Religious Satanism

Rather than being one single form of religious Satanism, there are instead multiple different religious Satanisms, each with different ideas about what being a Satanist entails.[67] Dyrendal, Lewis, and Petersen believed that it was not a single movement, but rather a milieu.[68] They believed that there was a family resemblance that united all of the varying groups in this milieu,[6] and that most of them were self religions.[68] They argued that there were a set of features that were common to the groups in this Satanic milieu: these were the positive use of the term "Satanist" as a designation, an emphasis on individualism, a genealogy that connects them to other Satanic groups, a transgressive and antinomian stance, a self-perception as an elite, and an embrace of values such as pride, self-reliance, and productive non-conformity.[69]

Dyrendal, Lewis, and Petersen argued that the groups within the Satanic milieu could be divided into three groups: reactive Satanists, rationalist Satanists, and esoteric Satanists.[70] They saw reactive Satanism as encompassing "popular Satanism, inverted Christianity, and symbolic rebellion" and noted that it situates itself in opposition to society while at the same time conforming to society's perspective of evil.[70] Rationalist Satanism is used to describe the trend in the Satanic milieu which is atheistic, sceptical, materialistic, and epicurean.[71] Esoteric Satanism instead applied to those forms which are theistic and draw upon ideas from other forms of Western esotericism, Modern Paganism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.[71]

Both during his life and after it, the British occultist Aleister Crowley has been widely described as a Satanist, usually by detractors. Crowley stated he did not consider himself a Satanist, nor did he worship Satan, as he did not accept the Christian world view in which Satan was believed to exist.[72] He nevertheless utilised Satanic imagery, for instance by describing himself as "the Beast 666" and referring to the Whore of Babylon in his work, while in later life he sent "Antichristmas cards" to his friends.[73]

Source : en.wikipedia.org

Literary Satanism

European Enlightenment, some works, such as Paradise Lost, were taken up by Romantics like Byron and described as presenting the biblical figure of Satan as an allegory representing a crisis of faith, individualism, free will, wisdom and enlightenment.[citation needed] Those works actually featuring Satan as a heroic character are fewer in number but do exist. George Bernard Shaw and Mark Twain (cf. Letters from the Earth) included such characterizations in their works long before religious Satanists took up the pen. From then on, Satan and Satanism started to gain a new meaning outside of Christianity.[3]
In music

Black metal has often been connected with Satanism, in part for the lyrical content of several bands and their frequent use of imagery often tied to left hand path beliefs (such as the inverted pentagram). More often than not musicians associating themselves with black metal say they do not believe in legitimate Satanic ideology and often profess to being atheists, agnostics, or religious skeptics.[59] In some instances, followers of right hand path religions use Satanic references for entertainment purposes and shock value.[60] Most of black metal's "first wave" bands only used Satanism for shock value; one of the few exceptions is Mercyful Fate singer King Diamond, who follows LaVeyan Satanism[61] and whom Michael Moynihan calls "one of the only performers of the '80s Satanic Metal who was more than just a poseur using a devilish image for shock value".[62] One early precursor to Satanic metal was the 1969 rock album Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls, which contained numerous references to Satanism that reappeared in later Satanic rock music.

Glen Benton, vocalist and bassist of the band Deicide, once openly claimed to be a practitioner of theistic Satanism, and has spoken publicly to profess staunch anti-Christian sentiment. The controversial Dissection frontman Jon Nödtveidt openly spoke about his "chaos-gnostic" satanic beliefs, being a member of the Misanthropic Luciferian Order, and called his band "the sonic propaganda unit of the MLO".[63] Norwegian black metal artists such as Euronymous from Mayhem and Infernus from Gorgoroth have also identified themselves as Satanists and actively promoted their beliefs.[64] Numerous church burnings that covered parts of Norway in the early 1990s were also attributed to youths involved in the black metal movement, which included people promoting theistic Satanic beliefs and strong anti-LaVeyan attitudes.[65] However, the legitimacy of such actions as Satanic endeavors, rather than simply rebellious actions done for publicity, is something that has been doubted by even some of those who contribute to the genre.[66]

