Church of Satan

From Wikipedia

Part of the series on:

LaVeyan Satanism
Organization
Church of Satan
Symbols
Sigil of Baphomet
Devil horns
History
Satanic Black House
Books and Publications
The Satanic Bible
The Satanic Rituals
The Satanic Witch
The Devil's Notebook
Satan Speaks!
The Church of Satan
The Secret Life of a Satanist
The Black Flame
Prominent Satanists
Anton LaVey
Blanche Barton
Peter H. Gilmore
Peggy Nadramia
Prominent Symbolic Deities
Satan
Lucifer
Belial
Leviathan
LaVeyan Concepts
LaVey Synthesizer Clock
Pentagonal Revisionism
Associated Concepts
Survival of the fittest
Materialism
Individualism
Left-Hand Path
Moral Majority
Pentagonal Revisionism
Suitheism
Objectivism
The Church of Satan is a religious organization for those who practice Satanism as
articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.

Contents

1 History
2 Practicies/Policies
3 Membership
3.1 Registering as a Member
4 Church of Satan Agents
5 The Church of Satan Priesthood
6 The Grotto System
7 Dis-Affiliation
8 Administrative Termination
9 See also
10 Further reading
11 Books by Anton LaVey
12 External links
12.1 The Church of Satan
12.2 Writings by Anton LaVey
12.3 Interviews with Anton LaVey
12.4 About Anton LaVey
History

The Church of Satan draws its name from the Christian concept of Satan, and claims that
every individual can be his or her own god and is responsible for his or her own destiny.
("Satan" in their usage denotes a symbol and metaphor rather than a literal
anthropomorphic deity.) People who follow this belief system are called "Satanists".It
was established in San Francisco on Walpurgisnacht, 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 of Denmark, Dr. Cecil Nixon—magician, eccentric, and maker of automatons,
underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger, City Assessor Russell Wolden, Donald Werby,
one of San Francisco’s most influential property owners, anthropologist Michael Harner,
writer Shana Alexander, a dildo manufacturer, a plastic surgeon, a famous tattoo artist,
the grandson of a U.S. president, 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 radical
journalist John Raymond and Judith Case. The ceremony was photographed by Joe
Rosenthal, who took the famous photograph of Marines raising the U.S. 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 the subject of many magazine
and newspaper articles during the 1960s and 1970s. It was also the subject of a full length
documentary, Satanis in 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 the real world would be the criteria 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, there was a renewed hysteria, criminal conspiracy theories, and fear of
Satanism created by Christian religious fundamentalists, therapists specializing in
recovered memories and the media. Members of the Church of Satan, such as Peter H.
Gilmore, Peggy Nadramia, Boyd Rice, Adam Parfrey, Diabolos Rex, and musician King
Diamond, were active in media appearances to refute allegations of criminal activity
made by Christian evangelists. 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 the death of Anton Szandor LaVey, his position as head of the Church of Satan
passed on to his common law wife, Blanche Barton. To this day, Barton remains involved
in the Church; however, in 2001 she ceded her position to long-time members Peter H.
Gilmore and Peggy Nadramia, the current High Priest and High Priestess who also
publish The Black Flame, the official magazine of The Church of Satan. The Central
Office of the Church of Satan has also moved from San Francisco to New York City's
"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 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.

Practicies/Policies

The Church of Satan acknowledges only certain books and essays as Church dogma. Key
among these is The Satanic Bible, along with Anton LaVey's other books, The Satanic
Rituals, The Satanic Witch, The Devil's Notebook and Satan Speaks!. The first three can
be considered canonical in their entirety; the latter two contain a mixture of essays
considered dogma to Satanism and essays of opinion by Anton LaVey. The essays
considered personal opinion are typically self-evident in reading the books.

The Church of Satan likewise acknowledges that Anton LaVey founded The Church of
Satan as the first and only above ground Satanic religious organization in history. Other
organizations claiming to be Satanic formed after the foundation of the Church of Satan
are not recognized and are considered illegitimate at best. The Church of Satan therefore
does not permit dual membership in these groups and such membership is grounds for
termination of membership in the Church of Satan.

