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Church of Satan

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Not to be confused withThe Satanic Temple.

Church of Satan
Sigil of Baphomet,an official symbol of LaVeyan Satanism[1]
AbbreviationCoS
TypeSatanism
ClassificationNew religious movement
OrientationLaVeyan Satanism
ScriptureThe Satanic Bible
TheologyEgotheism
GovernanceCouncil of Nine
StructureCabal
High PriestPeter H. Gilmore
AssociationsNon-ecumenical
RegionInternational
HeadquartersPoughkeepsie, New York
FounderAnton Szandor LaVey
OriginApril 30, 1966
The Black House, San Francisco, California
SeparationsTemple of Set(1975),First Satanic Church(1999)
MembersNot disclosed
Other name(s)The Satanic Church
PublicationsThe Black Flame,The Cloven Hoof
Official websitewww.churchofsatan
Part ofa serieson
LaVeyan Satanism
TheSigil of Baphometis the official symbol of LaVeyan Satanism and the Church of Satan.
Organizations
Notable people
Texts
Media
Related Topics

TheChurch of Satan(CoS) is areligious organizationdedicated to the religion ofSatanism as defined by Anton Szandor LaVey.Founded in San Francisco in 1966, byLaVey,it is considered the "oldest satanic religion in continual existence", and more importantly the most influential, inspiring "numerous imitator and breakaway groups".[2][Note 1]According to the Church, Satanism has been "codified" as "a religion and philosophy" by LaVey and his church.[4]Founded in an era when there was much public interest in theoccult,witchcraftandSatanism,the church enjoyed a heyday for several years after its founding. Celebrities attended LaVey's satanic parties and he was invited on talk shows. HisSatanic Biblesold nearly a million copies.[2][5]

LaVey was the church'sHigh Priestuntil his death in 1997.[6]In 2001,Peter H. Gilmorewas appointed to the position of high priest, and the church's headquarters were moved toHell's Kitchen, Manhattan,New York City.Members do not believe thatSatanliterally exists and do not worship him.[7]Instead, Satan is viewed as a positivearchetypeembracing the Hebrew root of the word "Satan" as "adversary", who representspride,carnality,andenlightenment,humanity's natural instincts whichAbrahamic faithshave wrongly suppressed. According to High Priest Peter H. Gilmore, Satan is "a name for the reservoir of power inside each human to be tapped at will" .[6]In LaVey's book,The Satanic Bible,the Satanist's concept of a god is described as the Satanist's true "self" — a projection of his or her own personality, not an external deity.[8]Satan is used as a representation of personal liberty and individualism.[9]

The Church dismisses the idea of a “Satanic Community” and does not share membership lists with its members, arguing members are "radical individualists" who "may share very little in common beyond" being Satanists.[10]The Church rejects the legitimacy of any other organizations who claim to be Satanists.[11][12]Scholars agree that there is no reliably documented case of Satanic continuity prior to the founding of the Church of Satan.[13]It was the first organized church in modern times to be devoted to the figure of Satan,[14]and according to Faxneld and Petersen, the Church represented "the first public, highly visible, and long-lasting organization which propounded a coherent satanic discourse".[15]

Beliefs

[edit]

LaVey described his religion as "justAyn Rand's philosophy with ceremony and ritual added ";[16]similarly, sociologist of religionJames R. Lewisdescribed it as "a blend ofEpicureanismand Ayn Rand's philosophy, flavored with a pinch ofritual magic."[17]There is no belief in or worship of the Devil or aChristian notion of Satan.[18]High priest Peter Gilmore describes its members as "skeptical atheists", indicating the Hebrew root of the word "Satan" as "adversary" or "opposer."[19]Gilmore rejects the legitimacy oftheistic Satanists,who believe Satan to be a supernatural being or force that may be contacted or supplicated to, dubbing them "devil worshipers".[18]In an interview with David Shankbone, High Priest Peter Gilmore stated "My real feeling is that anybody who believes in supernatural entities on some level is insane. Whether they believe in the Devil or God, they are abdicating reason." He added, "Satanism begins with atheism. We begin with the universe and say, 'It’s indifferent. There’s no God, there’s no Devil. No one cares!'"[20]According to Gilmore,