Source : en.wikipedia.org

Satanic ritual abuse hysteria

At the end of the twentieth century, a moral panic developed around claims regarding a Devil-worshipping cult that made use of sexual abuse, murder, and cannibalism in its rituals, with children being among its victims.[44] Initially, the alleged perpetrators of such crimes were labelled "witches", although the term "Satanist" was soon adopted as a favoured alternative,[44] and the phenomenon itself came to be called "the Satanism Scare".[45] Promoters of the claims alleged that there was a conspiracy of organised Satanists who occupied many different professions, from the police to politicians, and that they had been powerful enough to cover up their crimes.[44]

One of the primary sources for the scare was Michelle Remembers, a 1980 book by the Canadian psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder in which he detailed what he claimed were the repressed memories of his patient (and wife) Michelle Smith. Smith had claimed that as a child she had been abused by her family in Satanic rituals in which babies were sacrificed and Satan himself appeared.[46] In 1983, allegations were made that the McMartin family—owners of a preschool in California—were guilty of sexually abusing the children in their care during Satanic rituals. The allegations resulted in a lengthy and expensive trial, in which all of the accused would eventually be cleared.[47] The publicity generated by the case resulted in similar allegations being made in various other parts of the United States.[48] A prominent aspect of the Satanic Scare was the claim by those in the developing "anti-Satanism" movement that any child's claim about Satanic ritual abuse must be true, because children would not lie.[49] Although some involved in the anti-Satanism movement were from Jewish and secular backgrounds,[50] a central part was played by fundamentalist and evangelical forms of Christianity, in particular Pentecostalism, with Christian groups holding conferences and producing books and videotapes to promote belief in the conspiracy.[45] Various figures in law enforcement also came to be promoters of the conspiracy theory, with such "cult cops" holding various conferences to promote it.[51] The scare was later imported to the United Kingdom through visiting evangelicals and became popular among some of the country's social workers,[52] resulting in a range of accusations and trials across Britain.[53]

In the late 1980s, the Satanic Scare had lost its impetus following increasing scepticism about such allegations,[54] and a number of those who had been convicted of perpetrating Satanic ritual abuse saw their convictions overturned.[55] In 1990, an agent of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ken Lanning, revealed that he had investigated 300 allegations of Satanic ritual abuse and found no evidence for Satanism or ritualistic activity in any of them.[55] In the UK, the Department of Health commissioned the anthropologist Jean La Fontaine to examine the allegations of SRA.[56] She noted that while approximately half did reveal evidence of genuine sexual abuse of children, none revealed any evidence that Satanist groups had been involved or that any murders had taken place.[57] She noted three examples in which lone individuals engaged in child molestation had created a ritual performance to facilitate their sexual acts, with the intent of frightening their victims and justifying their actions, but that none of these child molestors were involved in wider Satanist groups.[58]

Source : en.wikipedia.org

Pentagram Satanic Symbool

 

Seen both on the forehead of the Baphomet and on the throne behind him, the pentagram is a widely recognised Satanic symbol - and often appears inverted.

Saint Peter's cross is often inverted too - as it was during the Satanic Temple's unveiling ceremony.

"This inversion is Satan's perception. It asks people to reconsider their cultural grounding, look at the evidence and reconsider their values," says Greaves.

"You have this one-sided vision with institutionalised religion as the arbiters of moral correctness.

"It prevents them considering whether they could be incorrect today on issues such as gay marriage and reproductive rights.

"It's true you don't have to identify with Satan to take on those causes. But the image of Satan resonates for us."

Source : bbc.com

What is the Satanic Temple?

