Church of Satan

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Satanism
Associated organizations
Church of Satan
First Satanic Church

Prominent figures
Anton LaVey | Blanche Barton | Peter H. Gilmore | Peggy Nadramia | Karla LaVey

Associated concepts
Left-Hand Path | Pentagonal Revisionism | Suitheism | Survival of the fittest | Objectivism | Might Is Right

Books and publications
The Satanic Bible | The Satanic Rituals | The Satanic Witch | The Devil's Notebook | Satan Speaks! | The Black Flame | The Church of Satan | The Secret Life of a Satanist | The Satanic Scriptures

In popular culture
Allegations of Satanism | Satanic ritual abuse

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The Church of Satan is an organization for those who practice self-preservation as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.

Contents

[edit] History

The Church of Satan draws its name from the mythological and cultural concepts of Satan. Satan stands as the central symbol for many different gods, including Ahriman, Loki, Set, Amon, and Belial, all seen as symbolic of the same ideals and archetype. The Church of Satan claims that every individual can be his or her own god and is responsible for his or her own destiny. (In their usage, "Satan" denotes a symbol and metaphor rather than a literal anthropomorphic deity.) People who follow this belief system are called "Satanists".

The Church of Satan was established in San Francisco, California, on April 30, 1966 by Anton Szandor LaVey, who was the Church's High Priest until his death in 1997.

In the 1950s, Anton LaVey formed a group called the Order of the Trapezoid, which later evolved into the governing body of the Church of Satan. Those involved, or who attended LaVey’s activities included: “The Baroness” Carin de Plessen (who grew up in the Royal Palace of2007}}, and the owner of one of the world’s largest collections of Fabergé artifacts. Other LaVey associates from this time period include noted Science Fiction and Horror writers, Anthony Boucher, August Derleth, Robert Barbour Johnson, Reginald Bretnor, Emil Petaja, Stuart Palmer, Clark Ashton Smith, Forrest J. Ackerman, and Fritz Leiber Jr.

In the first year of its foundation, Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan attracted considerable media attention by publicly performing a Satanic marriage of Judith Case and radical journalist John Raymond. The ceremony was photographed by Joe Rosenthal, who took the famous photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. Another event was the public funeral of Church of Satan member and Naval Officer Edward Olson, at the request of his wife.

The Church of Satan was mentioned in many books and was the subject of multiple magazine and newspaper articles during the 1960s and 1970s. It was also the subject of a full-length documentary, Satanis (1970). LaVey also appeared in Kenneth Anger’s film Invocation of my Demon Brother, acted as technical advisor on The Devil's Rain, which starred Ernest Borgnine, William Shatner, and introduced John Travolta. The Church of Satan was also featured in a segment of Luigi Scatini’s film Angeli Blanca, Angeli Negra, released in the United States as "Witchcraft ‘70".

In 1975, LaVey created controversy within the Church of Satan by phasing out the Church’s “Grotto” system and eliminating people he thought were using the Church as a substitute for accomplishment in the outside world. Thereafter, conventional achievement in society would be the criterion for advancement within the Church of Satan. At the same time, LaVey became more selective in granting interviews. This shift to “closed door” activities resulted in some rumors of the Church’s demise, and even rumors of LaVey’s death.

In the 1980s, voices including Christians, therapists specializing in recovered memories, and the media renewed concerns of criminal conspiracies relating to the Church of Satan. Members of the Church of Satan, such as Peter H. Gilmore, Peggy Nadramia, Boyd Rice, Adam Parfrey, Diabolus Rex, and musician King Diamond, were active in media appearances to refute allegations of criminal activity. The FBI would later issue an official report refuting the criminal conspiracy theories of this time. This phenomenon became known as “The Satanic Panic.”

In the 1980s and '90s, the Church of Satan and its members were very active in producing movies, music, films, and magazines devoted to Satanism. Most notably Adam Parfrey’s Feral House publishing, the music of Boyd Rice, and the films of Nick Bougas, including his documentary Speak of the Devil: The Canon of Anton LaVey. The Church of Satan and Anton LaVey were also the subject of numerous magazine and news articles during this time.

After Anton Szandor LaVey's death, his position as head of the Church of Satan passed on to his common law wife, Blanche Barton. To this day, |Hell's Kitchen]] neighborhood, where the couple resides. The Church of Satan does not recognize any other organizations as holding legitimate claim to Satanism and its practice, though it does recognize that one need not be a member of the Church of Satan to be a Satanist.

Many famous figures have at one time or another been publically associated with the Church of Satan, including Jayne Mansfield, Kenneth Anger, Sammy Davis Jr., King Diamond, Marilyn Manson, Boyd Rice, Marc Almond, Alkaline Trio guitarist and singer Matt Skiba and drummer Derek Grant, professional wrestler Balls Mahoney, journalist Michael Moynihan, and the artist Coop. As the Church of Satan does not publicly release membership information, it is not known how many members belong to the Church.

