Spiritual or LaVeyan Satanism?

A person with an Unverified Personal Gnosis who lead a handful of friends into doing what the rest of the world was doing with different god characters isn't as convincing as a worldwide movement that broke the monotony of self-effacing BS.

In a sense it is the difference between a religion starting to bloom in recognizing the "Other Side," clumsily trying to worship the Devil yet quite still entrenched in the trance of the world around them and make really no personal or outer impact at the end of the run, and a religion the Devil would practice himself, a unique synthesis of his centuries old wit and wisdom finally revealed to mankind. One is nevertheless always free to run nude in the wind whispering Hail Pan-Satan and call themselves satanists. Mileage varies.

Pretty late to the thread, but I'll get down what I think right here. I'm not sure what selfishness is particularly affiliated with Satanism. It seems to be a prevalent trait in all of humanity.

Spiritual Satanism is a silly name because even an atheist has faith just in other things. I'm not going to tell you which way to go, but Theistic Satanism is not a path chosen like what socks are on your feet. If anything the reason I went in this direction was a marked dissonance with other groups and philosophies. I became of this path rather than deciding one day that "voila" I am now >that way<.

If you think LaVey is emotionally/spiritually right, but practically wrong you are probably closer to theistic than his group. I think the other difference is that you probably would find the Rand/Nietzsche/etc ranting frivolous as they are not required to have the proper emotional connection.

I personally am a spiritual Satanist. From what I can tell the Church of Satan practices magic and does a few things like what the Spiritual Satanists do. But they believe that Satan is an archetype for freedom and a good person. Spiritual Satanists (Including myself) Do magic as well, but hat's where the similarities end. We believe in empowering the soul through meditations in order to achieve a concept called "Godhead." We are polytheistic. We believe the Sumerian god Enki (Later dubbed Satan, which is Hebrew for enemy) is out creator, and was here with other Ets (aliens) to gold mine, when they found us. Satan and others wanted to help us become gods too. But one group wanted to enslave us. Satan is now in a war fighting the other aliens know as "Greys" We didn't have anything to do with Christianity, until it came along, with its version depicting Satan as evil. We don't follow those guide lines though. An enlightening but some what anti Semitic website is the joy of Satan website. Please view it understanding the author has articles with extreme anti Semitic themes. If you are offended easily, I suggest avoiding that site. Also, it has a sexually explicit link regarding intercourse, it's affects on the body and intercourse with supernatural. Avoid this of you are under age, unless you have parental guidance.

Hi Russell! If you've got free time here is an interesting project by a few scholars that may be enlightening in a different sort of way.

[youtube]ao0ETP2yZQg[/youtube]
Ancient Aliens Debunked - YouTube

ColonySatan said:

Hello, well yeah I considered becoming a Satanist like two weeks ago but now I'm struggling between LaVeyan and Spiritual Satanism. Yes, I contacted the Church of Satan and asked questions and I did read Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible like two times. But now I also heard about Spiritual Satanism. Well, now I don't know which one to join. I agree with everything in LaVeyan's Satanism except that I DO believe in supernatural and that I DON'T want to be sellfish. These are the only two things I don't agree with. But I do with everything else. So what do you think would be better for me to become a Spiritual or LaVeyan Satanist? THANKS FOR ALL THE ANSWERS.
(Oh, and please don't write things like: did you consider it carefullly YES I DID).

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No way two weeks is careful consideration, but it's up to you. Considering this is your line of thought though, I can see you fitting in under a LaVeyan paradigm. It takes little to no commitment, study, it's pretty easy of a path. Occultism 101 and shock value for extra credit.

ColonySatan said:

I agree with everything in LaVeyan's Satanism except that I DO believe in supernatural and that I DON'T want to be sellfish. These are the only two things I don't agree with.

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Satanism/LHP is a religion and philosophy of life which is centered around the Self (or psyche) as a unique force or power within the Universe, and seeks to nurture and develop it towards its ultimate individual potential. In this sense Satanism is a spiritual and a Self-ish religion.

/Adramelek\
Gnothi seauton!

I am a card-carrying member of the Church of Satan.

LaVeyan Satanism is a redundant term. Before the Church of Satan (of which I'm a card-carrying member), which was founded in 1966 by Anton LaVey, there was no organized, above-ground, Satanic church or religion. Those claiming theism are devil-worshippers; those identifying with an archetype are Satanists.

MrJefferyHale said:

LaVeyan Satanism is a redundant term. Before the Church of Satan (of which I'm a card-carrying member), which was founded in 1966 by Anton LaVey, there was no organized, above-ground, Satanic church or religion. Those claiming theism are devil-worshippers; those identifying with an archetype are Satanists.