 

The group describes itself as "Satanists, secularists, and advocates for individual liberty".
"We understand the Satanic figure as a symbol of man's inherent nature, representative of the eternal rebel, enlightened inquiry and personal freedom rather than a supernatural deity or being.
"We actively provide outreach and participate in public affairs where the issues might benefit from rational, Satanic insights."

Source : bbc.com
 

Two young children satanic symbool

 

"We hope children will see this as a beautiful work of art - there is nothing to be afraid of. That's what the children symbolise," says Greaves.

"The goat's face has a neutral expression. It's not demonic, ferocious or monstrous - as people make it out to be - if you look at without the cultural baggage."

But do children really have nothing to be afraid of from Satan?

"I don't think children approaching the monument without being primed by propaganda will find anything horrific about it," says Greaves.

"But we're about not indoctrinating children. For the most part children are forced into religion. That's something we definitely don't care to do."

 

Source : bbc.com

Levi's Baphomet

 

The best-known modern image of Baphomet was drawn in 1856 by the French occultist Eliphas Levi, in his book Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual.

He envisaged a winged hermaphrodite with a torch between his horns and a pentagram on his forehead.

Its arms bore the Latin words SOLVE (separate) and COAGULA (join together) - the powers of "binding and loosing" usurped from God.

Levi's drawing was the inspiration for the Satanic Temple's new monument.

"It contains all these binary opposites - above and below, part animal, part human. Male and female," says Greaves.

"It embodies opposites and celebrates contrasts."

Source : bbc.com/news

Decoding the symbols on Satan's statue

A controversial statue unveiled by the Satanic Temple at a secret ceremony in Detroit has attracted protests. But who is the goat-headed figure? And what do the elements of the statue symbolise?

The bronze statue is nearly 9ft tall and depicts a winged hermaphrodite known as Baphomet, flanked by two smiling children. It cost $100,000 (£64,000) to make and hundreds of Satanists turned out to see it unveiled.

Long term, the Satanic Temple wants to move the piece 900 miles (1,450km) south-west and erect it opposite a Ten Commandments monument outside Oklahoma City's Capitol Building.

The Baphomet will "complement and contrast" the commandments which include "unconstitutional prohibitions against free speech and free exercise of religion," according to the organisation.

"Our statue will serve as a beacon calling for compassion and empathy among all living creatures," says Lucien Greaves, the group's co-founder.

He hopes people of all ages will "sit on the lap of Satan for inspiration and contemplation... It's a nice little tourist attraction. People would travel a great distance to see it."

The unveiling of the statue came at a secret event for Temple members, where VIP ticketholders were invited to pose with the Baphomet

The name Baphomet

The name dates back to the Inquisition and torture of the Knights Templar about 1100 who, according to French chroniclers of the Crusades, confessed to worshipping a heathen idol called Baphometh.
Some scholars believe "Baphometh" was simply a corruption of "Mahomet" - the Prophet Muhammad.
But over the years as the mystery and speculation around the Templars has grown, so too have the interpretations of the word and its meaning.
One elaborate interpretation even drove the plot in Dan Brown's historical thriller Da Vinci Code, where the word Baphomet is decoded and translated to mean "Sophia" or wisdom.

 

Source : bbc.com

‘Come Dance With the Devil’: Hundreds Turn Out for Satanic Statue in Detroit

Amid death threats and calls to burn it down, the Satanic statue of Baphomet has finally found a home.

On Saturday, the Detroit chapter of The Satanic Temple unveiled its nearly 9-foot-high bronze statue of the winged goat-headed idol to cheers of "Hail Satan!" from the crowd of 700 - during what organizers billed as the largest Satanic ceremony ever.

Calling their statue "an unparalleled artistic triumph," the Satanists held it out to be "the most controversial and politically charged contemporary work of art" in the world that "stands as a testament to plurality and the power of collective action."
"Come dance with the Devil and experience history in the making," the group beckoned on its website in the lead-up to the ticketed event, which prompted the wrath of Christians and other locals.

