Theistic Satanism - Diversity of Viewpoints Within Theistic Satanism

Diversity of Viewpoints Within Theistic Satanism

The internet has increased awareness of different views among Satanists, and led to more diverse groups. But Satanism has always been a pluralistic and decentralised religion. Scholars outside Satanism have sought to study it by categorizing forms of it according to whether they are theistic or atheistic and referred to the worship of the Devil as traditional Satanism or theistic Satanism. It is generally a prerequisite to being considered a theistic Satanist that the Satanist accept a theological and metaphysical canon involving one or more God(s) who are either Satan in the strictest, Abrahamic sense, or a concept of Satan that incorporates gods from other religions (usually pre-Christian), such as Ahriman. Some theistic Satanists believe in Satan as the All, a force filling the universe. Many theistic Satanists believe their own individualized concept based on pieces of all these diverse views of Satan, according to their inclination and spiritual guidance, rather than only believe in one suggested interpretation. Some may choose to live out the myths and stereotypes, but Christianity is not always the primary frame of reference for theistic Satanists. Their religion may be based on dark pagan, left hand path and occult traditions. Theistic Satanists who base their faith on Christian ideas about Satan may be referred to as “Reverse Christians” by other Satanists, often in a pejorative fashion. However, those labeled by some as “reverse Christians” may see their concept of Satan as not diluted or sanitized. They worship a stricter interpretation of Satan: that of the Satan featured in the Christian Bible. This is not, however, shared by a majority of theistic Satanists. Wiccans may consider most Satanism to be reverse Christianity, and the head of the atheistic Church of Satan, Peter H. Gilmore, considers “devil worship” to be a Christian heresy, that is, a divergent form of Christianity. The diversity of individual viewpoints within theistic Satanism, while being a cause for intense debates within the religion, is also often seen as a reflection of Satan, who encourages individualism.

A notable group that outwardly considers themselves to be Traditional Satanists is the Order of Nine Angles. Controversy meant this group were mentioned in the press and books, as they claimed to practice animal sacrifice and agreed with human sacrifice. Not surprisingly, they had an authoritarian, even fascist philosophy, one that attracted notoriety. Similar political views are held by the Joy of Satan, who led to some resignations from the National Socialist Movement when prominent members were discovered to be involved with the Joy of Satan, to the extent of donations from both organizations when those individuals were involved in the NSM, being asked to be sent to the same post office box address and number. The JoS have some idiosyncratic beliefs about spiritual entities being extra terrestrials, valuing the work of Zecharia Sitchin. A group with very different political views to the ONA is Satanic Reds, whose Satanism has a Communist element. However, they are not theistic Satanist in the manner of believing in Satan as a god with a personality, but believe in dark deism, the belief that Satan is a presence in nature. The First Church of Satan believe the philosophy propounded by Anton LaVey himself was deism or panentheism but is propounded as atheism by the leaders of the Church of Satan in order to distance themselves from what they see as pseudo-Satanists.

One other group is the Temple of the Black Light, formerly known as the Misanthropic Luciferian Order. The Temple espouses a philosophy known as “Chaosophy”. Chaosophy asserts that the world that we live in, and the Universe that it lives in, all exists within the realm known as Cosmos. Cosmos is made of three spatial dimensions and one linear time dimension. Cosmos rarely ever changes and is a materialistic realm. Another realm that exists is known as Chaos. Chaos exists outside of the Cosmos and is made of infinite dimensions and unlike the Cosmos, it is always changing. Followers in the Temple believe that the realm of Chaos is ruled over by 11 dark Gods, the highest of them being Satan, all considered manifestations of a higher being. This higher being is known as Azerate, the Dragon Mother, and is all the 11 gods united as one. The Temple believes that Azerate will resurrect one day and destroy the Cosmos and let Chaos consume everything. The group has been connected to the Swedish black/death metal band Dissection, particularly its front man Jon Nödtveidt. Nödtveidt was introduced to the group “at an early stage”. The lyrics on the band's third album, Reinkaos, are all about beliefs of the Temple of the Black Light. Nödtveidt committed suicide in 2006.

Luciferian groups such as the Church of Lucifer and the Children of the Black Rose are particularly inspired by Lucifer (from the Latin for ‘bearer of light’), who they may or may not equate with Satan. While some theologians believe the son of the dawn, Lucifer and other names were actually used to refer to contemporary political figures, such as a Babylonian King, rather than a single spiritual entity (although on the surface the Bible explicitly refers to the King of Tyrus), those that believe it refers to Satan infer that by implication it also applies to the fall of Satan. The Church of the Black Goat believe Satan and Lucifer are the same being in his light and dark aspects. Some writers equate the veneration of Set by the Temple of Set to theistic Satanism; however, the Temple of Set do not identify as theistic Satanists. They believe the Egyptian deity Set is the real Dark Lord behind the name Satan, of whom Satan is just a caricature. Their practices primarily center on self-development. Within the temple of Set, the Black Flame is the individual's god-like core which is a kindred spirit to Set, and they seek to develop. In theistic Satanism, the Black Flame is knowledge which was given to humanity by Satan, who is a being independent of the Satanist himself and which he can dispense to the Satanist who seeks knowledge.

The diversity of views amongst Satanists, and the theistic nature of some Satanists, was seen in a survey in 1995. Some spoke of seeing Satan not as someone dangerous to those who seek or worship him, but as someone that could be approached as a friend. Some refer to him as Father, though some other theistic Satanists consider that to be confused or excessively subservient. However, referring to Satan as his follower's father occurs in the Bible (John 8:44). Satan is also portrayed as a father to his daughter, Sin, by Milton in Paradise Lost.

Many groups such as the 600 Club are accepting of all types of Satanists, as are the Sinagogue of Satan, which aims for the ultimate destruction of religions, paradoxically including itself, and encourages not self-indulgence, but self-expression balanced by social responsibility.

Theistic Satanism often involves a religious commitment rather than being simply an occult practice based on dabbling or transient enjoyment of the rituals and magic involved. Practitioners may choose to perform a self-dedication rite, although there are arguments over whether it is best to do this at the beginning of their time as a theistic Satanist, or once they have been practicing for some time.