Do all Satanists believe in the same thing?
Today there are many branches of Satanism, in fact, modern Satanism is best considered a generic term for a wide range of beliefs and practices. Different belief systems reject western moral laws, replacing them with a combination of a positive self-image and a distinct lack of conformity.
Satanic sects share three characteristics in common: an interest in magic, interpreted as psychodrama or mystical events; the creation of a community that defines the roles of belonging as a place between people who share a mystical research with those who live according to a set of religious principles; and a philosophy that thrives on non-compliance.
Satanist branches and paths to the left
Satanists themselves go to individuals who simply follow an egocentric philosophy. to organized groups with meeting houses and scheduled events. There are many Satanist groups, the best known of which are the Church of Satan and the Temple of Set. They embrace a low level of hierarchical leadership and a vaguely agreed and widely varied set of religious practices and beliefs.
Satanists claim to follow the paths to the left, ways of life that, unlike Wicca and Christianity, are focused on self-determination and self-power, rather than submitting to a superior force. While many Satanists believe in a supernatural being, they see their relationship with that being more as an association than a mastery of a god on a subject.
Below you will find three main styles of Satanist practices - reactive, theistic and rationalist Satanism - and subsequently a sample of what are dozens of seven sects who follow idiosyncratic pathways to enlightenment.
Reactive Satanism
The term "reactive Satanism" or "adolescent Satanism" refers to groups of individuals who adopt the histories of traditional religion but reverse its value. Therefore, Satan is still an evil god as defined in Christianity, but one to be worshiped rather than avoided and feared. In the 80s, teenage gangs combined inverted Christianity with "gnostic" romantic elements, inspired by black metal rock music and the propaganda of Christian horror, role-playing games and horror pictures and engaged in petty crimes.
By contrast, most modern "rationalist and esoteric" Satanist groups are loosely organized with a series of moralities that explicitly focus on this world. Some may have a more transcendent spiritual dimension which could include the possibility of a life after death. These groups tend to be more exclusively naturalistic and avoid violence and criminal activities.
Rationalist Satanism: the church of Satan
In the 60s, a highly secularized and atheist type of Satanism arose under the direction of the American author and occultist Anton Szandor LaVey. LaVey created the "Satanic Bible", which remains the most readily available text on the Satanic religion. It also formed the Church of Satan, which is by far the best known and most public Satanic organization.
LaVeyan's Satanism is an atheist. According to LaVey, neither God nor Satan are real beings; the only "god" in LaVeyan's satanism is the satanist himself. Instead, Satan is a symbol that represents the qualities embraced by Satanists. Invoking the name of Satan and other infernal names is a practical tool in the satanic ritual, placing one's attention and will on those qualities.
In rationalist Satanism, extreme human emotions must be channeled and controlled rather than repressed and shameful; this satanism believes that the seven "deadly sins" should be considered actions that lead to physical, mental or emotional gratification.
Satanism as defined by LaVey is a celebration of itself. Encourage people to seek their own truths, indulge in desires without fear of social taboos and perfect the self.
Theistic or esoteric Satanism: Temple of Set
In 1974, Michael Aquino, a member of the hierarchy of the Church of Satan, and Lilith Sinclair, a group leader ("cave master") of New Jersey, left the Church of Satan for philosophical reasons and formed the fragmentary Temple group of sets.
In the resulting theistic Satanism, practitioners recognize the existence of one or more supernatural beings. The main god, seen as a father or older brother, is often called Satan, but some groups identify the leader as a version of the ancient Egyptian divinity set. Set is a spiritual entity, based on the ancient Egyptian notion of xeper, translated as "self-improvement" or "self-creation".
Regardless of being or responsible beings, none of them resemble Christian Satan. Instead, they are beings who have the same general qualities as the symbolic Satan: sexuality, pleasure, strength and rebellion against Western customs.
Luciferian
Among the minor sects is Luciferianism, whose followers see it as a separate branch of Satanism that combines elements of rational and theistic forms. It is largely a theistic branch, although there are some who view Satan (called Lucifer) as symbolic rather than a real being.
The Luciferians use the term "Lucifer" in its literal sense: the name means "bearer of light" in Latin. Rather than being a defiant, rebellious and sensual figure, Lucifer is seen as a creature of enlightenment, the one who brings light from the darkness. Practitioners embrace the search for knowledge, deepening the darkness of the mystery and coming out better for it. They underline the balance between light and dark and that each depends on the other.
While Satanism basks in physical existence and Christianity focuses more on spirituality, Luciferians see their religion as one seeking a balance of both, that human existence is a cross between the two.
Anti-cosmic Satanism
Also known as chaos-gnosticism, Misanthropic Luciferian Order and Temple of Black Light, anti-cosmic Satanists believe that the cosmic order that was created by God is a fabrication and behind that reality there is an endless and formless chaos . Some of its practitioners such as Black Metal Dissection's Vexior 21B and Jon Nodtveidt are nihilists who would prefer the world to return to its normal state of chaos.
Transcendental Satanism
Transcendental Satanism is a sect created by Matt "The Lord" Zane, an adult video director, whose mark of Satanism came to him in a dream after taking the LSD drug. Transcendental Satanists seek a form of spiritual evolution, with the ultimate goal of each individual a reunification with his inner satanic aspect. Adherents feel that the satanic aspect in life is a hidden part of the self that is separate from consciousness, and believers can find their way to that self by following an individually determined path.
demonolatry
Demonolatry is basically the worship of demons, but some sects see each demon as a separate force or energy that can be used to assist in the practitioner's rituals or magic. S. Connolly's book entitled "Modern Demonolatry" lists over 200 demons from a multitude of different religions, ancient and modern. Adherents choose to worship demons that mirror their attributes or those with whom they share a connection.
Satanic reds
Satanic Reds sees Satan as a dark force that has existed since the beginning of time. Its main supporter Tani Jantsang claims a pre-Sanskrit history of worship and believes that individuals must follow their chakras to find their inner strength. That inner strength exists in everyone and is trying to evolve based on each individual's environment. The "reds" are an explicit reference to socialism: many satanic reds marry the workers' rights to abandon their chains.
Duotheism of Christian origin and polytheistic Satanism
A minor sect of theistic satanism reported by the satanist Diane Vera is duotheism of Christian origin. Its practitioners accept that there is an ongoing war between Christian God and Satan, but unlike Christians, they support Satan. Vera claims that the sect is based on ancient Zoroastrian beliefs about an eternal conflict between good and evil.
Another branch of theistic Satanism are polytheistic groups such as the Azazel Church who worship Satan as one of many gods.
The trial church of the final judgment
Also known as Process Church, Process Church of the Final Judgment is a religious group founded in London in the 60s by two people who were expelled from the Church of Scientology. Together, Mary Ann MacLean and Robert de Grimston developed their own practices, based on a pantheon of four deities known as the Great Gods of the Universe. The four are Jehovah, Lucifer, Satan and Christ, and no one is bad, however, each exemplifies different models of human existence. Each member selects one or two of the four closest to their personality.
The cult of Cthulhu
Based on the novels of HP Lovecraft, the Cults of Cthulhu are small groups that have arisen with the same name but have radically different objectives. Some believe that the imaginary creature was real and will eventually usher in an era of uninhibited chaos and violence, wiping out humanity in the process. Others simply subscribe to the philosophy of Cthulhu, a philosophy of cosmic indifferentism, according to which the universe is an insignificant and mechanical system which is indifferent to the existence of human beings. Other members of the Cult are not satanists at all but use the cult to celebrate Lovecraft's ingenuity.