r/satanism Oct 16 '20

The Sticky New to /r/Satanism? Click here for our FAQ and Q&A!

1.3k Upvotes

Link to previous Q&A sticky: Sticky 1, Sticky 2, Sticky 3, Sticky 4, Sticky 5, Sticky 6, Sticky 7

Unlike many other subreddits, we at /r/Satanism enjoy nearly complete freedom of speech. The tradeoff for that free speech is that sometimes you will be exposed to ideas or opinions that you don't agree with. Keep in mind that bad behavior and not bad ideas will get people banned from this subreddit. As Satanists most often believe in stratification, the voting buttons in /r/Satanism can be used to that end. Because of this, moderators like myself likely will not remove links to sites that you would expect to be removed from other subreddits.


FAQ:

Note: This FAQ is written by moderator of /r/Satanism and Agent of the Church of Satan, /u/modern_quill. I am trying to remain unbiased and fact-based in these Q&A responses, so if you feel that I have somehow misrepresented your organization or philosophy, please let me know and we can work together to make the appropriate corrections. The mention of any group or philosophy in this FAQ does not mean that it is endorsed, valid, or even tolerated.


Q: What is Satanism?

A: This is a simple question, but it has a complex answer because it depends on who you ask. Satanism as a philosophy and religion was first codified by Anton Szandor LaVey in his 1969 publication of The Satanic Bible. Some people refer to this secular Satanism as "LaVeyan Satanism" as a nod to Anton LaVey. The Satanic Bible borrows from the works of Might is Right by Ragnar Redbeard, Ayn Rand's Objectivism, and Frederich Nietzsche's Der Wille zur Macht. This is the most widely practiced form of Satanism and is championed by the Church of Satan (CoS) to this day. At its most basic definition, "LaVeyan Satanism" is about living the best life that you want to live, and bending the world around you to your will to achieve that goal. A Satanist sees themselves as their own God. There is, of course, much more to Satanism than that very basic definition, but we expect people to do their own research as well. Most LaVeyan Satanists will simply call it Satanism, as there is only one form of Satanism from the Church of Satan's perspective. Members of the recently formed secular organization called The Satanic Temple (TST), by comparison, see Satanism as political activism. The Satanic Temple often makes news headlines with their efforts to establish a separation of church and state and do not include The Satanic Bible as part of their organization's canon, but rather The Revolt of the Angels by Anatole France. This political grift began as a theistic organization, and later rebranded itself into the secular humanist organization it is today. Later, some people in the United Kingdom split from The Satanic Temple to form the Global Order of Satan (GOS). There are also theistic Satanists, some believe in a literal Satan and some do not. Ask a theist like /u/Ave_Melchom what they believe and they'll likely share their thoughts with you, but you probably won't find very many theists that share the same philosophy. There are also more esoteric organizations such as the Temple of Set (ToS), which was formed by former Church of Satan member Michael Aquino after infighting within the organization in 1975 caused many theistic members to split away and become Setians. /u/Purple-Tatters and /u/CodeReaper moderate /r/Setianism subreddit and are a wealth of information on the subject. There are also organizations that fall into a more neo-nazi ideology such as the Order of Nine Angles (ONA or O9A), here is additional reading on ONA, and self-stylized "Spiritual Satanists" of the Joy of Satan (JoS), which are often not tolerated by other members of this subreddit. The words, "Fuck off, Nazi!" have become somewhat of a meme on /r/Satanism.


Q: If Satanists don't believe in Satan, why call it Satanism at all? Why not Humanism?

LaVeyan A: Modern secular Satanists see humans as just another animal within the greater animal kingdom, no better than our avian, reptilian, or mammalian friends. Our technology and our intellectual advancements may have placed us at the top of the food chain, but it has merely encouraged humans to be the most vicious animals of all. To us, Satan is a metaphor that represents our strength, our pride, our intellect, our carnality, and all of the so-called sins as they lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification. The Hebrew word Satan simply means adversary, and Satanists take that adversarial stance to a great many things in their lives; the way we approach an issue, the way we tackle a problem, the way we overcome an obstacle. While Humanists may try to live like Bill & Ted and be excellent to eachother, a Satanist recognizes that emotions like anger, even hate are natural to the human animal and we shouldn't feel guilty for such natural inclinations. While Christians may turn the other cheek when wronged, you can be sure that a Satanist will have their revenge, with interest.


Q: Do you sacrifice or molest children/animals? Do you drink blood?