[W]e do not believe in the supernatural. To the Satanist, he is his own God. Satan is a symbol of Man living as his prideful, carnal nature dictates. Some Satanists extend this symbol to encompass the evolutionary "force" of entropy that permeates all of nature and provides the drive for survival and propagation inherent in all living things. To the Satanist, Satan is not a conscious entity to be worshiped, rather it is a name for the reservoir of power inside each human to be tapped at will .[6]

The church has stated its contention that they are the first formally organized religion to adopt the term "Satanism" and describes the term "Theistic Satanism" as "oxymoronic".[21]

LaVey's views on magic were ambiguous. He insisted Satanism was a "materialistphilosophy "but also often talked of magic.[22] He included this rule in his "Rules of the Earth":[22]

Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.”[23]

LaVey also often talked of a "Satanic magical formula" of "nine parts respectability to one part outrageousness",[24]satanism requiring some element of sinisterness, but not so much as to put off potential congregants. The "Rules of the Earth" in LaVey's Satanic Bible specifically prohibited unwanted sexual advances and harming animals or children,[25][26]but the Church also "often featured a nude woman serving as an altar" in its black masses.[27]

Though not emphasizing social or political causes, likeAyn Rand,LaVey explicitly opposedegalitarianismand supportedsocial stratification,calling for the end of the “myth of ‘equality’”, which only “supports the weak at the expense of the strong”.[28]But he also suggested that in loving themselves,hedonistsdeveloped the ability to love others. He was quoted as saying, “If Satanists didn’t care, they wouldn’t be so dark and pessimistic.”[29][24]

History

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

In the 1960s Anton Szandor LaVey formed a group called the Order of the Trapezoid, which later became the governing body of the Church of Satan. The group included: "The Baroness" Carin de Plessen, Dr. Cecil Nixon,Kenneth Anger,San Franciscocity assessorRussell Wolden, and Donald Werby.[30][31]According to the Church of Satan historiography, other LaVey associates from this time include notedscience fictionandhorrorwritersAnthony Boucher,August Derleth,Robert Barbour Johnson,Reginald Bretnor,Emil Petaja,Stuart Palmer,Clark Ashton Smith,Forrest J. Ackerman,[32]andFritz Leiber Jr.[33]

The Church of Satan was established at theBlack Housein San Francisco, California, onWalpurgisnacht,April 30, 1966, by LaVey, who was the church's High Priest until his death in 1997.[6]

In the first year of its foundation, LaVey and the Church of Satan publicly performed a Satanic marriage of Judith Case and journalist John Raymond. The ceremony was attended byJoe Rosenthal.LaVey performed the first publicly recorded Satanic baptism in history for his youngest daughterZeena,which garnered worldwide publicity and was originally recorded onThe Satanic MassLP.[34][35][36][37]A Satanic funeral for naval machinist-repairman, third-class Edward Olsen, was performed at the request of his wife, complete with anhonor guard.[38]

The Church of Satan was the subject of a number of books, magazine and newspaper articles during the 1960s and 1970s. It is also the subject of a documentary,Satanis(1970). LaVey appeared inKenneth Anger's filmInvocation of My Demon Brother,acted as technical adviser onThe Devil's Rain,which starredErnest Borgnine,William Shatner,and introducedJohn Travolta.The Church of Satan was also featured in a segment ofLuigi Scattini's filmAngeli Bianchi, Angeli Neri,released in the United States asWitchcraft '70.[39]

One attempt to establish the church abroad was done in connection with Maarten Lamers of the Netherlands who read The Satanic Bible and in 1971 flew to San Francisco to meet LaVey. Back in Amsterdam, Lamers established the first CoS grotto outside the U.S. -- the Magistralis Grotto or theKerk van Satan.The "Kerk" was in theRed Light Districtand connected to club called Walpurga Abbey where customers could paid by the minute to observe “monastic sisters” of the Abbey masturbate on stage. Lamers insisted that since the sisters were "performing religious acts of sexual magic", Walpurga Abbey was tax-exempt. The Dutch government disagreed and in 1987, "after a decade of police raids and legal battles", Lamers was compelled to pay 10 million guilders in back taxes.[40]

In 1972, LaVey stopped holding weekly rituals at the Black House and announced these would be done at the local grottos. Then on September 27, 1974, he declared the end of all regional organizations and that individual members and grottos should report to the Church's Central Grotto in San Francisco. LaVey called this move “Phase IV of his master plan”[40]

Schisms

[edit]

