It is important to note that, although the book is titled "The Satanic Bible", it does not represent satanism fully. Satanism has no authoritative books that can be taken as absolutes in Satanism. Further more, this bible was written in the late 1960s by Anton Lavey. Anton Lavey has created what is called The First (above-ground) Church of Satan, representing satanism as a religion at par with other religions. And in his view, creating a church and a bible was necessary. Many Satanists have criticized Anton Lavey and what he has done, especially that for many Satanists, Satanism was never meant to be an organized religion.
Personally, I don't agree with everything Anton Lavey says in his book. Nonetheless, I do recognize the importance of his work. Anton Lavey's work has created a sect called "Laveyan Satanism" to differentiate them from other Satanic beliefs.
The Nine Satanic Statements:
- Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence!
Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary defines indulgence thusly: "To give oneself up to; not to restrain or oppose; to give free course to; to gratify by compliance; to yeild to." The dictionary definition of compulsion is: "The act of compelling or driving by a force, physical or moral; constraint of the will; (compulsory, obligatory)." In other words, indulgence implies choice, whereas compulsion indicates the lack of choice. - Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
This is for the most part a criticism of prayer in other religions. Many religions advocate wasting one's life on prayer and other 'spiritual pipe dreams'. On the other hand, Laveyian Satanism advocates living the moment, in an effective manner, by taking action. After all, actions speak louder than words.
The Satanist realizes that man, and the action and reaction of the universe, is responsible for everything, and doesn't mislead himself into thinking that someone cares. - Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
The Satanic Bible starts with this excerpt to show the amount of hypocrisy and self-deceit advocated by some religions, including Christianity:
"On Saturday night I would see men lusting after half-naked girls dancing at the carnival, and on Sunday morning when I was playing the organ for tentshow evangelists at the other end of the carnival lot, I would see these same men sitting in the pews with their wives and children, asking God to forgive them and purge them of carnal desires. And the next Saturday night they'd be back at the carnival or some other place of indulgence."
"I knew then that the Christian Church thrives on hypocrisy, and that man's carnal nature will out!" - Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates!
This is a direct contradiction to the Christian teachings of "Love your enemy"! This obviously is another act of hypocritical self-deceit that is mentioned in #3.
You cannot love everyone; it is ridiculous to think you can. If you love everyone and everything you lose your natural powers of selection and wind up being a pretty poor judge of character and quality. If anything is used too freely it loses its true meaning. Therefore, the Satanist believes you should love strongly and completely those who deserve your love, but never turn the other cheek to your enemy!
Love is one of the most intense emotions felt by man; another is hate. Forcing yourself to feel indiscriminate love is very unnatural. If you try to love everyone you only lessen your feelings for those who deserve your love. - Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek!
This -again- is a direct contradiction to the Christian teachings of "And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other;" (Luke 6:29)(*). This Christian teaching is flawed in every possible way. When someone hurts you or attacks you, you should not standstill welcoming for a second attack. Maybe the black slaves should have not fought for their freedom, and offered their children for slavery?! Right?! Wrong!! But thats the kind of behavior that Christianity is teaching.
He who turns the other cheek is a cowardly dog!
"Love one another" it has been said is the supreme law, but what power made it so? Upon what rational authority does the gospel of love rest? Why should I not hate mine enemies - if I "love" them does that not place me at their mercy? - Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires!
I already discussed the need to recognize and immobilize psychic vampires. (X-Ref). - Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all!
- Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
This should be interpreted in the light of the first statement: "indulgence instead of abstinence". The moral taboo advocated by religions create compulsion through abstinence. Satanism represents the abolishment of religious taboos (aka sins). - Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!
A very satirical -yet very true- statement of the relation between Satan and the Christian church.
References:
The Satanic Bible, by Anton Lavey (PDF)
The Christian Bible / The New Testament(*) (PDF)
PS: The italicized parts are explanations quoted from The Satanic Bible
In this series:
Readings From The Satanic Bible - Part 1
Readings From The Satanic Bible - Part 2
Readings From The Satanic Bible - Part 3
Posts
18 comments:
Thanks for the post. I think I have completely misunderstood satanism in the past. I was told it was people who believed in the christian all-knowing all-good God and the christian evil devil, and chose to follow the devil instead of God because he can give them *stuff* in their present life. Now it sounds like a complete misinterpretation by some believers.
I browsed through the satanic bible pdf you posted as well. It was pretty interesting. The basic satanic messages or statements made sense to me, but I also found some of the stuff weird, like the witches and rituals.
In general though, it sounded like it was not at all spiritual. Do you agree with that?
Anton's views to magic and witchcraft have been highly criticized by many satanists. I too do criticize the parts dealing with those issues.
But there are few things to point out. Anton believed in the power of rituals. The reality of the fact is that rituals are indeed powerful, but they are not essential, nor needed.
Anton has focused more on the practical views to satanism rather than the philosophical approach to satanism. I think that the practice and philosophy of satanism go hand in hand, as each one completes the other.
Finally, I am not sure if I interpret your last question correctly: "In general though, it sounded like it was not at all spiritual. Do you agree with that?" - But as I said earlier, Anton is more focused on the practical side of things, and hence ignored spiritual views and interpretations.
"Now it sounds like a complete misinterpretation by some believers." - What believers?! Christian believers?! Sure, they are opposed to Satan and Satanism, so they make up lies. Making lies is the business of those "religious" institutes. But for all I know, the truth always shines when you consider things with a critical eye.
From what I read even the witchcraft and magic wasn't spiritual. For example he said one of the ways a woman can be a witch is by fascinating men with her sexual appearance. You don't need magic or spirits to do that, but characterizing this as witchcraft is pointless. (in my opinion at least).
