Satanism is a religious, semi-religious and/or philosophical movement whose adherents recognize Satan as an archetype, literal being, pre-cosmic force, or some aspect of human nature. Although named for Satan, a being associated with evil and temptation, Satanism is more commonly the name given to certain spiritual paths which emphasize the Left-Hand Path, as opposed to the much more common Right-Hand Path. Left-Handers believe in spiritual enrichment through their own work on themselves, and that ultimately they are answerable only to themselves, while Right-Handers believe in spiritual enrichment through the dissolution or submission of the self to (or into) something greater. Most Satanists do not in fact worship a deity called Satan, or any other deity, nor do they follow a principle of evil, and this aspect of their beliefs is commonly misunderstood. Philosophy (from the Greek words philos and sophia meaning love of wisdom) is understood in different ways historically and by different philosophers. ... Gustave Dores depiction of Satan from John Miltons Paradise Lost Satan (שָׂטָן Standard Hebrew Satan, Latin Sátanas, Tiberian Hebrew Śāṭān; Aramaic שִׂטְנָא Śiṭnâ: both words mean Adversary; accuser) is an angel, demon, or minor god in many religions. ... Archetype is defined as the original model of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are merely derivative, copied, patterned, or emulated. ... Human nature is the fundamental nature and substance of humans, as well as the range of human behavior that is believed to be invariant over long periods of time and across very different cultural contexts. ... The Baphomet, symbol of some Left-Hand Path religions. ... The Baphomet, symbol of some Left-Hand Path religions. ... Evil is a term describing that which is regarded as morally bad, intrinsically corrupt, wantonly destructive, inhumane, or wicked. ...

Instead of divine laws or naturistic principles (such as in wicca), Satanism generally focuses upon spiritual advancement of the self without requiring guidance from external higher beings or external principles, instead of submission to a deity or a set of moral codes. For this reason, many contemporary Satanists eschew traditional religious beliefs, attitudes and worship in favor of more egoistic, self-centering worldviews and practices such as materialism, individualism and magick. However, the majority of Satanists do have voluntary moral codes, e.g., the 9 Statements or 11 Laws of the LaVeyan Satanists. A Neo-Pagan pentacle: a symbol used by many Wiccans. ... See the following articles for discussion of the self: Self (psychology) Self (philosophy) Self-concept Self programming language Self (book), a novel by Yann Martel Self (magazine) Soul discusses religious concepts relating to the self This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise... A deity or a god, is a postulated preternatural being, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, thought holy, divine Jeffrey, or sacred, held in high regard, or respected by human beings. ... Moral codes (see Morality) are often complex statements of right and wrong. ... Worship usually refers to specific acts of religious praise, honour, or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as a god or goddess. ... Egoism is the ethical doctrine that the pursuit of one’s self-interest is the basis of morality. ... A world view, also spelled as worldview is a term calqued from the German word Weltanschauung (look onto the world). The German word is also in wide use in English, as well as the translated form world outlook. ... Materialism is the philosophical view that the only thing that can truly be said to exist is matter; that fundamentally, all things are comprised of material. The view is perhaps best understood in its opposition to the doctrines of immaterial substance applied to the mind historically, and most famously by... Individualism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues of self-reliance and personal independence. ... Magick is an alternate spelling of magic, coined by Aleister Crowley to differentiate the true science of the Magi from all its counterfeits. In the broadest sense, Magick is any act designed to cause intentional change, for example, changing the channel on your television set. ... Anton Szandor LaVey Anton Szandor LaVey (born Howard Stanton Levey, 11 April 1930 – 29 October 1997), was the founder and High Priest of the Church of Satan, author of The Satanic Bible, and creator of the philosophy known as LaVeyan Satanism. ...

So-called "Gothic Satanism", the Satanism that Inquisition-era accusers believed was being practiced and which is closest to the average impression of Satanism, and involved tales of murder and baby-eating, is not known to be practiced in the world today in any formal sense. Pedro Berruguete. ...

Modern, especially post-LaVeyan Satanic thought carries a strong current of inversionism; although a faith in its own right groups or individuals described in some sense or another as Satanic can largely, though incomprehensively, be described as belonging to one of two unofficial sub-groupings: Philosophical Satanism or Religious Satanism.

History

The concept of Satan has evolved over the centuries, as has Satanism.