Starting in the early 1970s, the Church faced internaldissentand a series ofschisms.The first breakaway was by the Babylonian Grotto and its leader Wayne West, who LaVeyexcommunicated.A bigger schism happened with the excommunication of the Stygian Grotto, whose leader established theChurch of Satanic Brotherhoodin 1973 with units in Dayton, Indianapolis, Louisville, New York City, and St. Petersburg (FL). From the Church's Belphegor Grotto, another splinter group created the Order of the Black Goat, which was allegedlyneo-Naziin orientation, led by Michael Grumbowski. A later, more resilient offshoot was theWorld Church of Satanic Liberation,which ran from 1986 to 2011.[41]

In 1975, the Church of Satan underwent a significant fracture. Michael Aquino, the editor of the church newsletter and a fairly high level leader in the church, who disagreed with LaVey's changes, left to found theTemple of Set,taking a significant portion of the CoS leadership with him. This schism involved the largest Church branch, the Nineveh Grotto in NJ, and the Lilith Grotto in NY, among others. The Temple of Set reportedly had more than 500 members at its founding, although Anton LaVey claimed that only 29 people left.[42]

LaVey announced that the Temple of Set schism was not a setback but "Phase V" of his master plan,[40]however, according to author Amina Lap, from this point on Satanism became a "splintered and disorganized movement".[43]

Schisms from the Church were caused by several factors, according to sociologist Foertsch. He focused on differences in costliness orbarriers to entryfor members, disputes over authority anddoctrine,and opportunities forniche developmentin the Americancounter-cultureworld ofoccultism,and persecution of alleged Satanists during themoral panic(described below) of the 1980s.[44]

The same year LaVey painted the Black House beige to lessen unwanted attention and "largely retired from public life".[45](In 1986, the Black House was repainted black.) According to at least one critic, James R. Lewis, LaVey was not instituting "a Master Plan" but demonstrating that he “was not up to making the necessary personal sacrifices that being a founding prophet and leader required" because his motives for founding the Church were personal enrichment and self-aggrandizement, not spreading some religious truth.[46]

1980s, early 1990s, and "Satanic Panic"

[edit]

In the 1980s a phenomenon that became known as the "Satanic Panic"arose and the media reported concerns of criminal conspiracies by the Church of Satan. According to a report released in 2020, LaVey indicated to FBI agents who interviewed him on October 31, 1980 that he had lost interest in the Church.

“LAVEY STATED THAT HE IS WELL AWARE THAT MOST PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHURCH OF SATAN ARE IN FACT ‘FANATICS, CULTISTS, AND WEIRDOES.’ HE STATED HIS INTEREST IN THE CHURCH OF SATAN IS STRICTLY FROM A MONETARY POINT OF VIEW AND SPENDS HIS TIME FURNISHING INTERVIEWS, WRITING MATERIALS, AND LATELY HAS BECOME INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY.”[47][40]

(Kenneth Lanning, anFBIexpert in investigating child sexual abuse,[48]produced a report on Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) in 1994 aimed at child protection authorities, in which wrote that despite hundreds of investigations, no corroboration of SRA had been found. Following this report, several convictions based on SRA allegations were overturned and the defendants released.)[49]

During the 1980s and 90s, LaVey was no longer interested in making media appearances, and began a "long period of silence", becoming "increasingly reclusive",[40]he began sending his daughter Zeena to represent the CoS. She appeared on television and radio broadcasts, (includingThe Phil Donahue Show,NightlinewithTed Koppel,Entertainment Tonight,The Late Show,Secrets & Mysteriesandthe Sally Jesse Raphael Show),[Note 2] in part to educate about the Church, and in part to debunk Satanic ritual abuse and any connection between it and true Satanism, and specifically the Church of Satan.[51]She also became a High Priestess in the Church during this time[52]and in 1988, marriedNikolas Schreck,a prominent CoS member and changed her name to Zeena Schreck.[40]

In the 1980s and 1990s remaining members of the Church of Satan became active in media appearances to refute allegations of criminal activity. Members of the Church who were active in producing movies, music, films, and magazines devoted to Satanism includeAdam Parfrey'sFeral Housepublishing, the musicianBoyd Rice,musicianKing Diamond,and the filmmaker Nick Bougas (a.k.a. A. Wyatt Mann).[53][54]