But, I haven't read everything in his bible so there might be sections that did have spirituality and super natural stuff that I missed.
Probably you're right. I don't think that Anton advocated things that don't relate to reality. I, too, have not delved into the magic part, so I am not going to make any bold statements in that regard.
But, personally, I don't agree with Anton Lavey to include rituals in a book that handles Satanism.
But what I think is really important, to read everything with a critical eye. Every book has certain true statements, and other false ones. And I think that the Satanic Bible has some real eye-openers, and for those statements, it deserves some appreciation.
I think that the Satanic Bible has some real eye-openers, and for those statements, it deserves some appreciation.
I agree I was very impressed with them.
While I have admired before some of the fact your posted about Satanism, especially the part of cherishing knowlege. I find myself opposing to some the nine statmements. Maybe it has to do with my christian upbringing, but I do believe in the essence of the teaching of turning the other cheeck and loving your enemy. There is a real power in being able to feel peace inside and manage to build positive feelings around you. Thinking more about it, there should be no enemy.
"but I do believe in the essence of the teaching of turning the other cheeck and loving your enemy. There is a real power in being able to feel peace inside and manage to build positive feelings around you." - I don't think that "turning the other cheek" is necessary for feeling peace or being positive. You can be peaceful and positive without turning the other cheek.
Why does a person need to allow others to abuse him, take away his rights, and be treated like a dog to feel at "peace"?!
"Thinking more about it, there should be no enemy." - It depends on how you define the concept of an enemy. But if a person is actively working to hurt you and causing trouble for you, then that person is by my definition an enemy. Such people may exist, and if they do, you need to a least not allow them to achieve their goals that conflict with your interests.
DM, I believe that you from all, do understand the metaphore in turning the other cheek. It isn't at all about letting people abuse you. In the contrary, it is about strength. Strength of holding back from escalating negative feelings and strength of absorbing ones inflicted upon you.
Being unable to defend yourself is one thing because of your weakness, and turning the other cheek out of strength is another thing.
As for enemies, it would be smart to know why a person would work to hurt you and fix that. Conflict of interests? Compromising might be the solution. Why keep enemies? I don't think it is smart.
I understand what you are trying to say. I agree with you to a certain extent.
I remember we once even mentioned Gandhi in a similar discussion. In short, we both agree that peaceful methods are much better than any kind of violence, and Gandhi demonstrated this approach to be effective. But my argument was that Gandhi never turned the other cheek. He fought, and he fought ferociously... And he won the fight, although he didn't use violence.
But, IMHO, what Gandhi teaches and what Jesus teaches are very different approaches. There is no heroism in turning the other cheek. Even if you turn the other cheek "out of strength" is still not an achievement. You need to stand up for yourself and make it clear that the other person's behavior was unacceptable and should at least be stopped.
And when we think of this teaching at a level higher than the individual, for example a nation, or a class of people, the incompetency of that approach becomes even more evident.
"As for enemies, it would be smart to know why a person would work to hurt you and fix that. Conflict of interests? Compromising might be the solution. Why keep enemies? I don't think it is smart." - I agree, making enemies isn't smart. But what is even less smart is 'sleeping with the enemy', or thinking that someone is your friend, when in fact he is not.
A person needs to tell a friend from a foe. Without a conception of those states, a person will only get himself despised by both his enemies, and the people who *once* were friends.
DM, I know, we can't really have much different opinion, no? :P
But Jesus fought as well, no? I guess that the verse in the bible itself carries the notion of peaceful fight rather than being idle about it.
You are right, it isn't smart to assume someone is a friend while he is not. It is good to be cause and try to build bridges with those you percieve to consider you their enemy.
According to Devil's mind reply at 12/11/08 11:46 PM he says, “But what I think is really important, to read everything with a critical eye. Every book has certain true statements, and other false ones” What you said is very true, but interestingly enough, what you said sounds A LOT like the passage 1 thessalonians 5:21 of the King James Bible, "prove all things, hold fast that which is true"
As a matter of fact, I do think that "prove all things, hold fast that which is true" is a good advise, and what I said had a similar meaning.
I DON'T AGREE WITH ANTON!! BUT GOOD COMPARISON!!
This is all in our human nature. What I read so far about the book was what I knew all my life but didn't have the words to describe those feelings. I guess it's useful to use it as a point out of how you feel, but at the same time it shows you nothing.
The bible is more of a challenge because it is about doing something that you are not usually used to. Let's remove God and Satan out of this and let's just look at it with human eyes and a human mind, if you know what I'm trying to say. I guess it depends on the person whether they prefer to live life the easy way and just have the ability to do things with all freedom and carelessness, as most of us do anyways, then those people would prefer this book. Whether the person likes the challenge; changing aspect of themselves that would seem impossible to the people around them as much as themselves and challenging themselves to face things that would seem difficult or even impossible and having an over whelming joy in realizing that they can achieve anything, then those people would read the bible. Let's not call them christians, catholics, satanisms, ect... It's just within the person's personality and spirit or soul or what ever... That's just my view on this though, we all interpret things in a completely different view, so let's just agree to disagree in most aspects.
There are Levyan Satanists (atheists) and there are spiritual/theistic Satanists that actual worship satan as the original God
Then people will step over you
Satanist do not like prayer because prayer has power.
Satanist tell u partial truth.bible teaches Love your enemy meaning to make friend be first friendly. If you are lovable person no one wants to hurt you.Satanist main objective spread hate and create war.
Satanist consider human as animal but bible teaches us we are created in the image of God.
Satanist life end here on earth and they perished but Christian life is eternal by believing Jesus
as savior.
SATANIST ARE KING OF LIE AND DECEPTION.
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