Originally in Judeo-Christian traditions, Satan was seen as a part of creation, embodying the principle that one could choose contrary to Gods wishes, and thus empowering the potential for freewill and defiance. (In this context an ancient Jewish commentary notes that only when the potential to contravene Gods will arose, could creation become "very good" as opposed to merely "good"). Over the centuries this concept of Satan came to embody all that was evil and against God, a change attributable to two main influences:

• The view that everything had its opposite, and that God, all-good, must have His opposing deity too (many preceding multiple deity religions also had their evil gods as well as good gods, Set of the Ancient Egyptians being one example),
• The spreading of Christianity, followed by Islam, both religions which gained a wide number of adherents, which placed a high premium on salvation and the afterlife, and within which Satan grew as an embodiment of all that was trying to undermine God in this theological world-view.

As society evolved from the reformation into the enlightenment onwards (17th and 18th centuries), people in Western societies began to question the nature of evil, and Satan gradually evolved yet again in response to this, so Satanism came to signify a tradition which denied traditional religious paths in favor of a self-oriented path, rather than a path which favored evil. In mathematics, a set can be thought of as any collection of distinct things considered as a whole. ... Map of Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt as a general historical term broadly refers to the civilization of the Lower Nile Valley, between the First Cataract and the mouths of the Nile Delta, from circa 3300 BC until the conquest of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. As a civilization based... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... Enlightenment may refer to: Enlightenment (concept), a concept in mysticism, philosophy and psychology For the Hindu religious concept of enlightenment, see moksha For the Buddhist religious concept, see Bodhi, Satori For the Yoga concept of enlightenment, see Yogic Enlightenment The Age of Enlightenment, a period in European history For the...

In an older sense, Satanism also refers to unorthodox practices within Abrahamic religions deemed by an orthodoxy to be in opposition to the Abrahamic God. The earliest recorded instance of the word is in "A confutation of a booke (by Bp. Jewel) entitled An apologie of the Church of England", by Thomas Harding (1565): ll, ii, 42 b, "Meaning the time when Luther first bringed to Germanie the poisoned cuppe of his heresies, blasphemies, and Satanismes." As Martin Luther himself would have denied any link between his teachings and Satan, this use of the term Satanism was primarily pejorative. Many Satanists find such use of the term offensive. Abrahamic religion is a term used by some students of comparative religion to describe any religion derived from an ancient Semitic tradition traceable to Abraham -- a patriarch described in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Quran. ... The word orthodoxy, from the Greek ortho (right, correct) and doxa (thought, teaching), is typically used to refer to the correct theological or doctrinal observance of religion, as determined by some overseeing body. ... Abraham (אַבְרָהָם Father/Leader of many, Standard Hebrew Avraham, Tiberian Hebrew ʾAḇrāhām; Arabic ابراهيم Ibrāhīm) is the patriarch of Judaism, recognized by Christianity, and a very important prophet in Islam. ... The term God is capitalized in the English language as a proper noun when used to refer to a specific monotheistic concept of a Supreme Being in accordance with Christian, Jewish (as G-d - cf. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... Events March 1 - the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded April 27 - Cebu City is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. ... The Luther seal Martin Luther (November 10, 1483–February 18, 1546) was a German theologian, an Augustinian monk, and an ecclesiastical reformer whose teachings inspired the Reformation and deeply influenced the doctrines and culture of the Lutheran and Protestant traditions. ... A word or phrase is pejorative or derogatory (sometimes misspelled perjorative) if it expresses contempt or disapproval; dyslogistic (noun: dyslogism) is used synonymously (antonyms: meliorative, eulogistic, noun eulogism). ...

Satan within Judaism, Christianity and Islam

The term "Satan" originated with Judaism and was expanded upon by Christians and Muslims. This Judeo-Christian-Islamic view of Satan can be broken up as follows: Judaism is the religious culture of the Jewish people. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament writings of his early followers. ...   Islam? (Arabic: الإسلام al-islām) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions, and the worlds second largest religion. ... Judeo-Christian (also spelled Judaeo-Christian) is a term used to describe the body of concepts and values which are thought to be held in common by Christianity and Judaism, and typically considered a fundamental basis for Western legal codes and moral values. ... Islam ( Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen?) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ...

• Jewish: Satan ‏(שטן)‏ in Hebrew, means "adversary" or "accuser", and is also the name used for the angel who tests believers. Satan is not considered an enemy of God, but a servant whose duties include testing the faith of humanity.

• Islamic: The Arabic word for Satan, "al-Shaitaan" ‏(الشيطان)‏ means transgressor, or adversary, as in Judaism. It is a title which is generally attributed to a being called Iblis, who is a Jinn.

