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Comments on LaVey's "Nine Satanic Statements"

by Diane Vera



Copyright © 2004 by Diane Vera. All rights reserved.



LaVey's "Nine Satanic Statements" are regarded by many as core principles of Satanism. However, it does not seem to me that Satanism truly has any core principles. Particular forms of Satanism have core principles, but Satanism in general does not. Satanism in general is about Satan, not about any particular set of principles.

I define "Satanism" very broadly, as any worldview which prominently features a favorable interpretation of the figure of Satan. Thus my definition includes, for example, the many nineteenth-century literary works that portrayed Satan in a favorable light.

Historically, Satan is typically identified with rising countercultural trends, whatever they may be. For example, in "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" by William Blake, the Devil is associated with Energy as distinct from Reason. No doubt that's because Blake wrote at the tail end of the Enlightenment era and the beginning of the Romantic era.

On the other hand, in earlier centuries, before the Age of Reason, various demons were seen as champions of science and reason. For example, in the Goetia, various demons are said to teach various sciences, mathematics, and even "ethical philosophy." Early advocates of modern scientific methodology, such as Roger Bacon, were rumored to be in league with the Devil.

I personally see Satan as the Muse of our civilization, always prodding us to consider new ideas and to see flaws in possibly-outdated ways of doing things.

Thus, I see LaVey's "Nine Satanic Statements" not as core principles of Satamism but as reflecting the needs of a particular cultural milieu, namely San Francisco in the late 1960's. LaVey's Satanism was partly an endorsement of and partly a reaction against the countercultural currents of that era -- currents that were more powerful in San Francisco than almost anywhere else. LaVey endorsed many aspects of the sexual revolution and in some ways carried it further (e.g. advocating acceptance of homosexuality before this became fashionable at all) but reacted against such ideas as "love is all you need."

LaVey's "Nine Satanic Statements" are a collection of culture-specific slogans. Like nearly all slogans, they are oversimplifications of reality, valid only up to a point. Here are my thoughts about them:


  1. "Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence!"
  2. "Satan represents vital existence, instead of spiritual pipe dreams!"
  3. "Satan represents undefiled wisdom, instead of hypocritical self-deceit!"
  4. "Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates!"
  5. "Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek!"
  6. "Satan represents responsibility to the responsible, instead of concern for psychic vampires!"
  7. "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!"
  8. "Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!"
  9. "Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years!"


  1. "Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence!"

    I would say, "Satan represents indulgence instead of UNNECESSARY abstinence," or, better yet, "Satan represents the questioning of traditions of abstinence." Given the realities of life, some abstinence is necessary. For example, I would love to sit here at my computer all day, but must abstain from doing so because I do have other things to do.

    Humans are very adaptable creatures, capable of adapting to many different environments. But we are never perfectly adapted to any of them. Thus our our short-term desires may sometimes lead us to do things against our longterm interests. Still, it is desirable to be true to ourselves as much as possible, in both the short term and the long term, and it is desirable to question possibly-outdated taboos.

    I think most LaVeyans actually do realize that it is sometimes necessary to postpone gratification. The Satanic Bible itself speaks of "indulgence, not compulsion."


  2. "Satan represents vital existence, instead of spiritual pipe dreams!"

    Pretty much agreed, except that your mileage may vary on what constitutes a "pipe dream."


  3. "Satan represents undefiled wisdom, instead of hypocritical self-deceit!"

    "Undefiled wisdom" is a fine goal, but can be approached only asymptotically. Alas, given human fallibility and the limits of human knowledge, there is really no such thing as "undefiled wisdom."

    Furthermore, as Jaye H. wrote in a post to Theistic-Satanism-politics on August 24, 2004:

    Isn't "undefiled wisdom" an oxymoron? Wisdom includes the knowledge that purity and purification are illusory. People seeking purification are those who most ruthlessly destroy what wisdom seeks to cultivate. By its nature, wisdom values profanation & calculated defilement.


  4. "Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates!"

    I would say, "Satan represents thinking for oneself about who deserves our kindness." The answer to this question may vary quite a bit depending on our individual circumstances. Gratitude, or lack thereof, might not be the sole or main criterion, although it is usually best to focus our attention on those who appreciate it and reciprocate.

    A warning against "love wasted on ingrates" is good advice for those contemplating getting married. Too often, love is blind.


  5. "Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek!"

    The desirability of vengeance varies a lot depending on our circumstances, our cultural background, and the particular conflict at hand. Sometimes vengeance is the most advantageous response. In other situations, a more conciliatory approach is both feasible and desirable. In some situations, even "turning the other cheek" might actually be the most advantageous response. Still other situations are best ignored.

    Most likely, LaVey's emphasis on vengeance was a reaction against the hippie movement's talk about "peace and love." Remember that the Satanic Bible was written in 1969 in San Francisco, which, at that time, was hippie central.

    Also, I've noticed, LaVeyan Satanism tends to appeal to people who grew up in rough neighborhoods, where vengeance is more often a necessity than in the comfortable neighborhoods where most hippie-types grew up.


  6. "Satan represents responsibility to the responsible, instead of concern for psychic vampires!"

    "Responsibility to the responsible, instead of concern for psychic vampires" is certainly good advice w.r.t. one's choice of personal friends, and especially one's choice of a spouse.

    On the other hand, for example, a teacher does have at least some responsibilities toward all one's students, not just the "responsible" ones. Likewise, parents take responsibility for caring for infants who are too young to be "responsible."


  7. "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!"

    I feel that Satan sometimes encourages us to think of ourselves as "just another animal" and at other times encourages us to focus more on the ways that we humans are unique. Both perspectives can be illuminating, but either one by itself is an oversimplification.

    Ecologically speaking, it is certainly true that we humans have become "the most vicious animal of all!"


  8. "Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!"

    Up to a point, and depending on circumstances, of course. I'm pretty sure that most LaVeyans actually do acknowledge this. For example, one of LaVey's "Satanic sins" is "counterproductive pride."


  9. "Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years!"

    What LaVey apparently meant here was that the fear of Satan has kept the church in business all these years. Probably true, at least up to a point. These days, the fastest-growing churches seem to be the ones with the strongest emphasis on "spiritual warfare."



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