Satanism: What it is All About

In the beginning Roman's believed in Lucifer, the brightest star on the horizon. Lucifer being a Latin word meaning "Light-bringer," was actually the planet, Venus. In order to tie Satan with Lucifer, the Catholic Church used verses from the bible, namely the Book of Isaiah 14:12-15:

"How are thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

For they hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne, above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north:

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most High.

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell to the sides of the pit."

The Catholic Church continued into the 12^th century to accuse innocent people through their order, the Inquisition, where they tied Satan to Baphomet, who was often worshipped by the Knights Templar of France. Baphomet having the body of a man, yet a goat head and hooves, the Inquisition viewed the deity as Satan Incarnate, even though no where in the bible is Satan described as such.

Even King Louis XIV was a 'satanic' worshipper, often partaking in "Black Mass" with Madame de Monstparri. The general public used 'Satanism' or 'witchery' to accuse countless men and women of witchcraft and often condemn them to death.

However, modern day Satanism began with the birth of Howard Stanton Levey better known as Anton LaVey, born on April 11^th, 1930, in Cook County Illinois. His parents were Michael Joseph Levey and Gertrude Augusta Coultron, raising their son Howard, in the San Francisco Bay area. Anton LaVey was married three times having three children, and kept his private life under wraps, even though he was normally in the media spotlight. Apparently he was a very violent man, beating on his wife and animals on a normal basis.

On April 30^th, 1966, what is known as Walpurgisnacht or Beltane (a major holiday for Wiccans/Pagans to celebrate the coming of spring), Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan. As a Satanist there are three major holidays that you would celebrate and they are your Birthday, Walpurgisnacht or Beltane (April 30^th/May 1^st), and Samhain (October 31^st). A few years after founding the Church of Satan, Anton LaVey published varying books on his beliefs, including "The Satanic Bible" in 1969 and "Satanic Rituals" in 1972.

Satanists believe that you should always have your best interest in mind, being known as a widely selfish religion. They do not believe in a heaven, hell, or an afterlife; that you should spend your time wisely here on earth because it is all that you have been given. Some other beliefs are: carnal indulgence (sex), no harming animals/humans, and partaking of 'Black Mass.'

Anton LaVey firmly upheld that having unholy sex is completely natural and therefore ok. He deemed it a primal instinct and encouraged sexual activity, so long as it was not harmful to another person.

Prior to popular belief, Satanists do not partake of killing or harming humans or animals for any reason, magical or otherwise. Satanism is often mistaken for African voodoo or Santeria where ritualistic killings do take place.

They do, however, partake of a main ritual called 'Black Mass,' which is a parody of the Catholic "Holy Mass." Being performed backwards, with inverted crosses, black candles (instead of white), and indulging in your carnal desires before spitting or stepping on the cross. Urine, water, or wine is usually substituted for holy water and sprinkled on those who attend.

Another sect of the Church of Satan, having similar beliefs to a varying degree, is the Temple of Set. Founded by Michael A. Acquino in 1975, this sect continues to operate out of the San Francisco area, although there are 'lodges' located around the world. There are six degrees of iniation: Setian I, Adept II, Priest/Priestess III, Magister/Magistra IV, Magnus/Maga V, Ipissimus/Ipsissima VI. Setian is a probationary degree, while Adept is the principal of things in which work is done; the last four degrees are religious offices. There are nine groups or orders under the Temple of Set, the most widely known being the Order of the Trapezoid. And underneath the Order of the Trapezoid there are several 'Lodges.' A lodge is where you would attend meetings and uphold in the religion, geographically speaking.

The Order of the Trapezoid is run much like that of the Knights of Templar (if you have seen the movie The Davinci Code, you would understand). At the head of the Order is a Grandmaster, he runs and initiates the order according to his vision and is appointed usually by a prior Grandmaster.

Which still leaves the question to be answered, is Satanism really evil? There is a quote that sums it up, "EVIL is LIVE spelled backwards." Human nature is to be evil, because we are a living, breathing race; we are subject to our own natural and primal instincts, whether that is to be protective of those we love, or to indulge on our more carnal desires.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_LaVey
www.reference.com/browse/satanism
www.reference.com/browse/satanic%20bible
Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft by Raven Grimassi 2002 (pages 32-33, 225-26)
The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer 2005 (pages 267, 418, 421, 433)
The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft by Rosemary Ellen Guiley 1999 (page 305)