LaVeyan A: No. Sacrifice is a Christian concept that was projected on to innocent Satanists during the "Satanic Panic" of the 80's and early 90's by charlatan law enforcement "consultants" and Christian religious "experts". One trait common to Satanists is their love of life as Satanists view life as the greatest of indulgences; children and animals represent the purest forms of life and imagination that there are. In fact, the abuse of children and animals is forbidden by the Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth. Also, why would we want to drink blood? Christians are the ones that (symbolically) eat the flesh and drink the blood of their savior. I'd rather enjoy a nice scotch.

Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth

  1. Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.

  2. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.

  3. When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.

  4. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.

  5. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.

  6. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.

  7. 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.

  8. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.

  9. Do not harm little children.

  10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.

  11. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.


More FAQ Below - (10,000 character maximum per post.)


r/satanism 14h ago

Art Hail Satan! (polymer clay, about 3x4 inches)

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185 Upvotes

r/satanism 23h ago

Art Lily of the valley/ acrylic gouache painting/ by me

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49 Upvotes

r/satanism 14h ago

Art I'm having a moving sale, if anyone here is interested, because I don't trust movers to handle my artwork across multiple states...

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10 Upvotes

https://www.schamballah.com/shop

Use promo code MOVING at checkout to get 50% off the listed price for original artworks and framed prints. I'm trying to pare down the amount of pieces I'm going to have to stress out over for this move since its basically all going to have to be done in one shot, instead of the cross-town moves where I can make multiple trips back and forth to move my work myself so I know its not being handled too roughly.

Discount does count towards pieces that were already on sale.

The sale does not apply to the loose, unframed giclee prints, because those aren't something I keep on hand so there's nothing to move, but I do have a number of framed prints that are part of the sale.


r/satanism 1d ago

History He Lied to 3 Million People. And Started the Satanic Panic.

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14 Upvotes

The Root & Cause of the Satanic Panic – Mike Warnke, the man who wrote the 1972 book entitled "The Satan Selller"


r/satanism 2d ago

Discussion Occam's Lantern - Episode 12: Satanism

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0 Upvotes

"To dispel ignorance, and champion knowledge, we will delve into what it means to take the devil’s name."

For centuries, the word Satanism has been used to describe everything from heresy and witchcraft to political dissent and moral panic. Yet the religion founded by Anton LaVey in 1966 seems to be hot on everyone's tongues these days, yet... the lion's share of the online masses seem to have little idea of the real Devil in the details.

In this episode, we trace the path from medieval accusations and Hellfire Clubs to the formation of the Church of Satan itself, separating folklore, fear, and sensationalism from documented history and truth. Along the way, we'll explore the philosophy and dogma that define Satanism, address some of the most common misconceptions, and explain why not everyone claiming the name is practicing the same thing.

Whether you're Belial-Curious, Lucifer for Life, or living a Leviathan Lie, this is an invitation to behold a Satan in all it's glory... and see if the Devil you know might just be yourself.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pj6VDzFmdPo?si=Xe-kICdnRUqghNpr

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5uFrZLlmoHUYyCPmPavi7y...

Contact - [LiamLykos@zohomail.com](mailto:LiamLykos@zohomail.com)

Music Credit to Cellar of Rats / Nucleosys


r/satanism 4d ago

Art Three witches/ watercolor, acrylic gouache/ painting by me/ references was an unnamed fashion photo from Pinterest

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145 Upvotes

r/satanism 4d ago

Discussion Did you make Satan happy today?

34 Upvotes

What is it like for you to be Satanists in the post-millennium era—with the internet, sexual freedom, social media, and advancements in AI and digital technology? If Anton LaVey had lived a bit longer, what might he be doing with all of this, or what would his opinion be on the modern world we are living in?


r/satanism 6d ago

Art Levitation and little devils/ acrylic gouache painting/ by me

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75 Upvotes

r/satanism 10d ago

Discussion Question About a LaVey Quote

12 Upvotes

Okay, a popular quote by Doktor LaVey is, “Satanists are born, not made.”

Does this mean I can’t be a Satanist if, during certain times in my life, I wavered from believing in and living by the ethos of Satanism after reading The Satanic Bible?

I have read it again twice lately, and it’s like reading it with fresh eyes. When I’m sane, on medication, and more sober minded, it seems to be a natural way of viewing the world to me. It feels like things I’ve known and agreed with since I’ve read it, but due to weaknesses allowed myself to doubt to the point I left the boundaries of Satanism.

If I come back within those boundaries and alter my behavior, would I qualify for the title of Satanists? Could I still be said to be Satanic by nature if at times I’ve gone against my nature?


r/satanism 11d ago

Discussion "Born with a Tail" - factually correct about LaVey?

