The Truth About Satanism

by Damien Syde

I am Damien Syde, a 19 year-old Satanist with six years of satanic experience behind me. For one to truly understand modern satanism, one must acquire Doktor LaVey's THE SATANIC BIBLE, and read it from cover to cover. This book explains in great detail the philosophy of the religion, and dispels any of the myths that Christian propaganda has so mercilessly and unfairly spread.

After reading various articles from various sites, I feel that I must write this article not only for myself and others, but for the late and beloved Dr. Anton Zsandor LaVey, and the name of satanism as a major religion. I have a duty as a Satanist to protect my religion, and to stand up for it and defend it, much like the soldiers that fight for our country.

It is a common misconception that one has to join the Church of Satan (CoS) to be considered a Satanist. This is not true. One only has to start living like a Satanist to become one. I myself have no problem with admitting that I am not a member of the CoS as of yet, but plan to be very soon. Membership in the CoS is simply a way for Satanists to be introduced to others like them, so that they may further their studies and enhance their enlightenment. Many times a young Satanist will feel as if they are the only one of their sort. By joining the CoS, they find that they are not alone, and can begin to put their mind at ease.

It is a true statement that membership in the CoS has its cost, but this is only a one-time fee. No yearly dues or fees are required from any member. It is also true that membership in the CoS opens many doors that may have been previously closed to the non-member. Think of your status as a satanist as being in high school, flipping burgers at a fast food restaurant during the summers. Your membership card from the CoS should be thought of as your diploma, earning you the title of master chef at a five star restaurant in New York City.

Pentagonal Revisionism, The Order of The Trapezoid, and The Council of Nine do exist, but there are no secret meetings in Berlin or wherever. To quote the good Doktor, this would be "gobbledygook." Look around you. Satanists are everywhere and could even be living right next door to you, or perhaps right down the hall. Membership in the CoS is kept in strictest confidence, yes, but this is only for the protection of others. Besides, whose business is it anyway?

There are no animal or human sacrifices involved in LaVeyan Satanism. You wil find in THE SATANIC BIBLE that Dr. LaVey prohibits any harming of animals unless for food, or unless you are attacked. Murder is not condoned nor will it be tolerated. The workings of magick are great, and Dr. LaVey leaves the strictest of instructions when it comes to magickal workings.

Drug use is not rampant throughout the ceremony, as is thought, but rather drugs are looked down upon, as the mind must be clearly focused when working a ritual, and, honestly, true magicians need not mind-altering substances to work their rituals properly.

And, in closing, I will clear up the greatest and most infamous myth of them all concerning Satanism: THE BLACK MASS. Never has any religion been so horribly twisted than this. The Black Mass is performed as a parody of the Catholic Mass, and involves reciting the Lord's Prayer backward, the hanging of the crucifix with Jesus' head pointing toward the floor, and so on and so forth. The Black Mass is not something that Satanists incorporate into their rituals. I am not saying that it is never performed by Satanists, either. The Black Mass, when performed as part of a ritual, is performed for two reasons: POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE. The Black Mass entertains Satanists because when they perform it, they are feeding the people and onlookers exactly what they have ordered. In other words, The Black Mass is nothing more than a charade, an attention getter, a shock inducer, etc, etc, performed for the sole entertainment of the Satanists performing it, for they are the ones that will have the last laugh.

If you seek further knowledge in this field, or if you would like to check the validity of all I have written here, please, obtain a copy of THE SATANIC BIBLE, sit down, and read it cover to cover. If it is something that interests you, explore further by picking up the companion to THE SATANIC BIBLE, entitled THE SATANIC RITUALS. I would encourage readers of this article and these books to also read THE SATANIC WITCH, THE DEVIL'S NOTEBOOK, and SATAN SPEAKS! all of which have been authored by Dr. Anton Zsandor LaVey.

For more information concerning the life and times of Anton LaVey, and the history and legend behind the creation of The Church of Satan, be sure to pick up the official biography of Anton LaVey, THE SECRET LIFE OF A SATANIST, authored by the wife, mistress, and mother of Anton's only son, current High Priestess Blanche Barton.

Thank you all.

Damien Syde