Peter H. Gilmore

For other people named Peter Gilmore, see Peter Gilmore (disambiguation).
Peter H. Gilmore

Gilmore in October 2007
Born May 24, 1958
Occupation Author, composer, religious leader
Title High Priest; Magus
Religion Satanist
Spouse(s) Peggy Nadramia

Template:Satanism box Peter Howard Gilmore (born May 24, 1958) is an American composer, author, and administrator of the Church of Satan. He was appointed High Priest of the Church in 2001 by Magistra Blanche Barton.[1] Within the church, he is known as Magus Peter H. Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan.

As a representative of the Church of Satan, Gilmore has been interviewed on numerous television and radio programs dealing with the topic of Satanism, including appearances on The History Channel, BBC, The Sci-Fi Channel, Point of Inquiry, and Bob Larson's Christian radio show. Gilmore, as a trained composer, has collaborated with the death metal band Acheron in their earlier releases.

Biography

Wikinews has related news: Satanism: An interview with Church of Satan High Priest Peter Gilmore

Gilmore was raised in upstate New York. He visited New York City regularly throughout his youth and moved to Hell's Kitchen in 1980. He read The Satanic Bible at age thirteen and has described The Church of Satan as "the motivating philosophical force in my life" ever since.[2]

In 1989, he and his wife Peggy Nadramia began publishing a Satanic journal, The Black Flame, and continues to publish issues sporadically. In 2005, Gilmore wrote the new introduction to Anton LaVey's The Satanic Bible, and his essay on Satanism was published in The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature.

The Satanic Scriptures

On Walpurgisnacht 2007, a hardback edition of The Satanic Scriptures, a book collecting his essays and other writings was released. On October 13, 2007, a paperback edition (ISBN 0976403595) was released. The book includes previously non-public rituals, such as Satanic marriages and funerals.

Essays

A large portion of the essays were released prior to the book; however, some of the essays included in the book are improved variations. Some, including the essay released in the excerpt, deal with what the Church of Satan deems to be pseudo-satanists, and those who refuse to affiliate with the Church, but instead form their own groups.

Other essays touch on the similarity between fascist aesthetics and Satanism, along with a multitude of political issues that correlate to the Satanic viewpoint, as the released table of contents shows. Included, but not limited to, are issues such as terrorism in the United States, gay rights, and more.

Rituals

Many of the rituals detailed in the book were previously known only to members of the priesthood in the Church of Satan, such as the wedding rite which was performed by founder Anton LaVey, along with the details for a Satanic funeral, assumed to be a variation on one such which was performed on him.

References

  1. Gilmore, Peter H. "The Satanic Scriptures". Scapegoat Publishing, 2007, pg. xvi
  2. LaVey, Anton (1969). The Satanic Bible. New York: Avon Books. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-380-01539-9.

External links

Interviews with Peter H. Gilmore

Religious titles
Preceded by
Anton LaVey, then vacancy
High Priest of the Church of Satan
2001-present
Succeeded by
Current incumbent