Satanism Today - An Encyclopedia of Religion, Folklore and Popular ...

16 Ascendancy
Book of Ephesians: “We are not contending against
flesh and blood, but against the principalities,
against the powers, against the world rulers of this
present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places”(6:12). What, one
might well ask, is the meaning of “the spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly places” Isn’t the locus
of evil spiritual forces in hell, which is traditionally
conceptualized as being below rather than above the
earth In this passage and others that might be cited,
“heavenly wickedness” refers to the archons. Even
the word “rulers” here is a translation of the Greek
archon, so that the original passage reads, “archons
of this present darkness.”
See also Demons; Gnosticism
For Further Reading:
Robinson, James M. The Nag Hammadi Library.
1977. New York: Harper & Row, 1981.
Turner, Alice K. The History of Hell. New York:
Harcourt Brace & Co., 1993.
Ascendancy
Ascendancy is a prominent Satanic website. It was
created under the name “Hallowed Be Thy Name”
in 1998. The current conception (aesthetic/bulk of
material) was completed in midsummer 1999. It
was created by Jashan A’al (Valeska Scholl) in
Norman, Oklahoma. Jashan was a former Tier 3
member of the United Satanic Front (USF), an
activist organization of Modern Satanic philosophical
bent, before it disbanded in 1999. The
main goal of the USF was equal representation of
Satanism and other left-hand path religions in
Internet-related media. Jashan A’al is of the
opinion that “organizational Satanism” is a
contradiction in terms. This is one reason that she
does not expand Ascendancy into a community—
despite receiving queries from individuals about
“joining” Ascendancy.
For Further Reading:
Ascendancy: http://www.jashan.net
Asmodeus
Asmodeus means “creature (or being) of judgment.”
He was originally a Persian demon, but was
later adopted into Jewish lore where he was known
Asmodeus (Bridgeman Art Gallery)
as “a raging fiend,” per The Book of Tobit. It is in
this same book that the story is told about how
Asmodeus had killed the seven previous bridegrooms
of Sarah, and then planned to strike once
more against the eighth—a young man name
Tobias. But this time Asmodeus was not successful
as the archangel Raphael was protecting Tobias.
Raphael exiled Asmodeus to upper Egypt, where
he was kept under restraint by another angel until
he finally moved on to hell.
In demonology, it is said that one must invoke
Asmodeus only when bareheaded, otherwise he
will trick the caller. Asmodeus is also in charge of
gaming houses. Asmodeus shows up in other writings,
such as The Devil on Two Sticks, by Alain R.
Le Sage, in which he is the central character. In
Jewish legend Asmodeus is said to be the fatherin-law
of the Bar Shalmon, who is a demon. And
in The Devil’s Own Dear Son, by James Branch