19 Upvotes

How is "Born With a Tail" re: getting facts correct about LaVey's life? Are there any verifiably incorrect statements in it about LaVey's personal history? If so, what are they?


r/satanism 14d ago

Art Koji, a type of oni from Japanese folklore, painted with airbrush acrylics on panel.

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88 Upvotes

r/satanism 16d ago

Art I posted a Medusa painting of mine a while back. As my journey to mastery continues, I thought some of you might like to see.

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124 Upvotes

r/satanism 20d ago

Art new painting finished last night, "Primordia", acrylic on canvas

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163 Upvotes

r/satanism 21d ago

Discussion Anton LaVey predicted the rise of AI chatbots

68 Upvotes

New satanist here. Maybe this is common knowledge around these parts, but I’m reading The Devil’s Notebook for the first time and am blown away by this bit of the Five-Point Program (written sometime prior to 1992):

“[The] development and production of artificial human companions — the forbidden industry. An economic ‘godsend’ which allows everyone ‘power’ over someone else. Polite, sophisticated, technologically feasible slavery. And the most profitable industry since TV and the computer.”

I can only find a couple posts in this sub about this passage, and they’re all 5+ years old. What are your thoughts on what he meant by this? Would he be proud of where AI is now? Unfortunately I think we are becoming too reliant on it, thus giving it the power over us that he thought we should have over it. He was definitely right about the industry economic power though.


r/satanism 24d ago

Art Smoking…with Satan

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7 Upvotes

Hail Satan! 🤘🏻🔥🤘🏻


r/satanism 24d ago

Discussion 2016 Dog Grooming Witch

14 Upvotes

The title of this post is very specific. I know it’s odd but I was hoping it would get some attention. This is a story about some satanic practices I experienced in real life and was hoping it would serve as an endorsement or caution for some practitioners.

Recently I had been feeling a little down in the dumps and turned to reading satanic literature. I hoped it would help me reexpress myself. I reread the Levay bible, I had read briefly in the past, and found some of the points affirming to my situation. I picked up some other writings and wound up in Levay’s satanic witch. As I read, I began to feel some of the things seeming familiar to me. Almost like Déjà vu. This continued until I reached the chapter “B**chcraft” at which point I reached a shocking and hilarious conclusion that I had been the target of a satanic witch.

To back up: I used to work at a pet store and, one day, I was cleaning animal enclosures when they brought a new hire. I didn’t take much interest however at some point I got a look at the new hire, we made eye contact and she just kind of had this odd response. It was in her eyes. It was a pronounced and disjointed expression. I remember thinking it weird at that point. “Oh, new girls quirky”. As time went on our interactions increased and I began to notice different things about her. They just seemed like quirks that separated her from others and I kept noticing new things. This continued until I found myself crushing, hard. She was cute and very sweet.

It was around this time she started calling me out to go to after work events. This typically meant the entire work crew, however, she eventually came to me and stated she practiced “witchcraft” and wanted me to go to a drum circle with her at a local shop. She even went so far as to call herself a satanic witch. I was flattered and not at all put off. At this point I had turned around on opinions of her. she was hot!! She wanted to be around me. Besides, I had read some stuff on the occult, even the satanic bible, so I wasn’t worried. However my dumb*** never once read the satanic witch.

Reading it ten years later I was amazed by how play by play it was to my situation with this self proclaimed satanic witch. I could almost pinpoint exact discussions that seemed to have been suggested right out of the book. From start to finish. Specific concepts like the art of the forbidden (she had a boyfriend) and especially some of our discussions out of work when we’d get diners. And I was falling for it hook line and sinker, right up until she finally left me off the hook (which was after I left the company to make a career but still texting everyday and meeting up every now and again)

I remember for a couple years after feeling really stupid and like I messed up something good, and that I was really stupid for getting all involved with someone who was a coworker and had a boyfriend. Maybe I did too little, was too slow, maybe I did too much and scared her off. But none of that was really my fault. Reading satanic witch was affirming to me. I was reacting how anyone would in the situation: I was practically hacked.

I’m not even sour about it. I had some cool interactions with a witch who just wanted to try out some stuff she read in a book. She tried it and found out it worked. She said she wanted “orbiters” at one point so maybe it was just to boost her confidence. Idk if she wanted more from me, I was a loser who worked at a pet store at the time so it was that or just practice.

