks of the population.
Shadow Path Diabolism
Shadow Path Diabolism is a self described Satan-worshiping branch of ancient paganism created by R. J. Womack (aka. Brother Nero) between 2020 and 2021.[2][3] Followers of the religion base their believes on his Podcast(s) and his 2021 book Shadow Path Diabolism: A New Approach to Old-Style Devil Worship. R. J. Womack, the founder of the religion, has stated he wants to step away from the term Satanism due to too many false associations and assumptions linked to that term, he thus describes his religion as "Diabolism" instead of Satanism.[4] While citing ancient paganism as the roots of his believes, it is clear that Shadow Path Diabolism is, at least somewhat, based on christian theology and thus christian Satanism. Followers believe for example, that the christian god is an evil spirit of deception fooling the world into worshiping them and setting unreachable goals, which lead the christian people to live their life in misery which gives the spirit power.[5]
Neo-Nazi Satanism
The term Neo-Nazi Satanism (also just Nazi Satanism) is used as a subcategory to distinguish far-right groups and believes from the mostly apolitical or left leaning believes of most other theistic satanists. Though theistic, the main distinction between these groups/ movements and other theistic movements is that they generally believe in the devine supremacy of a specific (generally the white) race, while also spreading hate and conspiracy about Christianity and Judaism[6][7] and mixing in praise for Hitler, his party and his Regime in Nazi Germany.[8][9]
Order of Nine Angles
The Order of Nine Angles (ONA or O9A), also referred to as the Order of the Nine Angles[10], is a Satanic, Left-Hand Path & Neo-Nazi occult group that was founded in England, United Kingdom. Adherents of the O9A paradigm are often called "niners". The first O9A group was created in England in 1984, but the paradigm is claimed to be older than that, probably dating to the 1970s. Other O9A groups have subsequently been created elsewhere, and there is no single central O9A organization. Some niners call the paradigm "Traditional Satanism", though that is a misnomer because there is no older tradition that it is drawing upon. The O9A paradigm involves a seven-step hermetic progression called "the hebdomadry". A general guideline of the O9A is that Satanists should be dangerous people, and not particularly law-abiding; fittingly, some O9A adherents have been involved in significant crimes.
The group as strong links to national socialist movements and groups[11], including the Atomwaffen Division[12], the O9A itself, implements neo-Nazi ideas into their teachings and has thus attracted many national socialist adherents[13]. The group as also been linked to multiple attempted and succeeded right wing and religious terror attacks and murders. The Order of the Nine Angles was designated as a terrorist organisation by the British government.
Joy of Satan
Joy of Satan (JoS) is a satanic occult group founded in 2002 in the United States. The group implements neo-Nazi ideas into their teachings and beliefs, as it was founded by Andrea Herrington, who is the wife of Cliff Herrington, who lead the National Socialist Movement (NSM USA).[14] The Joy of Satan is affiliated with and supports anti-jewish, anti-judaic, and anti-christian sentiments, as well as conspiracy theories, the group runs the sub-page "Exposing Christianity", which hosts several conspiracy theories and accusations toward the two religions.[6][7] The forum of the Joy of Satan (ancient-forums.com) is almost exclusively filled with nazi imagery and support as well as conspiracy theories in general.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 LaVey, Anton (1969). The Satanic Bible. Avon.
- ↑ New Tradition: Have I gone Pagan? by R. J. Womack
- ↑ Nero answers more questions about the new tradition & ministry
- ↑ Why am no longer using the term Satanism to refer to my religious tradition by R. J. Womack
- ↑ https://youtu.be/EH0F6Np4-OQ around 3:00
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "JoS Exposed by many Satanists Worldwide"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Exposing Christianity" Website by the Joy of Satan
- ↑ An Example Thread on the Ancient Forums of the Ministry of the Joy of Satan, the post as well as the comments are filled with Nazi imagery.
- ↑ ONA 2011 includes instructions on how to perform a mass to invoke Adolf Hitler.
- ↑ U.S. Army Soldier charged with Terrorism Offenses for Planning a deadly Ambush on Service Members in his unit - US Department of Justice
- ↑ Far right hate is spiraling out of control - and politicians aren't doing enough to stop it.
- ↑ Atomwaffen Division (AWD)
- ↑ ONA 2011
- ↑ Satanism.pdf, Satan the Alien: Joy of Satan (Page 55)