On Walpurgisnacht 30 April 1990, Zeena formally renounced any association with the Church or LaVey, whom she now called her “unfather.” She and her husband joined the Temple of Set for a time but in 2002 formed theSethian Liberation Movement,their own occult left-hand path group. Not long after, Zeena testified against LaVey on behalf of her mother, Diane Hegarty. The court awarded Hegarty half of LaVey’s property, bankrupting him.[40]

After LaVey

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After Anton Szandor LaVey's death on October 29, 1997, the role of High Priest was empty for some time. On November 7, 1997[55]Karla LaVeymade a press release about continuing the church with fellow high priestessBlanche Barton.Barton eventually received ownership of the organization, which she held for 4 years. Karla LaVey ultimately left the Church of Satan and foundedFirst Satanic Church.On October 16, 2001, the Black House, the original home of the Church, was demolished after a fundraising effort failed to raise enough to buy it.[56](In 1992, LaVey had sold the house to a real estate developer to raise money to settle a divorce but the developer allowed LaVey to continue to live in the house for free.)[40]

High PriestPeter H. Gilmore
Wikinews has related news:

In 2001, Blanche ceded her position to longtime members Peter H. Gilmore andPeggy Nadramia,the current High Priest and High Priestess and publishers ofThe Black Flame,the official magazine of The Church of Satan, who managed an active CoS group in New York. The Central Office of the Church of Satan has also moved from San Francisco to New York City'sHell's Kitchenneighborhood, where the couple resides. The Church of Satan does not recognize any other organizations as holding legitimate claim to Satanism and its practice, though it does recognize that one need not be a member of the Church of Satan to be a Satanist.

In October 2004, theRoyal Navyofficially recognised its first registered Satanist, 24-year-old Chris Cranmer, as a technician aboardHMSCumberland.[57]

6/6/06 High Mass

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On June 6, 2006, the Church of Satan held the first public ritual Satanic Mass in 40 years at theSteve Allen Theaterin theCenter for Inquiryin Los Angeles. The date corresponds to thenumber of the Beast,666, from the biblical Book of Revelation. The ritual, based on the rites outlined inThe Satanic BibleandThe Satanic Rituals,was conducted by Reverend Bryan Moore and Priestess Heather Saenz.[58]

The event was by invitation only, and over one hundred members of the Church of Satan from around the world filled the theatre to capacity. Many members of the Church of Satan were interviewed by theBBCwith permission.[59][60]The music for the mass was created and performed byLustmordand was subsequently released on his albumRising.[61]

Example of law abidingness

[edit]

In December 2007 theAssociated Pressreported on a story concerning the Church of Satan, in which a teenager had sent an email to High Priest Gilmore stating he wanted to "kill in the name of our unholy lord Satan". Gilmore then reported the message to theFederal Bureau of Investigation,who informed local police, who arrested the teenager.[62]

Realm of Satandocumentary

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In January 2024, the filmRealm of Satanwas shown at theSundance Film Festival.The film is similar to adocumentary,though it consists primarily of scenes staged with members of the Church of Satan. One reviewer described it as "an 80-minute art installation in which Satanists are rendered—and deliberately render themselves—performative characters in a diabolical play of their own making."[63]The film is directed by Scott Cummings and it shows a variety of satanicrituals,which may have been performed for the film alone.[64]

Membership

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The Church of Satan claims they do not solicit memberships nor proselytize. Individuals seeking membership must be legally defined as adults in their nation of residence. As of at least January 2023, no one "under the legal age of consent" may join the Church of Satan, with the exception those whose "parents or legal guardians are already members in good standing".[65]

Active Members begin at the First Degree. One must apply and be approved for an Active Membership, and this is subject to one's answers to a lengthy series of questions. One cannot apply for higher Degrees, and the requirements for each degree are not open to the public. Promotion to a higher degree is by invitation only. Members of the Third through Fifth degrees constitute the Priesthood and may be addressed as "Reverend" (although the titles of "Magister/Magistra" and "Magus/Maga" are more often used when referring to members of the Fourth and Fifth Degrees, respectively). Members of the Fifth degree may also be known as "Doctor", although "The Doctor" usually refers to LaVey. Memberships may be terminated at the discretion of the ruling body of the Church of Satan consisting of the High Priest, the High Priestess and the Council of Nine.[citation needed]

The church emphasizes that one does not have to join the organization to consider themselves a Satanist, and that one only needs to recognize themselves in The Satanic Bible and live according to the tenets outlined therein.[66]

