Satanism
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle
of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15)
1. Types of Satanism
| 1.1 |
"Contemporary Satanism is a form of religious belief and expression
holding to the worship of Satan, whether Satan is defined as a supernatural
person, a deity, a devil, a supernatural force, a natural force, an
innate human force, or, most commonly, the self."(1) |
| 1.2 |
Most Satanists, such as Church of Satan founder Anton Szandor LaVey,
worship themselves and use the term "Satan" to symbolize
their rejection of Christianity, which they believe is self-sacrificing,
self-debasing, self-denying, oppressive, and powerless. These Satanists
do not believe in the existence of any spiritual being; they believe
in the power of the self. "We don’t worship Satan, we worship
ourselves using the metaphorical representation of the qualities of
Satan."(2) |
| 1.3 |
Some Satanists believe in spiritual power, and are interested in
harnessing it for self-advancement. They are sometimes unsure of whether
God or Satan exist, but use this spiritual power anyway. |
| 1.4 |
Some Satanists believe in competing spiritual forces, whether personal
(God vs. Satan) or impersonal (good vs. evil). They choose to use
the negative spiritual force. |
| 1.5 |
A few Satanists (usually self-styled teenagers or mentally aberrant
adults) believe what the Bible says about God and Satan, but choose
allegiance to Satan. |
2. Key Facts
| 2.1 |
Some teach that there are millions of secret Satanists participating
in a widespread conspiracy reaching into the highest levels of church,
government, law enforcement, and education. Such conspiracy theories
are undocumented and sensationalistic. |
| 2.2 |
While only a guess at best, careful researchers estimate that the
number of people who would describe themselves as Satanists is somewhat
fewer than 6,000 worldwide. |
| 2.3 |
The vast majority of Satanists are self-styled. They practice their
faith alone or with a few others. Very few join a public Satanic church
like LaVey’s Church of Satan or Aquino’s Temple Sect. |
| 2.4 |
Mail-order catalog and newsletter lists provide some continuity
among Satanists, as well as the books of LaVey such as The Satanic
Bible and The Satanic Rituals. |
| 2.5 |
Most Satanists are male, young (13-30), practice their faith privately
while leading "normal" lives, and view other religions as
narrow. Most view traditional ethical norms as depriving the rights
of individuals, and practice Satanism because it appears to work for
them. |
3. Biblical Background
| 3.1 |
Satan is a fallen angel. He rebelled against God and was cast out
of heaven with a great number of angels, and was sentenced to hell
(Luke 10:18; 2 Peter 2:4). He is the prince of fallen angels (demons)
(Matthew 12:24). |
| 3.2 |
Satan has sophisticated powers to delude, tempt, and accuse people
(Genesis 3:1-5; John 8:44; Ephesians 2:2, 6:11-12; 1 Thessalonians
2:18, 3:5; Revelation 12:10). He is the adversary of God, the works
of God, and the people of God (Zechariah 3:1; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark
4:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8). |
| 3.3 |
As a finite creature without divine powers or attributes, he has
infinitely less power than almighty God (James 4:7; 1 John 4:4). |
| 3.4 |
His final doom in the lake of fire is settled (2 Peter 2:4; Revelation
20:10). |
4. History
| 4.1 |
Early Church (AD 100-400) – Those who desired to become members
of the church were required to renounce the Devil and all his ways.
Heretics were called "weeds of the devil" by Ignatious.
Exorcisms were performed. Apparently, Satan-worship did not exist,
although Christians believed that anyone who opposed God was serving
the Devil. |
| 4.2 |
Early Middle Ages (AD 400-1000) – The church of this period
denounced Islam as "devilish." Folklore began to develop
in society, characterizing Satan as an evil buffoon, and spreading
tales of ghosts, monsters, trolls, elves, and leprechauns. The church
began to develop a theology of demonism. |
| 4.3 |
Medieval Scholastic Period (AD 1000-1490) – Scholars began
to grapple with issues of Satan and free will. |
| 4.4 |
Great Witch Hunts (1490s – 1840s) – Some began to believe
that demons had sexual relations with humans. Crusades took place
to "free" the Holy Land from Muslim rule. Satanism and witchcraft
were confused. In the early Reformation period, an intense period
of witch-hunting began, leading to high rates of conviction and execution.