"IT IS EVERY CHRISTIAN'S DUTY TO DESTROY THIS IF YOU SEE IT DESTROY THIS STATUE DESTROY THIS STATUE DESTROY THIS STATUE," according to one Facebook post earlier this month.

Source : news.vice.com

Why American Christians Love Satan

Just like their historical forbears, American believers like to blame bad things on the devil. But what if he’s just a convenient way to hide from the truth?
In America, much like God, Satan works in mysterious ways. Just how mysterious depends on who you talk to.

For instance, a good number of Christians became convinced that Satan made an appearance at last month’s Grammy Awards. While Christians detecting Satan’s presence at large music gatherings is hardly novel, the fact that Satan showed up right smack in the middle of a performance by Katy Perry and Juicy J. caused this particular sighting to be deemed more buzzworthy than most. Some evangelicals even speculated about whether or not Perry, while singing “Dark Horse,” had enacted an ancient satanic ritual, one that had actually summoned the Prince of Darkness to

Teen killer 'just finally wanted to kill,' allegedly cited Satanism

A San Jose man accused of killing his high school classmate for the thrill of it allegedly told police detectives that he had planned the attack for weeks and that it was endorsed by his religion, Satanism.
Jae Williams, who was 15 at the time, and his alleged 16-year-old accomplice, Randy Thompson, befriended Michael Russell for the sole purpose of killing him, and six weeks before his death in 2009, started looking for opportunities to carry out the attack, prosecutors say.
The new details contained in the transcript, come roughly two weeks before jury selection begins in Williams' first-degree murder trial. Williams and Thompson are being tried separately as adults. Both are now 20 and face life sentences if convicted.
Authorities say Williams and Thompson lured Russell, 15, to their backyard and beat him for roughly six minutes. When they couldn't find a pulse, prosecutors say the teens slit Russell's throat.
"I guess I just finally wanted to kill somebody," Williams said, according to a transcript of the interview conducted two days after the killing. "I had my chance and I took it."
Before the alleged killing, Williams told detectives he had already slaughtered a rabbit and beaten a cat to death, according to the transcripts.
The pair allegedly started looking for opportunities to kill Russell about six weeks before they attacked him in his backyard. The three attended Santa Teresa High School in San Jose.
Williams and Thompson got their chance Nov. 10, when they went to his home and invited him to smoke marijuana with them. Russell went to a shed to look for a lighter, and when he came out the assault began, prosecutors say.
"It might not be a very good reason, but there is a reason," Williams said, according to the transcript. "'Cause we wanted to."

Source : articles.latimes.com

Satan cut from 'Son of God' after Obama look-alike controversy

"Son of God" won't be giving the devil his due — or rather, his screen time.
To avoid another controversy about the character of Satan bearing a physical resemblance to President Obama in the upcoming religious film, the filmmakers have gone out of their way to edit the devil's scenes out of "Son of God," which is based on the TV miniseries "The Bible."
"It gives me great pleasure to tell you that the devil is on the cutting-room floor," producer Roma Downey told the Hollywood Reporter. "This is now a movie about Jesus, the son of God, and the devil gets no more screen time."

Satanism Is Atheistic

Many people are surprised to learn that LaVey did not believe in the existence of a literal Devil. This is probably the most misunderstood element about LaVey’s brand of Satanism: its adherents do not worship Satan. LaVey chose this title precisely because his philosophy celebrated all the aspects of the human experience that he thought had been wrongfully condemned by traditional religions, particularly Christianity. “Satanism…is a religion of the flesh, the mundane, the carnal, all of which are ruled by Satan, the personification [emphasis added] of the Left Hand Path.”⁸ Satan, for LaVey, “represents opposition to all religions which serve to frustrate and condemn man for his natural instincts.”⁹ In LaVey’s estimation, there could be no better title for a religion that stands opposed to his own concept of Christianity than one that is derived from the name of the archenemy that Christianity itself declares.