As the Church of Satan does not publicly release membership information, it is not known how many members belong to the Church. However, according to an interview with the Church of Satan, "interest in the Church of Satan and Satanism is growing all the time if our mailboxes, answering and fax machines, and e-mail is any indication."[67]Another source (The Washington Post) states the church claimed to have "hundreds of thousands" of members.[68] However, according to Joseph Laycock, the Church grew rapidly in its first five years before declining, and had an estimated 250 members (according to one source). According toThe Washington Post,up until at least 1998, Church membership was never totaled "more than 300".[68]

Hierarchy

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The church follows a formulated system of degrees based onmeritocracy.These degrees are not open to application or to request and are only awarded to those who demonstrate excellence in the understanding and communication of Satanic Theory coupled with personal achievements in the outside world.[69]

These degrees are:

  • Registered Member (no degree)
  • Active Member/Satanist (first degree)
  • Witch/Warlock (second degree)
  • Priestess/Priest (third degree)
  • Magistra/Magister (fourth degree)
  • Maga/Magus (fifth degree)

Agents of the Church of Satan are individuals who have been trained to serve as contacts for local media and other interested parties.[69]

Priesthood of Mendes and Council of Nine

[edit]

Members of the Priesthood make up the Council of Nine, which is the ruling body of the Church of Satan, of which Magistra Templi RexBlanche Bartonis the chair-mistress. Individuals who are part of the priesthood are those who act as spokespersons of the Church of Satan. The priesthood is exclusive to third-, fourth-, and fifth-degree members. Members of the priesthood may be referred to as "reverend".[69]TheHigh Priestand Priestess act as administrative chiefs and primary public representatives; each position (High Priest and High Priestess) is held by a single individual at a time. The current High Priest isPeter H. Gilmore,[70]the current High Priestess isPeggy Nadramia.[71]

The Church of Satan evaluates active members for the Priesthood by their accomplishment in society—mastered skills and peer recognition within a profession—rather than by mastery of irrelevant occult trivia. While expected to be experts in communicating the Satanic philosophy, members of the Priesthood are not required to speak on behalf of the Church of Satan and may even choose to keep their affiliation and rank secret in order to better serve their personal goals, as well as those of the organization. Membership in the Priesthood is by invitation only.

The Grotto System

[edit]

Within Satanism, aGrottois aclandestineassociation or gathering of Satanists within geographical proximity for means of social, ritual, and special interest activities.[72]The Church of Satan no longer formally recognizes or charters grottos.[73]The primary reason for the end of the Grotto system is that only a small minority of members ever participated. This was further compounded by the fact that a publicly listed Grotto defeated the ability to remain secret and unknown to the larger populace. The Grotto system was in practice replaced by social media, private online forums, and other methods for members to interact with one another outside of the need for a so-called Grotto Master and annual reports to the central office of the Church of Satan.[73]

