Mainstream Satanism

I was inspired to write this because of the whole arguement of '' Is Laveyan Satanism a real, valid, form of satanism?''

What was Lavey's view of God or any form of the divine? Lavey believed that ''God'' was a balancing force in the universe that wasn't concerned with humanity. The divine in his view exists only in Man. The gods are personifications of Humanity's higher nature. They are ''made external'' due to man's need for dogma and ritual. The whole religious and magickal aspect of The Satanic Bible is based on this. Satan is, in Lavey's eyes, the adversarial aspect in man that is against all that is an obstacle towards his quest to Godhood. Lavey believed that in order to become a God, you must Love Life. You must be like the child whom, upon bed time, goes down the stairs late at night and watches T.V. ... you must be death defiant and peer through the veil of Death. It is through this Love of Life that one becomes bound to this world and lives on. This validates the decadent nature of the religion. If satan is lord of this world, then he is the perfect representation of a path designed to fit every worldly and emotional need of man-kind. Thus, to a Laveyan Satanism, Satan is a principle within that exists. Since most mainstream religions focus on the the destruction of the ego ( but in satanism it exalts it), it is more of a mainstream form of satanism than an actual esoteric or truly spiritually satisfying form of satanism. Laveyan satanism does not claim we have a soul. Thus they don't try to focus on spiritual aspects or special powers... most of the rituals being used in order to satisfy the need for dogma.

Would like to also state that I am not a Laveyan Satanist. I'm just showing them for what they are - not the preconceived notions of people who don't know how to actually research such things.

Personally, I believe the LaVey has the truest form of it. Most "Satanists" I know just listen to heavy metal and claim that's all it requires. They are not the real ones. I assume you are aware of the numerous branches of Satanism? LaVeyan, Theistic, and Lucifereism(sp?). I hate people using it as a "fashion statement" of sorts. It gets somewhat troublesome when I think I found another real one, and then I get sadly disappointed.

-Forsaken.

And television is pointless. It destroys a person's mind. Although, if you like the mindless entertainment of it, I can't stop you.

Ah! I almost forgot! If you don't mind me asking, what is your religion? I don't mind learning new things. (Smiles).

-Forsaken.

A very nicely written basic outline. Most mainstream satanists will indeed focus the most on the philosophical principals presented to them in the form of the basic satanic rights and sins. Every other satanist or luciferian I have met had either broken from an orthodox religion or was an atheist and had become interested in occult readings and the such. Most would not participate in rituals, ceremonies, or gatherings because it reminded them to closely of what they had been warned about by their former religions. Anton LaVey thought that gatherings and rituals with trusted peers was a great way to fulfill a very human need for tradition and ceremony, it bums me out that many others today don't feel that way

There is only one Church of Satan and it was founded by Anton S. LaVey.

DUH?......