• Christian: In many branches of Christianity, Satan, originally Lucifer (before he fell away from Grace), is a spiritual being who opposes God, to wit, the Divinity in Nature. (In Christianity, the fallen "son of the dawn" of Isaiah 14:12 is identified with the "adversary" of the Book of Job.) Also called the Devil from the Greek "diabolos" (Διαβολος), meaning "slanderer" or "one who accuses falsely" (derived from a verb which most literally means "to throw across" or "carry something over"). Reportedly, LaVey made the claim that the word "devil" was derived from the Sanskrit "devi", meaning goddess (though this is an incorrect etymology). This idea might seem plausible because of the patriarchal teachings of all three of the major monotheistic religions, and the example of other "pagan" proper nouns and archetypes that had been appropriated and redefined by Christianity and Judaism (e.g. Baal, Hel, Pan, Lucifer, Astarte, etc.).

The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by 6 million people mainly in Israel, parts of the Palestinian territories, the United States and by Jewish communities around the world. ... Islam ( Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen?) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Arabic (العربية al-arabiyyah, or less formally arabi) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... Judaism is the religious culture of the Jewish people. ... In Islam, IblÄ«s (Arabic إبليس), or Enais is the devil of the Christian and Jewish faiths called Satan or Lucifer. ... Genie is the anglicized word for the Arabic jinni. In Semitic mythology and Islamic religion, a jinni (also djinni or djini) is a member of the jinn (or djinn), a race of spirits. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament writings of his early followers. ... Lucifer is a Latin word made up of two words, lux (light; genitive lucis) and ferre (to bear, to bring), meaning light-bearer. ... The Devil is the name given to a supernatural entity who, in most Western religions, is the central embodiment of evil. ... Baal (בַּעַל / בָּעַל, Standard Hebrew Báʿal, Tiberian Hebrew Báʿal / Báʿal) is a northwest Semitic word signifying The Lord, master, owner (male), husband cognate with Akkadian BÄ“l of the same meanings. ... Hel can refer to: Hel (goddess), Norse goddess of the underworlds Hel, Poland is a town in Poland Hel Peninsula is a peninsula on the Polish shores of the Baltic Sea. ... Pan could mean any of the following things, follow the links for more information on the separate subjects: Cooking pan Pan, Greek god of the shepherds Pan, a moon of Saturn 4450 Pan, an asteroid Pan, a genus of apes composed of the Common Chimpanzee and the Bonobo or Pygmy... Lucifer is a Latin word made up of two words, lux (light; genitive lucis) and ferre (to bear, to bring), meaning light-bearer. ... ‘Ashtart, commonly known as Astarte (also Hebrew or Phoenician עשתרת, Ugaritic ‘ttrt (also ‘Attart or ‘Athtart), Akkadian dAs_tar_tú (also Astartu), Greek Αστάρτη (Astártê)), was a major northwest_Semitic goddess, cognate in name, origin, and functions with the east-Semitic goddess Ishtar. ...

Types and approaches within Satanism

Philosophical Satanism

Largely considered to have been unofficially founded by Anton Szandor LaVey, with his creation of the Church of Satan (the first above-ground organization to use the term), Philosophical Satanism views one's self as the subjective center of the universe, and the highest aspirations and virtues are those which seek the elevation and improvement of the individual Satanist over others. Philosophical Satanists generally do not recognize a theological deity or a metaphysical afterlife (though this is not to say that one must not); however this does not equate to a life devoid of spirituality. Anton Szandor LaVey Anton Szandor LaVey (born Howard Stanton Levey, 11 April 1930 – 29 October 1997), was the founder and High Priest of the Church of Satan, author of The Satanic Bible, and creator of the philosophy known as LaVeyan Satanism. ... Church of Satan The Church of Satan is an atheist organization that promotes Satanism as strictly defined by The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

To the Philosophical Satanist, one is one's own god. He disdains rationalist, secular humanistic beliefs, seeing them as abhoring the existence of the supernatural, only to thereby promote a sterile life grounded in the 'real world' alone and sees them as working towards the altruistic advancement of His fellow man while neglecting one's own gratification and fulfillment. Obviously, philosophically Satanic thought has had a long history before LaVey's Church, though it was the notion of Satan as the idealistic, self-seeking black sheep which inspired the title in spite of contemporary Christianity (which views him as evil because of these qualities). Church of Satan The Church of Satan is an atheist organization that promotes Satanism as strictly defined by The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey. ... Black sheep is a derogatory colloquial term in the English language meaning an outsider or one who is different in a way which others disapprove of. ...

LaVeyan Satanism

Main article: LaVeyan Satanism LaVeyan Satanism is a religion based upon the philosophy of Anton LaVey as outlined in The Satanic Bible and other works. ...