The term atheism, however, might not apply outright to LaVeyian Satanism. He observed, “It is a popular misconception that the Satanist does not believe in God. The concept ‘God,’ as interpreted by man, has been so varied throughout the ages, that the Satanist simply accepts the definition which suits him best….To the Satanist ‘God’ —by whatever name he is called, or by no name at all — is seen as the balancing factor in nature…[a] powerful force which permeates and balances the universe.”¹⁰ LaVey insisted that he believed in a God of some sort; therefore, we may allow him the prerogative of rejecting the label atheist. It does seem, however, that in the usual sense of the term, LaVeyian Satanism is atheistic.

Source : equip.org

Religious Satanists: The Church of Satan

The person who is almost single-handedly responsible for making Satanism a household word was Anton Szandor LaVey. The timing was just right during the cultural upheaval of the 1960s for someone to come along to challenge and lampoon many of Western society’s traditions and icons. In contrast to the ubiquitous Christianity in America, in symbols if not in values and morals, LaVey could find no better representative for what he wanted to start than Satan himself. For all the centuries of shouting down the Devil has received, he has never shouted back at his detractors. He has remained the gentleman at all times, while those he supports rant and rave. He has shown himself to be a model of deportment, but now he feels it is time to shout back. He has decided it is finally time to receive his due.³

As the official story goes — much of it has been debunked⁴  — Howard Stanton Levey, also known as Anton Szandor LaVey, on the last night of April, 1966 — Walpurgisnacht, the most important festival of the believers in witchcraft—…shaved his head in the tradition of ancient executioners and announced the formation of The Church of Satan.⁵

It turns out that even this much of the story is not true, according to LaVey’s daughter Zeena. The idea of a church arose as a business and publicity vehicle⁶ suggested by a professional publicist since he was convinced that LaVey would never make any money by lecturing on Friday nights for [the two-dollar] donations…that he charged…filling his living room with the curious and establishing a local reputation as an eccentric.⁷

However the institution came about, the Church of Satan certainly went on to attract quite a bit of attention. Much of this attention was aroused by the publication of its manual, The Satanic Bible, and the sequel, The Satanic Rituals. In The Satanic Bible, LaVey lays out his views, which can best be described as an atheistic religion of self-interested hedonism with a dash of occult philosophy.

Source : equip.org

ANATOMY OF A PHENOMENON

With the help of the Internet, anyone can set himself or herself up as an expert and self-proclaimed Satanist. The most conspicuous representation of Satanism in any official (if such a term can even be applied to Satanism) capacity, however, is the Church of Satan.

Investigative journalist Arthur Lyons’s grouping of Satanists is probably the most used by those who discuss Satanism, although the Church of Satan objects to such categorization. In his book Satan Wants You Lyons divides Satanists into three types: Neo-satanic churches, solitary Satanists, and “outlaw” cults.¹ Others label these groups religious Satanists, self-styled Satanists, and satanic cults, respectively. This categorization is somewhat helpful, but there are potential problems with it. First, it fails to emphasize at least one important distinction within the category of religious Satanists, namely, between the Church of Satan and the Temple of Set, as I will explain below. Second, this categorization may put too much emphasis on satanic cults as an important segment of the phenomena. Lyons’s book was written during the heyday of accusations, exposés, and confessions of the ravaging of victims in secret torture chambers,² known as satanic ritual abuse by supposed sinister satanic cults. I will say more on this third category, but first I would like to look at the first two categories: religious Satanists and self-styled Satanists.

Source : equip.org

SYNOPSIS Of SATANISUM

Satanism is a topic that many people would prefer to ignore despite the fact that for some it has become a way of life, a philosophy, indeed, a religion. What started out as perhaps an American novelty is now being recognized by some, even in other countries, as a bona fide way to worship. When Anton Szandor LaVey burst onto the scene in the 1960s with his Church of Satan and his dark and foreboding Satanic Bible, many were shocked. Some welcomed him, however, and to them LaVey became a mentor, if not a guru. LaVey’s Satanism was, for them, a long-awaited religion that celebrated mans natural carnal desires and instincts and eschewed hypocrisy, acknowledging that the lives that people live on Saturday night should be preached on Sunday morning.