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Yes, this is the argument the CoS has been using for many years now to bolster their 'authenticity' cred. It's not a terrible argument, yet...

What of those that identify with the more contemporary definition of Satan, that of the 'other', a pejorative flipped on it's head? Satan has always been the term to describe those that don't conform, those that don't play by the rules. The proverbial bad guy. The adversary without limits. These elements of what 'Satan' represents and is predate laVeys church by some millenia. Does this not tie more coherently into the tradition of 'Left Hand Path', and of the Satan of contemporary mythology and literature? Some might argue that the CoS's hardline position on 'obeying' the law is still obeying, and further that the law of the land is and always has been inextricably married to the laws and mores of the church.

When LaVey chose the name for his magic circle, Satan was chosen purely because it was 'stimulating', moreso than 'catism' which was his first choice. I do wonder how much mileage the Cat-tanic bible would have gotten

Or, in short, I feel 'LaVeyan' is an important qualifier, as outside of the very segregated CoS crowd Satanism means a heck of a lot more than the carefully and narrowly defined product they are selling.

MrJefferyHale said:

LaVeyan Satanism is a redundant term. Before the Church of Satan (of which I'm a card-carrying member), which was founded in 1966 by Anton LaVey, there was no organized, above-ground, Satanic church or religion. Those claiming theism are devil-worshippers; those identifying with an archetype are Satanists.

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LaVey himself was never so extreme in view and simply allowed for the possibility that the truth could be in the eye of the beholder. The original (pre-priesthood leaving) group was full of theists, atheists, and agnostics (that I can judge solely on the fact that people have left and anounced as much..). CoS was never so cut and dry about the issue until Gilmore and lackeys moved in. It takes a great leap of faith to believe that Satanism is represented by such a rigid set of base assumptions.

Or a memory long enough to remember. My lttd account (which hasn't been logged in years) was made in 03, and even then the general vibe was more 'open'. Debate was encouraged, and today's sycophantic hard line gilmourisn atheist dogma didn't exist yet. Unfortunately, most of those people are gone now, having been mostly replaced by idol worshippers. Hail LaVey, the true last prophet(pbuh)!

My LttD account was created in 2010 and, although there was a lot of Anton LaVey worship, the place was very active and it was still possible to have a vigorous, interesting and meaningful discussion there. Now the forum is almost dead with the old members having abandoned it altogether.

Conclusion: it's getting worse and worse over time.

Satans_Serrated_Edge said:

Or, in short, I feel 'LaVeyan' is an important qualifier, as outside of the very segregated CoS crowd Satanism means a heck of a lot more than the carefully and narrowly defined product they are selling.

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Genuine third side observation. I dig it!

I don't think that Spiritual Satanism is a good term for Theistic Satanism.
As for LaVey's form of Satanism, don't follow it. Choose your own form of individual Satanism.
Basically, live by a Satanic philosophy. My problem with The Church of Satan is that it isn't much more than a theatrical performance. It is more of a theatrical representation of Satanism than real, spiritual ritualism. I blur the lines between these two forms. I'm an atheist when it comes to all powerful beings, but I believe in Occult spirits and forces. Satan, to me, is the personification of a positive Occult force.


To me, a Spiritual Satanism is like Atheistic Satanism, but with more spiritual elements, borrowed from Theistic Satanism.

I don't like the idea of a clear dividing line between LaVeyan and Theistic Satanism, as Theistic Satanasim is a very general term, while LaVeyan Satanism is a very specific subcategory of a religion.
Atheistic Satanism, Spiritual Satanism, and Theistic Satanism are the three types to me...

Iron Wizard said:

I don't like the idea of a clear dividing line between LaVeyan and Theistic Satanism, as Theistic Satanasim is a very general term, while LaVeyan Satanism is a very specific subcategory of a religion.
Atheistic Satanism, Spiritual Satanism, and Theistic Satanism are the three types to me...

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From a theistic standpoint there are a lot of thing that are masquerading as Satanism that often leave me with the question: Why is it Satanism? LaVey Satanists seem like dress-up's to me, but I guess that is just where I am sitting.

I am not sure what kind of demarcation you are drawing between spiritual Satanism and theistic. They are the same thing as far as I am concerned.

Theistic Satanism is the misanthropic way... It's the hardest one... and, thus you won't see very many of us. I've tried to fit myself into the other boxes and couldn't deal with the pretense.