This type of Satanism is based on the philosophy of Anton LaVey as outlined in The Satanic Bible and other works. LaVey was the founder of the Church of Satan (c.a. 1966). LaVey was influenced by the writings of Aleister Crowley, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ayn Rand, Marquis De Sade, Wyndham Lewis, Charles Darwin, Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain and others. "Satan", in the view of LaVey, is seen as a positive influence, while the divine actions of the church are to be mocked, and the mundane is held in the highest. Anton Szandor LaVey Anton Szandor LaVey (born Howard Stanton Levey, 11 April 1930 – 29 October 1997), was the founder and High Priest of the Church of Satan, author of The Satanic Bible, and creator of the philosophy known as LaVeyan Satanism. ... The Satanic Bible The Satanic Bible is a book writen by Anton LaVey in 1969. ... Church of Satan The Church of Satan is an atheist organization that promotes Satanism as strictly defined by The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey. ... Aleister Crowley Aleister Crowley was born Edward Alexander Crowley on 12 October 1875 and died on 1 December 1947. ... Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 – August 25, 1900) was a profoundly influential German philosopher, psychologist, and classical philologist. ... Ayn Rand (February 2, 1905–March 6, 1982; first name pronounced (IPA) (rhymes with mine)), born Alissa Alice Zinovievna Rosenbaum, was best known for her philosophy of Objectivism and her novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. ... Portrait of the Marquis de Sade by Charles-Amédée-Philippe van Loo (c. ... Wyndam Lewis in 1916 Wyndham Lewis (November 18, 1882 - March 7, 1957) was a British painter and author. ... When Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species it shook the scientific world. ... Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (born June 24, 1842, Meigs County, Ohio, USA – date of death uncertain, possibly December 1913 or early 1914, presumably in Mexico) was an American satirist, and critic, short story writer, editor and journalist. ... Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was a famous and popular American humorist, writer and lecturer. ...

A Satanist views himself as his or her own god; the Satanic rituals are quite similar Crowley's magick, with an eye towards furthering the Satanist's ends. The LaVeyan Satanist maintains that those who find themselves naturally aligned with Satanism should not adhere to herd mentality and assume there is something ethically wrong with them, but should instead adopt an individualistic attitude, and consequently should strive constantly to stand head-and-shoulders above the so-called moral majority, and as much as possible to exploit their misguided altruism and good will. A ritual is a formalised, predetermined set of symbolic actions generally performed in a particular environment at a regular, recurring interval. ... Crowley can refer to Aleister Crowley, the 20th century occultist. ... Magick is an alternate spelling of magic, coined by Aleister Crowley to differentiate the true science of the Magi from all its counterfeits. In the broadest sense, Magick is any act designed to cause intentional change, for example, changing the channel on your television set. ...

Religious Satanism

Religious Satanism is often similar in outlook and attitude to Philosophical Satanism, though it is generally a prerequisite that the Satanist accept a theological and metaphysical canon involving one or more God(s) who are either Satan in the strictest, Abrahamic sense, or specially created to identify with or represent the practicioner. A Satan represented in the latter group may be entirely of the practicioner's mind, or may be an adoption from another (usually pre-Christian) religion. A canon refers to a list or collection of books and scriptures accepted by an ecclesiastic communion as authoritative or divinely inspired. ... Gustave Dores depiction of Satan from John Miltons Paradise Lost Satan (שָׂטָן Standard Hebrew Satan, Latin Sátanas, Tiberian Hebrew Śāṭān; Aramaic שִׂטְנָא Śiṭnâ: both words mean Adversary; accuser) is an angel, demon, or minor god in many religions. ...

Depending on the Satanists in question, this God (or Gods) may be any in a variety of deities, sometimes taken from ancient faiths; with common ones being Set of Egyptian theology, any number of ancient Mesopotamian Gods or Goddesses, sometimes Gods of Greek or Roman mythology (Mars, for instance). Others claim a largely original God, although it is usually said by those Satanists that their deity is in fact very old, perhaps from ancient pre-history and often being the first God worshipped by humans (though such claims are unverifiable at best). In mathematics, a set can be thought of as any collection of distinct things considered as a whole. ... This is an article about the ancient middle eastern region. ... Mars, with polar ice caps visible. ...

Others worship a stricter interpretation of Satan; that of the fallen angel featured in the Christian Bible, believing him to be correct in his rebellion against God. All these faiths hold in common, however, with each other and with Philosophical Satanists, that man, and specifically one's self are the highest priorities. This view is often supported by Satanists' view of the god, who is seen to encourage individuality and freedom of thought, and the quest to raise one's self up through means such as magick and similar to Nietzschean Will to Power. Magick is an alternate spelling of magic, coined by Aleister Crowley to differentiate the true science of the Magi from all its counterfeits. In the broadest sense, Magick is any act designed to cause intentional change, for example, changing the channel on your television set. ... Friedrich Nietzsche, 1882 Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 - August 25, 1900) was a highly influential German philosopher. ...