This grew through the Enlightenment period. It is estimated that sixty
to one hundred thousand witches were executed. |
| 4.5 |
Modern Period
| 4.5.1 |
Aliester Crowley (1875-1947) – A self-styled occultist,
magician, drug addict, and sexual deviant. He taught the rejection
of Christianity, the elevation of self, and the use of magic
to reach one’s goals. |
| 4.5.2 |
Gerald Gardner – Developed a witchcraft system that borrowed
ideas, types, ceremonies, incantations, and images from different
religious and magical systems, such as the ceremonial focus
of a circle containing an altar, the use of pentagrams and triangles,
incense, etc. |
| 4.5.3 |
Anton Szandor LaVey: The High Priest of Satanism – Beginning
in the 1950s, LaVey met with like-minded individuals, hoping
to throw off the chains of conformity and religious oppression,
and embrace the only alternative: the freedom of fully realized
human potential. The Satanic creed was composed by LaVey:
| 4.5.3.1 |
Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence. |
| 4.5.3.2 |
Satan represents vital existence rather than spiritual
pipe dreams. |
| 4.5.3.3 |
Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical
self-deceit. |
| 4.5.3.4 |
Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead
of love wasted on ingrates. |
| 4.5.3.5 |
Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other
cheek. |
| 4.5.3.6 |
Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead
of concern for psychic vampires. |
| 4.5.3.7 |
Satan represents man as just another animal – sometimes
better, more often worse than those who walk on all fours
– who, because of his "divine spiritual and
intellectual development," has become the most vicious
animal of all. |
| 4.5.3.8 |
Satan represents all the so-called sins, as they all
lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification. |
| 4.5.3.9 |
Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had,
as he has kept it in business all these years.(3) |
|
|
5. Misconceptions About Satanism
| 5.1 |
Satanism and witchcraft – Satanism is not witchcraft. Contemporary
witchcraft is generally pacifistic, nature-worshiping, often vegetarian,
and is forbidden in the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:9-14). |
| 5.2 |
LaVey and the Church of Satan – They do not wish to form a
structured Satanic system. Contrary to what many believe, they prohibit
harming children, killing non-human animals except for food or self-defense,
and making unwelcome sexual advances. |
| 5.3 |
Verbal Content and Subliminal Messages – Studies have failed
to demonstrate any correlation between subliminal messages and listeners’
behaviors or beliefs. |
| 5.4 |
Corporate Myths – No major American corporation has appeared
in any public form espousing Satanism, or admitting support or financial
contributions to any Satanic group. "The most enduring myth is
that the president of Proctor and Gamble appeared on the Phil Donahue
television program and admitted he was a member of the Church of Satan
and supported the church financially. There is not a shred of evidence
for this, and Christians who propagate such stories damage the credibility
of legitimate warnings regarding false belief."(4) |
6. Crime Among Satanists
| 6.1 |
Satanists do not publicly advocate criminal activity. However, Satanists
advocate antinomianism (freedom from the law). LaVey said, "When
walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you,
ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him." |
| 6.2 |
Drug dealing and drug use are common among teenage Satanists. Teenagers
involved in Satanism have been known to commit suicide, or create
suicide pacts. Some criminals use Satanic symbols or rituals in the
commission of crimes. |
| 6.3 |
Unsubstantiated stories of Satanic ritual abuse have become popular
in the past decade. There is no proof of Satanic Ritual Abuse taking
place on a wide scale. |
7. Witnessing to Satanists
| 7.1 |
Remember that Satanism is not a traditional religion. Most Satanists
are atheists. Focus on arguments for the existence of God, and challenge
them to rationally define their own worldview. |
| 7.2 |
If a Satanist acknowledges the existence of God, they may feel that
they are beyond redemption. Remind them of the reality of Christ’s
sacrifice. |
| 7.3 |
Remember that among most self-taught teenage Satanists, Satanism
is more a symptom of problems than a religious rejection of belief.
Most teenage Satanists use drugs and need substance abuse intervention. |
| 7.4 |
Satanists are interested in self-centeredness, self-indulgence,
and self-gratification. Explain that Christianity is the only path
to self-fulfillment (Matthew 6:33; 16:26). |
| 7.5 |
Challenge their understanding of the Bible. Clarify for them what
the Bible really teaches. |
| 7.6 |
Don’t take offense at Satanists’ mockery and rejection
of your beliefs. |
Footnotes
1Bob Passantino and Gretchan Passantino, When the Devil
Dares Your Kids (Ann Arbor, Mich: Servant Books, 1991) 34.
2Quoted by Blance Barton, The Secret Life of a Satanist:
The Authorized Biography of Anton LaVey (Los Angeles: Feral House,
1990) 205.
3Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible (New York:
Avon Books, 1969) 25.
4 Bob Passantino and Gretchen Passantino, Satanism
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995) 50.
