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

50 Church of Satan
Church of Satan
Organized Satanist groups were quite rare prior to
the 1960s. A new form of Satanism was initiated
with the founding of the Church of Satan by
Anton LaVey on April 30, 1966. Modern Satanism
continued to develop in various directions by the
several groups that later split off from this organization.
The Church of Satan originated from an
attempt to create a carnal religion—consciously
opposed to the spiritual nature of most other
existing religions—which melded elements of
Western ceremonial magic and occultism with
various materialistic philosophies under the aegis
of the archetype of Satan, the symbol of the one
who opposes and questions the status quo. The
church advocates a philosophy of individual pragmatism
and hedonism, rather than emphasizing
the worship of Satan. It promotes the development
of strong individuals who seek gratification
out of life, and who practice the selfish virtues as
long as they do not harm others.
Rooted in Epicureanism, many of LaVey’s
teachings focused on self-assertion and the gratification
of an individual’s physical and mental
nature. He considered Satan a Promethean figure
representing indulgence, vital existence, undefiled
wisdom, kindness to the deserving, and
vengeance. The Church also taught responsibility
to the responsible, the notion that the human
being is just another animal, and so-called sins
that lead to physical or mental gratification.
According to LaVey, Satan is a symbol representing
these values.
The Church of Satan’s philosophy views each
person as living according to her or his own rules,
although criminal behavior and use of illegal
drugs are opposed by the church. Sex and selfpreservation
are considered the strongest
instincts, and thus natural behaviors of the human
animal. (The church advocates sexual activity only
among consenting adults.) Three principal holidays
are celebrated by the church: first and highest
is the individual’s own birthday; Walpurgisnacht,
celebrated on April 30th, is the traditional
Anton LaVey and an assistant conduct a Satanic ceremony, 22 March 1970 (Bettmann/Corbis)