References

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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Religious studies scholar R. Van Luijk writes, “Genealogically speaking, every known Satanist group or organization in the world today derives directly or indirectly from LaVey’s 1966 Church of Satan, even if they are dismissive of LaVey or choose to emphasize other real or alleged forerunners of Satanism.”[3]
  2. ^She explained that she did this on behalf of her father while being interviewed alongside her husband by televangelistBob Larson.[50]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^Gilmore, Magus Peter H."F.A.Q. Symbols and Symbolism".Church of Satan.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2019.RetrievedApril 4,2017.
  2. ^abLaycock,Satanism,2023:section 4. The Church of Satan
  3. ^R. van Luijk, Children of Lucifer: The Origins of Modern Religious Satanism (New York: Oxford University Press, 2016), p. 305.
  4. ^Ethan, Joel."The Satanic Temple Fact Sheet".Church of Satan.RetrievedJanuary 11,2024.
  5. ^Owen Davies,Grimoires: A History of Magic Books(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009), p. 274.
  6. ^abcd"Official Church of Satan Website".Churchofsatan. Archived fromthe originalon July 1, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 9,2023.
  7. ^Abrams, Joe (Spring 2006). Wyman, Kelly (ed.)."The Religious Movements Homepage Project - Satanism: An Introduction".virginia.edu.University of Virginia.Archived fromthe originalon August 29, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 1,2021.
  8. ^Wright 1993,p. 143.
  9. ^Cavaglion & Sela-Shayovitz 2005,p. 255.
  10. ^Gilmore, Peter H."Myth of the 'Satanic Community' and other Virtual Delusions by Magus Peter H. Gilmore".Church of Satan.RetrievedJanuary 7,2024.
  11. ^Ohlheiser, Abby (November 7, 2014)."The Church of Satan wants you to stop calling these 'devil worshiping' alleged murderers Satanists".The Washington Post.RetrievedNovember 19,2015.
  12. ^Wikinews:Satanism: An interview with Church of Satan High Priest Peter Gilmore
  13. ^Asprem & Granholm 2014,p. 75.
  14. ^Lewis 2002,p. 5.
  15. ^Faxneld & Petersen 2013,p. 81.
  16. ^Lewis 2002,p. 9.
  17. ^Lewis 2002,p. 2.
  18. ^ab"Satanism: An interview with Church of Satan High Priest Peter Gilmore".Wikinews.November 5, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 9,2013.
  19. ^"H7854 - śāṭān - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)".Blue Letter Bible.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  20. ^Interview with Peter H. Gilmore,David Shankbone,Wikinews,November 5, 2007.
  21. ^"F.A.Q. Fundamental Beliefs".Church of Satan.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 30,2023.
  22. ^abLaycock,Satanism,2023:section 5. The Temple of Set and Esoteric Satanism. The Temple of Set
  23. ^LaVey, “Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth.”
  24. ^abLaycock,Satanism,2023:section 4. The Church of Satan. LaVey’s Satanism
  25. ^A. S. LaVey (1967)."The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth".Church of Satan.RetrievedJanuary 8,2023.
  26. ^A. S. LaVey (1987)."The Nine Satanic Sins".Church of Satan.
  27. ^Laycock,Satanism,2023:section 4. The Church of Satan. From the Magic Circle to the Church of Satan
  28. ^LaVey, Anton (1988)."Pentagonal Revisionism: A Five-Point Program".Church of Satan.RetrievedJanuary 8,2023.
  29. ^B. Barton, The Secret Life of a Satanist: The Authorized Biography of Anton LaVey (Los Angeles, CA: Feral House, 1990), p. 213.
  30. ^Lacey, Michael."Pieces of the Action: What's worse? A venture capitalist or a guy who smokes cunderage hookers?".SF Weekly Jun 20 2007.
  31. ^""Satan's Den in Great Disrepair" Lattin, Don (January 25, 1999) ".San Francisco Chronicle.January 25, 1999. Archived fromthe originalon July 20, 2014.RetrievedMay 29,2012.
  32. ^Boulware, Jack (June 17, 1998)."Has the Church of Satan Gone to Hell?".SF Weekly.San Francisco. Archived fromthe originalon April 2, 2015.RetrievedMarch 15,2015.
  33. ^"A Brief History of the Church of Satan 2. The Magic Circle".Churchofsatan.RetrievedJanuary 20,2011.
  34. ^"The Satanic Mass/Zeena's Baptism Track A9 go to 3:42".YouTube.
  35. ^"The Satanic Mass, Track A9 (Zeena's Baptism)".Murgenstrumm, 1968 Vinly LP. 1968.
  36. ^"Satanist Anton LaVey Baptising Daughter".San Francisco, California, USA: Bettmann/CORBIS. May 23, 1967.LaVey [...] said the mystic ceremony was the first such baptism in history.
  37. ^"clippings of Zeena's baptism world wide".
  38. ^"Navy Machinist's Mate Third Class Edward D. Olsen, 26".Almy.RetrievedJanuary 6,2024.