One example of this would be the Abrahamic Satan, as the Serpent in Genesis encouraging mankind to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, saying "Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.", with the clear implication, coinciding with the beliefs of all Satanists, that mankind should know what is better for itself than any God which would forbid knowledge and self-government. Because of the common position that their faiths are in fact very old, or the oldest, Religious Satanists sometimes refer to themselves as "Traditional Satanists" and Philosophical Satanists as "Contemporary Satanists". Genesis (Greek: Γένεσις, having the meanings of birth, creation, cause, beginning, source and origin) is the first book of the Torah (five books of Moses) and hence the first book of the Tanakh, part of the Hebrew Bible; it is also the first book of the Christian Old Testament. ... In the Bibles Book of Genesis, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden from which God forbade Adam and Eve to eat. ...

Setian Satanism

According to this sect, the Egyptian deity Set, is the real Dark Lord behind the name Satan. They have their own concept of the Black Flame. A deity or a god, is a postulated preternatural being, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, thought holy, divine Jeffrey, or sacred, held in high regard, or respected by human beings. ... Set, in KV34 Set (also Setekh, Seth, etc) was originally a god of strength, war, storms, foreign lands (and foreigners) and deserts in Egyptian mythology. ...

This type of Satanism maintains that the Hebrews ran into an adversary in Egypt who was the Pharaoh of the Seti Dynasty, when Set was the principal pharaonic Deity. After the Pharaoh expelled the Hebrews from Egypt, the Hebrew Bible scribes wrote "Exodus", demonstrating the enormity of this event to the Hebrew people. However, there are apparently no Egyptian records to back up any of the Hebrew claims except a passing mention of the Pharaoh kicking many foreigners out at that time — not just Hebrews. Even so, the impact of this expulsion was large enough to the Hebrews to warrant their calling Egypt and its Seti Pharaoh "ha stn", the adversary. Setian Satanists theorize that "Satan" is a wrong or slanderous label for a legitimate Egyptian God, the God Set. Hebrews (syns. ... Pharaoh (Hebrew פַּרְעֹה (without niqqud: פרעה), Standard Hebrew ParÊ¿o, Tiberian Hebrew Parʿōh, Arabic فرعون) is a title used to refer to the kings (of godly status) in ancient Egypt. ... The SETI Institute has received limited telescope time at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. ... The holy Jewish scripture: The Torah. ... Illustration of a 15th century scribe This is about scribe, the profession. ... Exodus is the second book of the Torah (the five books of Moses) and also the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) and Christian Old Testament. ... Hebrews (syns. ... Pharaoh (Hebrew פַּרְעֹה (without niqqud: פרעה), Standard Hebrew ParÊ¿o, Tiberian Hebrew Parʿōh, Arabic فرعون) is a title used to refer to the kings (of godly status) in ancient Egypt. ...

The practices and theology of the Set sect are very oriented towards cultivating selfhood. They reject the dissolving of the individual into oneness with existence, and celebrate the separation of the individual self from the rest of the universe. Some followers believe in Set as a real theistic conscious being that appears in revelations and delivers messages, while others revere Set as a more of a principle. How historically correct their picture of Set is might be considered debatable. Theology is reasoned discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, word or reason). It also refers to the study of other religious topics. ... The deepest visible-light image of the cosmos. ...

This type of Set-Satanism is a legally tax-exempt religion in the United States.

Sat/Tan Satanism

Main article: Sat/Tan Satanism Sat/Tan Satanism is Dark Tradition or Dark Doctrine Satanism and has been around for decades in many forms, some of which were non-Satanic forms (that is, the lingo used was not Satanic). ...

Sat/Tan Satanism is a unique, quasi-philosophical/quasi-theological brand of Satanism which maintains both religious and non-religious philosophical influences, either inwardly focusing or outwardly. Sat and Tan are Sanskrit words meaning respectively "Being" and "Becoming" (stretching forth), and it has been called by followers often also Dark Doctrine or Dark Discipline Satanism. It maintains that before the universe existed, there was a vast Darkness which represented the concepts of chaos and night, and within that Darkness, there was a Flame or Light which represented Divine Right, or creative capacity. The Flame or Light flared up and spread to the uttermost corners of the Darkness, creating the universe as we know it. Sat/Tan Satanism maintains that today a theoretical "Darkness" still exists throughout the cosmos, and that while all life possesses the creative Flame or Spark of Divine Right, only those individuals defined in this article as Satanists recognize and properly nurture their own Divinity (in the Sat/Tan sense). Those who neglect it are seen as living in the Darkness of ignorance.

