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So when i was 16 years old, i became very interested in Laveyan Satanism and have been a follower ever since. I've read the bible cover to cover and found that i am often awed by the philosophy and mindset of LaVey. I was wondering if anyone here would be interested in talking about their views on this religion and how they got into it. Maybe explain why it speaks to you more than Christianity or Judaism or any of the other religions around today. Thanks.
I first discovered LaVeyan Satanism (which I will refer to as LaS) when I was a sophomore in college through a friend (whom I shall refer to as SD) that became spiritual mentor to me and my girlfriend. I was interested in both high and low magic, and for some odd reason, SD said that LaS was a good way to get into magic. I did not really question it at the time, but in a conversation in a pagan Facebook group, several people said that the best way to get into magic is through magic. Regardless, I purchased the Satanic Bible and read it cover to cover. I need to read it again with a highlighter as it has been about three years since I have read it. In retrospect, I believe SD got me into LaS to make sure that I used magic to benefit myself and not be deceived by terminology such as white, gray, and black witchcraft. He also probably wanted to make sure I was a strong individual before becoming an occultist.
After several incidents, my girlfriend and I severed our ties with SD. For some odd reason, he was a Gnostic Christian and Wiccan, even though he denied the latter and told us to stay away from any mainstream magic books. Anyway, I delved more into the occult than LaS, but I never forgot about it. And, while I know believe that perhaps there are higher and/or spiritual realms occupied by sentient energies, I know that treating them as deities would be ridiculous as they have obviously not demanded such treatment. Therefore, humans are the most god(dess)like beings currently known, so I see no reason to grovel before unseen entities, not that groveling to aliens or extra-dimensional beings is a sign that humans are a worthy species. I plan on researching LaS more. I really want to read the Satanic Witch. A rather annoying "friend" let us borrow it, but school work got in the way and we never got to read it.
Satanic bible was my first magickal text. I was attracted to it at 14 mostly because of my anti-religion feelings. He started talking about performing magick and I thought "Wait a minute, what?". It's been a long road from there, but that was probably my first thoughts about actually performing magick. The onyl ritual(except for creating a servitor) i've performed up to date is one from that book.
I think it's great that the COS attracts free thinking individuals(sorta). I remember reading their website and having people see it and be like "Why are you looking at that? That's stupid.". Guarunteed they never looked at the page themselves or bothered to read anything about satanism. I don't even really consider COS members satanists. They don't believe in satan as an actual entity. Only a symbol against ignorance. Funny that the people mocking it are displaying that exact mindset.
I took some good things from LaVey. And I'm really appreciative of that text. But COS seems to attract alot of the same crowd, for as individual and open-minded as they seem. Alot of the links from the site seem to go to the same shaved-headed "LaVey looking" painters/musicians who only work within a "gothic" set. You know, dark clothing, paintings of demons or skulls or blah blah boring. I'm not trying to judge here, but it's one thing that has really turned me off about COS. A seeming lack of individuality while claiming that very thing. It looks like a dead end to me. That and the $200(or is it 3 now?) fee for membership. No thanks.
Oh, Miralfan, Satanic Witch is okay. LaVey goes into more detail about lower magick. All sorts of parlor tricks for indulging your carnal needs! Definitely worth checking out if only even for entertainment.
Are you saying you do not enjoy the CoS because it attracts goths? So you get a lot of people dressing in black and wearing inverted pentagrams, or the Petrine Cross as it is formally known? Hmm... I can assure you that a large portion of these people are not goth. They are either metal heads or poseurs. As a goth and a Satanist, I am doubly irritated by these fakes.
Anyway, moving along... my girlfriend is the embodiment of the Satanic Witch. Well, she only read a little bit of that book, but she fits the Vampire archetype (I believe that is what it was called...one of the four women types). She uses her goth look to her advantage and gets paid to manipulate men. She works as a webcam girl. Customers pay her money to see her body. I think it is quite foolish that most men will gladly part with their money to see a women simply masturbate thousands of miles away over the Internet. Ah, such is the weakness of a patriarchal, anti-intellectual society. A strong woman who realizes that morality is just a control mechanism will have men literally throwing money at her. No wonder why prostitution is the oldest profession known to humanity.
What I heard about the CoS is that it has degenerated into a bunch of gluttonous lechers. Is this true?
A belief centered around easy self satisfiction solely could turn into nothing else.
A part of me is inclined to agree that such a belief could not avoid devolving. On the other hand, Satanists are at the center of Satanism. Naturally, they should take care of their bodies. It is not very self-serving to die early of obesity-related diseases. It is not in one's self-interest to focus so much on sex that everything else becomes ignored. I think that in it's true from, Satanism is about intellectual development. I think Anton LaVey would be very disgusted with such degeneration.Quote:
Originally Posted by Plarkenstorf
Hehe, valuing the mind's pleasure over physical hedonism would lead to that too Mirfalan, why care about the body when the mind is so emphasised?
You get guys like Jon Nodveidt who killed himself because he felt his purpose in life was complete, suppose you could say that wasn't self serving - but he must've gotten a psychological payoff from it. Despite the short sightedness.
Well, you raise some interesting points. I suppose I do not really live by Satanism, but rather use its individualistic tendencies as a guide. The Nine Satanic Statement, Eleven Rules of Earth, and Nine Satanic Sins really resonate with me. Beyond that, though, I suppose I am not really a follower. Then again, to follow Satanism is to contradict the doctrine. Satanism encourages Satanists to be their own god/dess and follow their own rules, so it is hypocritical to label oneself a Satanist, unless it is out of convenience sake.Quote:
Originally Posted by Plarkenstorf
the CoS may well attract alot of goths but really, do you think they are the only ones? im an athlete and a poet. see what i mean? an athlete is not typicaly a goth and a poet is not typicaly an athlete. there is really no need for lables all i wear is black, does that mean im goth? certainly not. anyway, im rambling. i dont really have time to make a point out of all this, so i'll leave you to draw conclusions about what i mean.
-hail satan