Understanding Satanism
Vivian's point of view.
Vivian is a Satanic Witch.

Satanism is in no way connected with animal mutilation or sacrifice or the abuse of children. We abhor such acts! These barbaric practices are more in accord with the Old Testament of the Judeo-Christian Bible as practiced by believers in jehovah and are not condoned by Satanists. The ancient followers of jehovah sacrificed goats, used the rod on their children, mutilated boys with circumcision, and whipe out whole villages to serve their god (and plunder the wealth). Hell, Abraham was willing to KILL his son Isaac to prove his faithfulness to his god. You will find no such willingness amoung us. Animals and children have a place of respect in our religion, be warned!

Many people whose only exposure to Satanism has been through hysterical talk-shows, Hollywood hype, Christian (Xian) and other white-light religions propaganda assume that Satanism is an international criminal conspiracy, killing animals, sacrificing babies, burning down churches. In reality Satanism is a system of thought based on rational self-interest, sensual indulgence and the constructive use of alienation. Satan as a representative, a literary metaphor for the ultimate rebel, the alienated anti-hero who revels in his beastly/fleshy instincts yet always remains the gentleman. The philosophy of being strong, creative, natural has always been the enemy of slave-religions such as, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and so forth. No wonder the false stories about ritual-murder are the front-pages in tabloids. Many people believe that Satanism is a rearview-mirror of Christianity, only to serve as a blasphemy, and attack at the Christian church. The truth is that the philosophies and rituals employed in Satanism is far more ancient and older then those in the Christian church. There has always been a name for the "darkside" in nature, and never have those who call themselves scientist's been interested in exploring the unknown, the unknown which Dr.LaVey have made known. And if anyone gets worried about people reading this or "diabolical" books or any other information about Satanism should realise this: A Satanist is born, not made!

Satanists do not believe in Satan. On the other hand, Satanists do believe in Satan. It depends on what you mean by "believe in" and what you mean by "Satan".Do I believe in a funny-looking creature in red tights with horns and a tail? No. Neither do I believe in the literalist Christian lie that He is a former angel of Jehovah thrown out of Heaven for being too uppity.

What I believe in is, a Satan that represents the so-called "dark side" of humanity. He represents selfishness, anger, lust, hatred, pride and all the allegedly negative [ but natural ] emotions. He represents getting whatever you want. He is not "real", in the sense that you and I are real, or the President is real, or the shopkeeper around the corner is real. What He represents is very real, however.

I do not believe in Him the way that Christians believe in their pathetic deity. I do not worship the Dark Lord, nor do I look to Him for diabolic stamp of approval on the way I live my life. I am the only being whose opinion ultimately matters. I am a Satanist because it pleases me to be so, not because I have been threatened or coerced or deluded into the religion.

Satan is as real as I am. What I mean by this is that insofar as I manifest the Satanic ethos, Satan becomes real through me. I am, at my best (worst?), the incarnation of Satan Himself. What is the Satanic ethos? At it simplest, it is pure egoism: total and exclusive concern for myself. I am nice to other people on occassion because I want to be, not because someone is telling me that I "should".

Satan is real because I am real, and we are one. His empire is my empire and it grows daily, giving us greater power and influence. The only "worship" that I do, involves pleasing myself by doing whatever I want to do.

[Props to Apros Dark Angel ]