I agree with you on LaVeyan Satanism being "dress up." It's a very theatrical thing, it's more about wanting to look "cool." I think that it is influential to Satanism as a whole, but it's really missing the spirituality of other forms of Satanism.LaVey's philosophy is a very stable and logical one, and his Magick is relevant to me, but I do believe in Satan in a way. I don't believe he sits down is some fiery pit below the earth as a goat, I believe that Satan is a deity, but not really a physical being or a god of any sorts. That's just my opinion. LaVeyan Satanism has cheapened Satanism, though, as many people think that it actually defines Satanism. It's a slightly more acceptable form of Satanism.
It's less on the minds of the general public, so that is why it has a greater appeal.

Yadon said:

Do you like Ayn Rand, antitheism, and bad costumes? Then the Church of Satan is for you! They believe in socio-economic stratification, laissez faire capitalism and hedonism. Also if you are anything but agnostic or an atheist, the Church of Satan will NOT accept you.

Do you like things that are kind of like paganism but more dark in style? Are you not an atheist? Do you like meditation and mysticism? Then spiritual Satanism is more for you.

Just stay clear of the far-right in either case and you should be fine.

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I have been a member of the CoS for just a little under three years now. I have attended 9 Black Masses. I am a Recovering Catholic. LOL. An Atheist. Some of what you say is true. Although I think some of our "costumes" as you call them, are pretty cool. It is true that Anton LaVey was a big Ayn Rand fan, and subscribed to the most of the tenets of Objectivism. Although I must make it clear that being a Rand fan or an Objectivist, per se, is a requisite for membership into the CoS.

Socio-economic stratification? Yeah...most of ys believe that the "browning of America" is not good. And that a good deal of the poor minorities on welfare and the illegal aliens place a huge and unwelcome burdens on us Citizen Taxpayers.

Lassez faire capitalism? Sure. You're just using a fancy word for Free Enterprise and Small Government. A LOT of people want that, like the entire GOP! LOL. So what? Look how much damage Hussein Obama has done to this country with his Socialist agendas and propagation of the Nanny State. And the Entitlement State.

We worship nobody or nothing. Pretty much Iconoclasts. We embrace the WASP work ethic that made this country great. Rugged Individualism. Read the Nine Satanic Statements. Tell you you do not agree with most of them, and also feel they are far more valuable for living today than the antiquated Ten Commandments. (almost half of which merely demand worship of the murderous Yahweh.)

Hedonism? Sure. We want to enjoy this life to the fullest. Because it's the only one we can be sure we have. So why not? As long as nobody is harmed in any way and it's all consenting adults. We believe in brotherly and sisterly and familial love as well. But it should be given to only those who deserve it. I am NOT going to love my enemy, or an enemy of my loved ones. Rather, I will do what I can to vanquish him. Or her. Thank you.

Largely concepts of fascism, stratification, and capitalism are incompatible with any real left-hand path and I don't put much credence in Ayn Rand because what does she bring to the table that Aristotle hasn't? Mostly, that's why I think the CoS is fake and represents nothing really. Stratification means participation in the power structure -- whether it is economic or not; most theistic Satanists will have a view that authority in their life derives from them -- they aren't participating in this scheme any more than they have to for their needs. They also aren't concerned with maintaining the status quo -- which ultimately a LaVey Satanist is. To be at the top, someone needs to be on the bottom right? Theistic Satanists realize this structure is completely a figment of the imagination and can change just as easily.

Capitalism is a system based on fictional money that is handed out after you serve the secret government masters. For example, who owns the Federal Reserve? It's not a government body. That's who you work for. Back to the grind, slave. Any illusion that you are anything but a serf or peasant regardless of how much funny money you hold is simply bull****. If you make one million, or ten bucks you are worth exactly the same to these people who are really the masters. So let's call it like it is -- capitalism is a code word for slavery. It's just a better system because the average mook can't figure that out.

As you can see, the primary goal of a Theistic Satanist isn't to get trapped in this tar -- it is to see reality for what it is and live accordingly. Any support for a system of personal enslavement is just un-Satanic and completely not getting it at all. LaVey Satanism was a dead corpse from day one, but it took me awhile to figure that out. It sounded good on paper, but thankfully my learning didn't stop at age 16.

Sometimes being a slave is enjoyable as long as you're sucking up to the right slave masters, but you're still a slave. This is another fatal flaw in hedonistic outlooks -- just because something is pleasurable doesn't mean it isn't a cancer to you. Smoking is enjoyable, drinking is enjoyable, and sex is enjoyable... At least until you get lung cancer, your liver is shot, or you catch an STD. If this is all it takes to make you happy you are a person of simple needs -- my number one desire is my autonomy. That doesn't make me happy, and often makes me quite sad. I'm not going to do things to please others hoping they will please me, that would make me their *****. I don't roll that way..