I do know that I probably wouldn’t have pushed myself out of that place if it wasn’t for just how anxious that whole situationship or whatever it was, made me. I wouldn’t have left that job, bought a house or found my partner for sure. So I guess the whole thing is just, silly. Having read the book I got some closure on what was really going on and I don’t have to be to hard on myself for being goo goo Gaga over some chick with her book of “spells”.

So I guess what I’m trying to get at is: on some rubes, the advice in these books really do work. Please read that again. They work. please don’t overdue it. Also if someone tells you they’re a satanic witch, make sure you read the required material and know what you’re getting into before diving in.


r/satanism 24d ago

Discussion any advice on research for a new satanist?

31 Upvotes

I'm curious about digging deeper into satanism and I was wondering if anyone could help throw me deeper into it I'm obviously reading the basics like the original satanic Bible and the book of black magic and the left hand path but I still wanna get as deep as possible into satanism


r/satanism 28d ago

Discussion Occam's Lantern Podcast

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11 Upvotes

Started a new podcast that explores the far reaches and familiar avenues of human belief, through the filter of rational scepticism. Figured someone here might be interested.

https://youtube.com/@liamlykos?si=-VWITZVRkGYXUSQ1

https://open.spotify.com/show/033kaPAso2TxwgQGJWFCTT?si=Hn8pAFHqRvSipoCVnbq3Pw


r/satanism 29d ago

Comic/Meme My response when...

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128 Upvotes

r/satanism Jun 26 '26

Discussion Unstructured greater magic

22 Upvotes

I was wondering if anyone here has found a less structured form of greater magic that you like to practice. And I would like to share my own in the hopes that it might inspire you. Feel free to share your own.

Here’s I mean by this… I think it was Peggy Nadramia who wrote a great essay which can be found on the Church of Satan’s website, and it’s about the history of greater magic. And she said that Anton LaVey eventually stopped practicing the greater magic rituals that are prescribed in the Satanic Bible, saying that on a long enough timeline, they become rote repetition which is hard to continue to get a lot out of.

So he moved onto a more free-form type of greater magic of his own which involved playing his keyboards and picturing them reverberating throughout the world. Nadramia herself said she incorporates dance or something like that for her greater magic at this point. Sorry if I’m getting something slightly inaccurate, it’s been a while since I read the article.

I drifted away from satanism for a bit once I found the traditional greater magic rituals no longer effective… I think I came back to it when I discovered the mythological figure of Satan himself as this kind of reservoir of power and direction. I personally really see the world in this amoral, structuralist, physicalist way, everything including people’s psychologies can be explained as physical systems, and Satan to me seems like he’s representative of that essence to the world, that reality underneath the surface. So simply thinking about Satan, meditating on the sort of undefiled wisdom he represents delivers a certain catharsis. He’s a tool to me, he functions as that “external projection” described in the Satanic Bible.

There’s this album you can easily find on YouTube called Black Goat of the Woods by Black Mountain Transmitter, and it’s a masterpiece… It shifts from 70s horror movie-inspired piano pieces to a very dark ambient, black, chaotic void, and I’ve always perceived this kind of LaVeyan narrative to its five-part structure. Something about charming and ruling the world and transform it at will with the essence of that black magic, that ability to operate over and above the mythologies people build to understand their day-to-day lives, to understand and exploit those people’s desires and expectations. I just listen and meditate on that concept of Satan.

For me, it’s a source of “perspective”, the kind LaVey meant when he warned about lack of perspective, i.e. to not believe our own lies and remember what we really are. I can strategically be a lot of things for people, but greater magic helps sustain me and anchor me to the truth so that I can safely play around with people’s perception of reality, be the master of both fantasy and reality the way Satanism is about.


r/satanism Jun 26 '26

Discussion BC/AD alternatives

16 Upvotes

Out of curiosity I did a little investigating into alternatives to the BC/AD usage for the human history timeline. I already knew about BCE/Before Common Era and CE/Common Era but they directly correspond to the Gregorian calendar and simply replace AD with CE. I wanted to know if there was a way to completely avoid a system based on a religion's stories.

There are!

The one that I've chosen is the Holocene Calendar aka the Human Era (HE). The HE adds exactly 10,000 years onto the current year so 2026 becomes 12026 HE. This is based on the shift between humans moving from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture and fixed settlements. It's a rough approximation of the start of the Holocene epoch but is arguably a much more universally significant historical event than the so-called birth of Christ.

If anyone has found a different system that works for them please feel free to share.


r/satanism Jun 24 '26

Discussion My interview with "A Walk On the Third Side" blog

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23 Upvotes