An undoubtedly interesting note is that the Sith religion of Star Wars is a form of Sat/Tan Satanism; where The Force is seen as the Flame and the Jedi and their dogma are seen as living in the Darkness of meek or ignorant submission the so-called "Will of the Force" (the Sith believe the Force has no will except when put to proper direction by the will of the Sith Acolyte himself). In the fictional Star Wars universe, the Sith were a humanoid race enslaved by a group of warrior priests who follow the dark side of the Force and serve as the evil counterparts to the Jedi. ... Star Wars is a series of science fantasy films created by writer/producer/director George Lucas. ... In the fictional Star Wars universe, the Force is a mystical and binding, ubiquitous power that is the object of the Jedi and Sith monastic orders. ... Jedi in Action The Jedi are a fictional monastic peacekeeping organization from the Star Wars saga, known for their talent in the Force. ...

Satanic cults

Main article: Satanic ritual abuse Satanic ritual abuse, or SRA, refers to the belief that an organized network of Satanists engages in brainwashing and abusing victims, especially children, throughout the United States or even the world. ...

The existence of large networks of organized Satanists involved in illegal activities, murder, and child abuse is occasionally claimed, often by fundamentalist religious movements. Those claims have never been substantiated and are widely believed to be false. See conspiracy theories. Illegal, or unlawful, is either prohibitted or not authorized by law. ... ‹The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Fundamentalism is a movement to maintain strict adherence to founding principles. ... A conspiracy theory is a theory that defies common historical or current understanding of events, under the claim that those events are the result of manipulations by two or more individuals or various secretive powers or conspiracies. ...

Other groups

In the Ophite sect of early Christianity, the Serpent was praised as the giver of knowledge. Sometimes Satan was also referred to, under the names Lucifer or "the light-bringer". Some Gnostics claimed that the being declared God by Christians and Jews was in fact Satan, known as the Demiurge. Some early Gnostic sects, such as the Borborites and the followers of Carpocrates, were accused of horrific acts. It was said that they had sworn to commit all kind of evil acts in order to free themselves from the pains of this world. Accounts of these barbaric acts are not generally credible, as the accusations were rhetorical attacks against these groups by such heresiological writers as Irenaeus. The Ophites is a blanket term for numerous gnostic sects in Syria and Egypt about 100 A.D. The common trait was that these sects would give great importance to the serpent. ... Serpent is a word of Latin origin (serpens, serpentis) that is normally substituted for snake in a specifically mythic or religious context, in order to distinguish such creatures from the field of biology. ... Lucifer is a Latin word made up of two words, lux (light; genitive lucis) and ferre (to bear, to bring), meaning light-bearer. ... The term God is capitalized in the English language as a proper noun when used to refer to a specific monotheistic concept of a Supreme Being in accordance with Christian, Jewish (as G-d - cf. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. ... The term Demiurge (or Yaldabaoth, Yao, Ialdabaoth and several other variants, such as Ptahil used in Mandaeanism) refers in some belief systems to a deity responsible for the creation of the physical universe and the physical aspect of humanity. ... According to Epiphanius of Salamis book Panarion/Adversus Haereses chapter xxv, xxvi and Theodorets Haereticarum Fabularum Compendium the borborites (or barbelos, barbelites, phibionites, stratiotici, coddians etc) were a extraordinarily filthy and evil Gnostic ophite sect. ... Carpocrates was an early Gnostic from sometime in the second century A.D. who was mentioned by Clement of Alexandria in the Mar Saba letter discovered in 1958 by ancient historian Morton Smith. ... Heresy, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the ‘catholic’ or orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. ... Saint Irenaeus (c. ...

The Order of Nine Angles (ONA) has labeled itself Traditional Satanist and considers Satanism to be an individual quest which goes far beyond the gratification of the pleasure-principle and involves the arduous achievement of self-mastery and self-overcoming in a Nietzschean sense, with the aim of cosmic wisdom. Their conception of Satanism is practical, with an emphasis on individual growth into realms of darkness and danger through risky acts of prowess. In addition, the ONA seek to change, and disrupt, society itself. They espouse human sacrifice, which they see as the culling of "opfers," victims who are chosen according to strict guidelines. The use of the term "traditional" by these Satanists (ONA) is viewed by some as improper because the ONA refuses to provide any evidence of an old tradition, countering that it is the duty of each initiate to work things out for themselves. In addition, it is felt that "Traditional Satanism" as a label applies better, or at least equally well, to parts of the gnostic movement and its modern remnants. The Order of Nine Angles is a group of Satanists who believe that Satanism is a dark quest to create a new, higher, type of human being, and, ultimately, a new type of human society. ... Friedrich Nietzsche, 1882 Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 - August 25, 1900) was a highly influential German philosopher. ...