  39. ^"Witchcraft '70 Original title: Angeli bianchi... angeli neri".IMDb.RetrievedJanuary 7,2024.A mondo style report of satanic rites from around the world. Includes devil worshipping, voodoo cults, church of satan, black magic, naked exorcism and pagan rituals.
  40. ^abcdefghLaycock,Satanism,2023:section 4. The Church of Satan. The Rise and Fall of Anton LaVey
  41. ^Foertsch, Steven. "An organizational analysis of the schismatic Church of Satan."Review of Religious Research64, no. 1 (2022): 55-76, pp. 61-62
  42. ^Foertsch, Steven. "An organizational analysis of the schismatic Church of Satan."Review of Religious Research64, no. 1 (2022): 55-76, pp. 63-4
  43. ^Lap 2013,p. 84.
  44. ^Foertsch, Steven. "An organizational analysis of the schismatic Church of Satan."Review of Religious Research64, no. 1 (2022): 55-76.
  45. ^R. van Luijk,Children of Lucifer: The Origins of Modern Religious Satanism(New York: Oxford University Press, 2016), p. 363
  46. ^R. Lewis,Legitimating New Religions(New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2003), p.111.
  47. ^Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Acts Release – Subject: Anton LaVey,” capitalization as in original. quoted in Joseph Laycock,Satanism,2023
  48. ^Heimbach, MJ (May 1, 2002)."Testimony of Michael J. Heimbach, Crimes Against Children Unit".United States Congress. Archived fromthe originalon December 30, 2006.RetrievedApril 30,2008.
  49. ^Nathan, Debbie (1995).Satan's Silence: Ritual Abuse and the Making of a Modern American Witch Hunt(published January 1, 1995). p. 230.ISBN9780595189557.
  50. ^"The First Family of Satanism".YouTube.Denver Colorado. 1989.
  51. ^"KJTV Interviews Zeena LaVey".YouTube.Los Angeles. 1987.
  52. ^"Zeena Schreck Interview in Vice Magazine, Beelzebub's Daughter, by Annette Lamothe-Ramos".September 26, 2012.
  53. ^"Nick Bougas, a.k.a. A Wyatt Mann".
  54. ^"Buzzfeed article by Joseph Bernstein" History Of The Internet's Favorite Anti-Semitic Image "".BuzzFeed.February 5, 2015.
  55. ^Quinn, Andrew (November 7, 1997)."'Black Pope' of Satanic Church dies aged 67 ".San Francisco. Reuters.
  56. ^Gilmore, Peter H.""Yes, We Have No Occultism."".RetrievedJanuary 8,2024.
  57. ^"UK | Navy approves first ever Satanist".BBC News. October 24, 2004.RetrievedJune 7,2009.
  58. ^"Los Angeles CityBeat — The Devil's Advocates".Lacitybeat. Archived fromthe originalon December 23, 2008.RetrievedJune 7,2009.
  59. ^"The Nick of time".BBC News.June 6, 2006.
  60. ^"Church Of Satan High Priest: 6/6/06 Is 'Just A Day, Like Any Other'".BLABBERMOUTH.NET.April 24, 2006.
  61. ^"Albums".Lustmord.RetrievedNovember 19,2015.
  62. ^"Teen Held After E-Mailing Satanic Group Threat to Kill Grandparents".FoxNews. December 15, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on December 17, 2007.RetrievedJune 7,2009.
  63. ^Schager, Nick (January 22, 2024)."'Realm of Satan': Meet the Church's Magicians, Porn Stars, and Broomstick Makers ".Daily Beast.
  64. ^Eddy, Cheryl (January 25, 2024)."Realm of Satan Brings Dark Glamour to a Misunderstood Culture".Gizmodo.
  65. ^"Church of Satan Youth Communiqué".Church of Satan.RetrievedJanuary 7,2024.So, we simply cannot allow anyone under the legal age of consent to join the Church of Satan. The only exception to this rule would be if your parents or legal guardians are already members in good standing.
  66. ^"Join the Church of Satan".Church of Satan.RetrievedJanuary 7,2024.ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP FEE. We must emphasize that you don't have to join our organization to consider yourself a Satanist, you only need to recognize yourself in The Satanic Bible and live according to the tenets outlined therein. We don't proselytize, or otherwise campaign for people to join—that is your prerogative.
  67. ^"The Church Of Satan – Interview - Worm Gear".Worm Gear.January 5, 2009.
  68. ^abBoulware, Jack (August 30, 1998)."A DEVIL OF A TIME".Washington Post.RetrievedJanuary 7,2024.
  69. ^abcGilmore, Peter H."Hierarchy - churchofsatan".churchofsatan.
  70. ^"Peter H. Gilmore".Church of Satan.RetrievedApril 16,2014.
  71. ^"Peggy Nadramia".Church of Satan.RetrievedApril 16,2014.
  72. ^The Church of Satan WebsiteArchived2012-07-01 at theWayback Machine,under Affiliation: The Grotto System Retrieved December 3, 2010
  73. ^abGilmore, Peter H."The Grotto System | churchofsatan".churchofsatan.RetrievedAugust 23,2015.

Works cited

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Further reading

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