Also of note is that the Church of Satan does not officially endorse any political
philosophy, party, or candidates. Individual members are free to hold any political
philosophy, participate (or not) in politics any way they see fit, and vote or refrain
without pressure from the Church of Satan. Individual members often hold very strong
political opinions, but the Church of Satan itself is apolitical.

The Church of Satan does not have or desire tax-exempt status, though they are eligible.
As part of what it refers to as Pentagonal Revisionism the Church of Satan is actively
working towards 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 also strongly supports law and order. Church of Satan members can
be found in the armed forces of several nations, as well as law enforcement positions.
Illegal activity by members is absolutely not tolerated, and criminals are universally
condemned; the Church 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, as well as cooperating with law
enforcement to bring them to justice.

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 members of
the Church, and there are no requirements to achieve this position. To be deemed an
Active Member, a person has to be involved with the Church and local members. Active
Membership is divided into five Degrees: From first to fifth: Satanist, Warlock/Witch,
Priest/ Priestess, Magister/ Magistra and Magus/Maga.

Active Members begin at the First Degree. One must apply and be approved for an Active
Membership, and this is subject to how one answers a lengthy series of varyingly
personal questions. One cannot apply for higher Degrees, and the requirements for each
degree are not open to the public. Being promoted to a higher degree is by invitation only.
Members of the Third through Fifth degrees constitute the Priesthood and may be
addressed as "Reverend."

Individuals seeking membership must be legally defined as adults by the laws of their
nation of residence. The only exception made is for children of members who
demonstrate an understanding of the Church philosophy and practices who wish to join.
Their participation is limited until they reach legal adulthood. Members are instructed to
follow the laws and statutes of their country and municipality.
Registering as a Member

The Church of Satan does not solicit membership. Those who wish to affiliate to show
appreciation can become a Registered Member for a one-time registration fee of two
hundred dollars in United States currency. 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."

Church of Satan 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.

The Church of Satan Priesthood

Also known as "The Priesthood of Mendes." 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 Satan. The High Priest and Priestess act as administrative chiefs and
primary public representatives; each position (High Priest and High Priestess) may only
be held by a single individual at a time. The current High Priest is Peter H. Gilmore; the
current High Priestess Peggy Nadramia.

The Church of Satan evaluates active members for the Priesthood by their
accomplishment in the real world, by mastered skills and peer recognition within a
profession, rather than people who have mastered irrelevant occult trivia. While expected
to be experts in communicating the Satanic philosophy, members of the Priesthood are
not required to speak on behalf of the Church of Satan, and they 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.

The Grotto System

Local Groups of the Church of Satan are called "Grottos" (as local groups of Freemasons
are called "Lodges"). In the late 1990s, the Church of Satan phased out its Grotto System
in favor of informal underground cabals. As of 2005, the Church is re-establishing the
grotto system. A Church of Satan Grotto Leader is not a defacto representative of the
Church of Satan, unless they also happen to be an appointed representative of the Church
of Satan as an Agent or member of the Priesthood.
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.

Administrative Termination

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

Further reading
The Church of Satan: A History of the World's Most Notorious Religion by Blanche
Barton (Hell's Kitchen Productions, 1990, ISBN 0962328626) - Out of print
Satan Wants You: The Cult of Devil Worship in America by Arthur Lyons (Mysterious
Press, 1988, ISBN 0892962178; Warner Books, 1989, ISBN 0445408227) - Out of print
Lucifer Rising: A Book of Sin, Devil Worship and Rock 'n' Roll by Gavin Baddeley, Paul
Woods (Plexus Publishing (UK), 2000, ISBN 0859652807)

Books by Anton LaVey

The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor LaVey, ISBN 0380015390
The Satanic Rituals by Anton LaVey, ISBN 0380013924
The Satanic Witch by Anton Szandor LaVey, ISBN 0922915849
The Devil's Notebook by Anton Szandor LaVey, ISBN 0922915113
Satan Speaks! by Anton Szandor LaVey, ISBN 0922915660