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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. __TOC__

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 he 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.

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. 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. The Church of Satan does not hesitate to expel members for engaging in illegal activity.

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:

First Degree - Satanist
Second Degree - Warlock/Witch
Third Degree - Priest/Priestess
Fourth Degree - Magister/Magistra
Fifth Degree - 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 may be known as "Reverend."

Registered Membership

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.

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 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, the High Priestess, and the Council of Nine. Criteria for such action is based upon principles outlined in The Satanic Bible and on the Satanic Bunco Sheet, as well as for personal actions on the part of the member which are deemed inconsistent with continued membership by the ruling body.

See also

Further reading

Books by Anton LaVey

External links

The Church of Satan

Writings by Anton LaVey

Interviews with Anton LaVey

About Anton LaVey

Religious organizations | Satanism | Religious faiths, traditions, and movements | Secret societies | Occult

كنيسة شيطان | Iliz Satan | Church of Satan | Saatanan kirkko | Église de Satan | Chiesa di Satana | Kościół Szatana | Igreja de Satã | Biserica Satanistă | Церковь Сатаны | Church of Satan

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Church of Satan".

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