On June 6, 2006, The Church of Satan held a members-only Satanic Mass at the Steve Allen Theater in the Center for Inquiry in Los Angeles. The ritual, based on the rites outlined in The Satanic Bible and The Satanic Rituals, was conducted by Reverend Brian Moore and Priestess Heather Saenz.[citation needed]

[edit] Practices/policies

Main article: The Satanic Bible

The Church of Satan acknowledges that Anton LaVey founded The Church of Satan as the first and only above ground Satanic religious organization in does not permit dual membership in these groups; such membership is grounds for termination of membership in the Church of Satan.

The Church of Satan does not officially endorse any political philosophy, party, or candidates. Individual members are free to hold any political philosophy, taxation of all churches, and tries to put forth a policy of "responsibility to the responsible". It neither solicits membership nor offers a set course of degrees.

The Church of Satan of Satan is very vocal in announcing its desire to see all criminals brought to swift and appropriate justice. The Church of Satan does not hesitate to expel members for engaging in illegal activity, or to cooperate with law enforcement to bring them to justice.

[edit] Membership

The Church of Satan has two types of members: Registered Members and Active Members. Registered Members are simply people who have been inducted as and local members. Active Membership is divided into five Degrees:

First Degree - Satanist
Second Degree - Warlock/Witch
Third Degree - Priest/Priestess
Fourth Degree - Magister/Magistra
Fifth Degree - Magus/Maga

Active Members begin at the First Degree. One must apply and be approved for an Active Membership, and this is subject to one's answers to a lengthy series of questions. One cannot apply for higher Degrees, and the requirements for each degree are not open to the public. Promotion to a higher degree is by invitation only. Members of the Third through Fifth degrees constitute the Priesthood and may becurrency. Affiliates receive a red card declaring them as a member of the Church of Satan to other members. Instructions on applying for membership can be found at the Church of Satan website listed below.

The Church of Satan does not offer, or claim to offer, any kind of "initiation."

[edit] Dis-affiliation

Church of Satan members may resign and terminate their affiliation at any time by sending a written, dated, and signed letter stating “I hereby resign my membership in the Church of Satan,” along with their membership card, to the Central Administrative Office, and their file will be closed.

[edit] Administrative termination

Memberships may be terminated at the discretion of the ruling body of the Church of Satan consisting of the High Priest, the High Priestess, and the Council of Nine.

[edit] Agents

The Church of Satan authorizes some Active Members as Agents, qualified to represent the Church of Satan and to explain the philosophy of Satanism to the media and other interested parties.

[edit] Priesthood

Members of the Priesthood act as spokespersons for the philosophy of the Church of Satan, which include the titles of “Priest”/“Priestess,” “Magister”/“Magistra,” “Magus”/“Maga.” Members of the Priesthood make up the Council of Nine, which is the ruling body of the Church of Satan. The Order of the Trapezoid consists of the individuals who assist in the administration of the Church of Peggy Nadramia]].

The Church of Satan evaluates active members for the Priesthood by their accomplishment in society—mastered skills and peer recognition within a profession—rather than by mastery of irrelevant occult trivia. While expected to be experts in communicating the SatanicPriesthood are not required to speak on behalf of the Church of Satan, and may even choose to keep their affiliation and rank secret in order to better serve their personal goals, as well as those of the organization. Membership in the Priesthood is by invitation only.

[edit] Past & present Church of Satan Priesthood

Anton LaVey - Founder & High Priest 1966 - 1997

Diane LaVey - Co-Founder & High Priestess 1966 - 1984

Priestess 1990 - 1997

Blanche Barton - Anton's Assistant, High Priestess 1997 - 2002, now Magistra Templi Rex

Peter H. Gilmore - High Priest 2001 - Present

Peggy Nadramia - High Priestess 2002 - Present

[edit] The Grotto System

Over the years, the Church of Satan social laboratory has embraced, then disbanded, and then revived the use of Grottos as a means by which individuals in geographic proximity form an association for ritualization, socialization, and the pursuit of various projects. With the ubiquity of the Internet and the ease of electronic communication, the Church of Satan have decided that they no longer require the formality of forming Grottos as a mode for members to socialize or engage in ritual. its usefulness it will be disbanded, as has always been the policy of the Church of Satan. Grotto Masters are not de facto spokespersons for the Church of Satan, nor are Grottos local representations of the Church of Satan.

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

  • The Church of Satan: A History of the World's Most Notorious Religion by Blanche Barton ([[Hell'sby Michael A. Aquino. A documentary history of the 1966-1975 Church of Satan. [Note: This is a very large PDF file: 9.4mb.]

[edit] Books by Anton LaVey

[edit] External links

[edit] The Church of Satan

[edit] Writings by Anton LaVey

[edit] Interviews with Anton LaVey

[edit] About Anton LaVey

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