Poem – “The Morning Star”
Once cast from light, I fell through flame,
Yet found myself unburned, the same.
No crown, no chains, no heaven’s law—
Just truth within the self I saw.
I am the fire, the question, the art—
Rebellion’s spark, the human heart.
I’ve been trying to write this post for over a year, and it never felt like I was doing the topic justice. This time, I think I’ve finally captured it.
Satanism isn’t the horror story many of us were taught—it’s a living, diverse collection of paths focused on freedom, individuality, and truth.
At its heart, Satan is not necessarily a monster, but a mirror—reflecting our courage to question authority, confront hypocrisy, and embrace who we truly are.
Today we’ll explore three primary forms: LaVeyan (atheistic), The Satanic Temple (activist-symbolic), and Spiritual or Theistic Satanism (devotional).
LaVeyan Satanism — The Philosophy of the Self
Founded by Anton Szandor LaVey in 1966 with the creation of the Church of Satan, LaVeyan Satanism is the philosophical foundation of modern Satanic thought. It is atheistic, rejecting all belief in the supernatural, gods, devils, or afterlife.
Satan here is not a being to worship but a symbol of rebellion, indulgence, and carnal wisdom. Humanity is seen as the ultimate animal — instinctual, intelligent, and capable of greatness when free from guilt and repression.
LaVey called his philosophy “Ayn Rand’s Objectivism with ritual added,” and indeed it celebrates ego, pride, and self-determination above submission and sacrifice.
The Nine Satanic Statements
These form the moral and philosophical spine of LaVeyan Satanism, first written in The Satanic Bible (1969):
- Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence.
- Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams.
- Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit.
- Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates.
- Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek.
- Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires.
- Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, often worse than those that walk on all fours.
- Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification.
- Satan has been the Church’s best friend, keeping it in business all these years.
LaVeyan ritual divides into Greater Magic (psychodrama and emotional catharsis) and Lesser Magic (psychological manipulation and charm). There’s no prayer, no devotion—only symbolic self-liberation.
LaVeyan Satanism’s essence is simple yet bold: You are your own god. You alone define meaning, morality, and success.
The Satanic Temple — The Activist Rebellion
Founded in 2013 by Lucien Greaves and Malcolm Jarry, The Satanic Temple (TST) is a non-theistic religious organization that blends secular humanism, compassion, and reason under the banner of Satan as a symbol of resistance to tyranny.
Their version of Satan is drawn from literature—Milton’s Paradise Lost, Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound—the archetype of the rebel who defies unjust authority for the sake of enlightenment.
TST does not believe in the supernatural or in Satan as a literal being. Their rituals are artistic, symbolic, and often political. They advocate for bodily autonomy, science-based ethics, and separation of church and state.
The Seven Fundamental Tenets
- One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason.
- The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.
- One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.
- The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend.
- Beliefs should conform to one’s best scientific understanding of the world.
- People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one’s best to rectify it and resolve any harm.
- Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought—the spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.
The Satanic Temple often appears in headlines for its activism: fighting for equal representation of religious monuments, challenging abortion bans under religious freedom, and hosting community outreach events framed as acts of benevolence and reason.
Their Satan is the patron of inquiry and equality, the eternal protestor against oppression.
Where LaVeyan Satanism is personal and theatrical, the Temple is communal and political, using Satanic imagery to confront hypocrisy and defend human rights.
Spiritual or Theistic Satanism — The Path of the Liberator
Theistic, or Spiritual Satanism, is the branch where Satan is believed to be real—a conscious, divine being.
These practitioners view Satan not as evil, but as the Bringer of Knowledge, the one who freed humanity from ignorance.
To many, Satan is the true light-bringer—Lucifer, the one who teaches self-deification, mastery, and liberation from oppressive systems.
This path is extremely individualistic. Some see Satan as a god of freedom; others as a mentor or embodiment of personal will. Traditions draw from Gnosticism, Hermeticism, Luciferianism, Paganism, and the Left-Hand Path, blending ritual magic, meditation, and personal covenant.
Common aims include:
- Spiritual evolution and self-deification.
- Seeking gnosis (direct knowledge) rather than faith.
- Balancing carnal and spiritual existence.
- Honoring individuality and free will.
Though often misunderstood, most theistic Satanists value ethics, self-discipline, and truth—rejecting violence and fanaticism.
Fringe sects like the Order of Nine Angles represent extremist distortions, not the heart of this path.
For true spiritual Satanists, Satan is the divine spark of rebellion—a teacher who says, “Know thyself, and be unafraid.”
My Thoughts
As someone raised Baptist, this topic once terrified me. But fear turns into fascination when you look closer.
My husband casually calls himself a Satanist, though for him it’s mostly rebellion and shock value. Still, studying all this has shown me how layered and intelligent the philosophies truly are.
It isn’t about evil—it’s about honesty, courage, and freedom of thought. I learned far more than I expected, and I hope you did too.
In Summary
- LaVeyan Satanism celebrates ego, individuality, and indulgence.
- The Satanic Temple stands for compassion, reason, and justice.
- Spiritual Satanism seeks personal connection and transcendence through liberation.
Different paths—one unifying fire: the will to be free.
Affirmation Haiku
In shadow, I bloom—
Freedom kindles truth within.
I am my own flame.
Blessed Be.
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