Is Satanism nothing more than a concession to our passions, or does it have substance beyond that? Its growth and development over the past nearly 40 years cause many to think there is more, including those who still embrace this religion of the dark side even after the novelty has worn off and who want others to understand why. 

The term strikes fear in many and ridicule or skepticism in others. Satanism, standing as it has against the conventional morality and religious assumptions of much of Western civilization, strikes many as antithetical to all the pillars of decent society. Is Satanism what most people suspect? Do Satanists worship the Devil? Is it a serious religion or just a pretense to revelry and antisocial behavior? Should we be afraid?

Source : equip.org

Differences Between Witchcraft and Satanism

With the capture of the man police believe is the Night Stalker, I, like, everyone else in the city, can feel a little bit safer, a little more relieved to go to sleep at night.

There are several things, however, in your reporting of the incident (Sept. 2) about "Satanism" that has me and many others a bit outraged.

Your writers should have been more thorough in their research of the meaning of the symbol of the Pentagram (or five-pointed star) and the differences between Witchcraft and Satanism.

First of all, let's start with the "Pentagram." This is, unfortunately, the symbol the killer saw fit to use in his tirade of sickness. Your writers said, " . . . Spray-painted Pentagrams--a distinctive Satanism symbol. . . . " This is misleading information.

Source : articles latimes

Teen killer 'just finally wanted to kill,' allegedly cited Satanism

A San Jose man accused of killing his high school classmate for the thrill of it allegedly told police detectives that he had planned the attack for weeks and that it was endorsed by his religion, Satanism.

Jae Williams, who was 15 at the time, and his alleged 16-year-old accomplice, Randy Thompson, befriended Michael Russell for the sole purpose of killing him, and six weeks before his death in 2009, started looking for opportunities to carry out the attack, prosecutors say.

The new details contained in the transcript, obtained by the San Jose Mercury News, come roughly two weeks before jury selection begins in Williams' first-degree murder trial. Williams and Thompson are being tried separately as adults. Both are now 20 and face life sentences if convicted.

Authorities say Williams and Thompson lured Russell, 15, to their backyard and beat him for roughly six minutes. When they couldn't find a pulse, prosecutors say the teens slit Russell's throat.

Source : articles latimes

The horns

The horns are symbolic of the life force, the witchpower, vril, chi...This is symbolized by the symbol for the planet Mercury [shown directly below]. "Mercury" is known as "Messenger of the Gods." "God/s" is a code-word for the chakras. Note the horns shown on the image of Azazel [shown at left], with the rays shining fromm his head, representing the risen serpent

Trishul symbolizes the serpentine energy

The "Devil's Pitchfork" is actually a very ancient symbol predating Christianity by thousands of years. This symbol originated in the Far East [where Christianity and its Jewish root stole from copiously; hideously perverting and corrupting the massive theft beyond recogntion, in order to destroy spiritual knowledge and keep spiritual power in the hands of the "Chosen" few]. It is known as the "TRISHUL" and symbolizes piercing through the three knots in the base, the heart and 6th chakras, also known as "granthis" in Sanskrit. For the serpent to ascend, all three must be open. The Trishul symbolizes the serpentine energy piercing through the three granthis.

Meaning of Symbol (The Egyptian Ankh )

The Egyptian Ankh 

 

The Egyptian Ankh represents the key to the soul and the heart chakra. The glyph for the planet Venus was derived from the ankh. Both the planet Venus and the heart chakra are of Astaroth.

Meaning of Symbol (The Equal Armed Iron Cross)

The Equal Armed Iron Cross

The Equal Armed Iron Cross is seen in most Demon Sigils and represents the correct alignment of the chakras and the shape of the human soul