The Misanthropic Luciferian Order is a Scandinavian example of a Neo-Gnostic Satanic current. The MLO is a Chaos-Gnostic Order that "seeks the true Light of Lucifer through the study, development and practice of all forms of dark, gnostic and Satanic Magical systems".

The Norwegian Satanic Society, also known as DNSS, was the first LaVey-Satanic society in Norway and represents a more liberal or social-democratic Satanism, as writer Didrik Soderlind said it, compared to the more classic American Satanism. The Norwegian Satanic Society (DNSS) was founded by PÃ¥l Magne Ã…nestad in 2001. ...

Ordo Illuminatorum is a norwegian concept of Satanic illumination, which is set up by The Norwegian Satanic Society and Norwegian Satanic Temple, also known as NST. NST represents the philosophy of DNSS as well, but is more involved in the process of interaction between Satanists. The Norwegian Satanic Society (DNSS) was founded by PÃ¥l Magne Ã…nestad in 2001. ...

In early 2004, John L. Westbrook, a former Oklahoma politician told a Penthouse reporter that he had formed an "occult fraternity, to finish the work that the Temple of Set has previously botched." He then displayed a platinum medallion which he had commissioned that resembled a Mars planetary sigil. He has christened this neo-Satanic fraternity The Order of Mars. He said membership in his "fraternity" is restricted to those whom he knows personally and that his group does not solicit memberships. He also stated that this "Order" is named in honor of the Roman god Mars, whom he claims is closely aligned with Egyptian god Set. Johnny Lee (John) Westbrook (born July 10, 1980) is an American politician who was a Republican nominee for the Tulsa, Oklahoma City Council in 2000 and 2002. ... Oklahoma is a South Central state of the United States (with strong Southern, Western, and Midwestern influences) and its U.S. postal abbreviation is OK; others abbreviate the states name Okla. ... In architecture, a penthouse is a building on the roof of another building, or alternatively, an apartment on the top floor of a building. ... The Temple of Set is an occult society and (in the USA) a recognized religion. ... Mars, with polar ice caps visible. ... In early 2004, John L. Westbrook, a former Oklahoma politician told a Penthouse reporter that he has formed what he described as an occult fraternity, to finish the work that the Temple of Set has previously botched. ... Roman mythology can be considered as two parts. ... In mathematics, a set can be thought of as any collection of distinct things considered as a whole. ...

See also Process Church, Yezidis for groups that have been called Satanist but do not accept that label. The Process Church of the Final Judgement was a religious cult that flourished in the 1960s and 70s, founded by the Englishman Robert de Grimston Moor and MaryAnne MacLean. ... The Yezidi or Yazidi (Kurdish; Êzidî) are adherents of a small Middle Eastern religion with ancient origins. ...

Satanic philosophy

LaVey's "9 Satanic Statements", a sort of philosophical outline to defining Satanism, were as follows:

1. Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence.
2. Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams.
3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit.
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.
8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification.
9. Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years.

Matching these, LaVey also identified 9 Satanic sins, namely:

Stupidity, pretensiousness (putting on airs), solipsism (expecting others to give back to you what you give to them), self-deceipt, herd conformity, lack of perspective, forgetfulness of past orthodoxies (ie accepting something as new and different which is merely a repackaging of the old or the discredited), counterproductive pride (ie pride of a type which undermines ones own goals), and lack of aesthetics.

He further outlined 11 so-called Satanic rules, which while not exactly a moral code, appear to be some kind of general guidelines for living: Stupidity is the quality or condition of being stupid, lacking intelligence or lowered IQ. This quality can be attributed to both an individual himself (John Smith is stupid) or his actions, words or beliefs (John Smiths policies are stupid). ... Solipsism (from the Latin ipse = self and solus = alone) is the epistemological belief that ones self is the only thing that can be known with certainty and verified. ... Self-deception is a process of denying or rationalizing away the relevance, significance, or importance of opposing evidence and argument. ... Conformity is the act of maintaining a certain degree of similarity (in clothing, manners, etc. ... The word pride refers to a sense of self-respect, a refusal to be humiliated as well as joy in the accomplishments of oneself or a person, group, or object that one identifies in. ... Aesthetics (or esthetics) (from the Greek word αισθητική) is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty. ...

1. Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.
2. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.
3. When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.
4. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.
5. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.
6. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.
7. Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.
8. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.
9. Do not harm little children.
10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.
11. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.

Non-Satanic Sects

There are many groups which are commonly misconceived as Satanic. There are two common definitions of a Satanic religion:

• Any religion that consciously recognizes and worships "Satan," usually referring either to a "dark" deity (similar to the Christian Satan, though usually lacking the evil or unnaturalness associated with it) or a conceptual Satan, often referring to a so-called "true" nature of Mankind.

• Some religions that do not follow the Christian religion or recognize Jesus Christ as explained in Christian dogma.

The second definition is most commonly used by fundamentalist Christians, and is the source of much disagreement about whether a religion should be considered Satanic or not. The most common targets of these claims are Neo-Pagan religions, such as Wicca and Ásatrú. Neopaganism (sometimes Neo-Paganism, meaning New Paganism) is a heterogeneous group of religions which attempt to revive ancient, mainly European pre-Christian religions. ... A Neo-Pagan pentacle: a symbol used by many Wiccans. ... Reconstructions of the traditions of Germanic paganism began with 19th century Romanticism. ...

Occasionally, some Christian denominations or even Judaism and Islam are referred to as Satanic, based on interpretations of the second definition. Among these Christian groups are usually the less traditional ones, such as the Mormons and other smaller sects. Also, it is not unheard of for Catholics to refer to Protestants as Satanic, and vice versa, though this is more uncommon. The term Mormon is a colloquial name, most-often used to refer to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

Another movement which is wrongly associated with Satan is the heavy rock and metal music bands. Although there are some music groups that intentionally use Satanic imagery for one reason or another, the vast majority of metal/rock bands have no connection to any sort of Satanic philosophy. The term Movement has a variety of different meanings: Look up Movement in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Physical movement between points in space (A to B). The amount of movement is called distance. ... Gustave Dores depiction of Satan from John Miltons Paradise Lost Satan (שָׂטָן Standard Hebrew Satan, Latin Sátanas, Tiberian Hebrew Śāṭān; Aramaic שִׂטְנָא Śiṭnâ: both words mean Adversary; accuser) is an angel, demon, or minor god in many religions. ... Hard rock is a form of rock and roll music that finds its closest roots in early 1960s garage rock. ... Metal is a genre of music that derives from rock and electric blues, with distorted guitars, loud bass, and generally very powerful drums. ...

See also

• Baphomet
• Church of Satan
• Conspiracy Theories
• Demonic hierarchy
• Demonolatry
• Devil
• Left-Hand Path
• Leviathan
• List of Satanists
• List of religious topics
• Luciferians
• Pentagram
• Sabbath (witchcraft)

Baphomet, by Eliphas Lévi. ... Church of Satan The Church of Satan is an atheist organization that promotes Satanism as strictly defined by The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey. ... A conspiracy theory is a theory that defies common historical or current understanding of events, under the claim that those events are the result of manipulations by two or more individuals or various secretive powers or conspiracies. ... In early Christian theology, Satan or the Devil was seen as chief of all other demons. ... Demonolatry is the worship of one or more demons or archdemons, typically other than Satan (Worship of Satan primarily or exclusively is called Satanism). ... The Devil is the name given to a supernatural entity who, in most Western religions, is the central embodiment of evil. ... The Baphomet, adopted symbol of some Left-Hand Path religions. ... The Destruction of Leviathan, an engraving made in 1865 by Gustave Doré. The engraving depicts God slaying the legendary Leviathan, a sea monster. ... A number of noted individuals have been Satanists. ... Many Wikipedia articles on religious topics are not yet listed on this page. ... Luciferians describes two quite separate heterodox tendencies in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church. ... A pentagram, pentacle, pentalpha, or pentangle A pentagram is a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes. ... In Christian folk lore the Sabbath (or witch Sabbath to some people) is the name given to gatherings supposed to have been celebrated by Satanists, witches and warlocks to honor the Devil, offend God, Jesus, the sacraments, the cross, and perform unholy rites. ...

External links

• The Church of Satan
• The Temple of Set
• The Misanthropic Luciferian Order
• Satanic Reds - Social Realists
• Satanism: Description, Philosophies and Justification of Satanism
• Satan & Evil Spirits according to Quran
• Theistic/religious Satanist groups and resources
• The Order of Nine Angles
• Islamic Concept of Satan with reference to Quran
• Islamic Concept of Satan compared with Judaism and Christianity
• The Norwegian Satanic Society
• Ordo Illuminatorum - The Order of Illumination