The Invention of SatanismSatanism is a complex and controversial phenomenon co-existing in many social and rhetorical contexts. Some consider it the root of all evil in the world. Others see it as a juvenile proxy for rebellion or as a misapplication of serious esoteric beliefs and practices. Then again, some consider it a specific religious or philosophical position serving as a personal and collective identity. This book, written by three experts in the field of Satanism studies, examines Satanism as a contemporary movement in continuous dialogue with popular culture, aiding as a breeding ground for other new religious movements. Shifting the focus from mythology to meaning-making, this is a book about the invention of Satanism among self-declared religious Satanists. Like all ideologists and believers, Satanists incorporate, borrow, and modify elements from other traditions, and this book explores how traditional folklore and prior strands of occultism were synthesized by Anton LaVey in his founding of the Church of Satan and the creation of the Satanic Bible. Later chapters examine contemporary Satanist subcultures from various perspectives, also demonstrating how Satanism, despite its brief history as an organized phenomenon, continues to reinvent itself. There are now numerous Satanisms with distinctive interpretations of what being a Satanist entails, with some of these new versions deviating more from the historical "mainstream" than others. In this fascinating account of a seemingly abstruse and often-feared movement, Dyrendal, Lewis, and Petersen demonstrate that the invention of Satanism is an ongoing, ever-evolving process. |
Contents
Introducing Satanism | 1 |
The Folklore of Satanism | 13 |
2 Satanic Precursors | 27 |
Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan | 47 |
4 The Satanic Bible | 71 |
The Satanism Scare | 102 |
6 Adopting Satanic Identities | 133 |
7 Little Nicky Grows Up? | 156 |
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The ^AInvention of Satanism Asbjorn Dyrendal,James R. Lewis,Jesper Aa. Petersen Limited preview - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
accused activities alleged antinomian Anton LaVey Anton Szandor Anton Szandor LaVey Aquino artistic attitude became become believe Book of Satan census central chapter Christian Church of Satan claims contemporary Crowley cultic milieu curse demonology demons Devil Dyrendal early edited elements Enochian esoteric Esotericism evil expressed fantasy Faxneld force grotto human ideas ideology important individual interest Internet involved Jesper Aa later LaVey’s LaVeyan Lewis magic magician Michael Aquino Michelle Remembers Modern Satanism movement Naglowska occult one’s organized Paganism participants Petersen philosophy popular culture practice presented question questionnaire religion religious religious Satanism respondents ritual abuse role Romantic Satan Surveys Satanic Bible satanic conspiracy satanic cult satanic discourse satanic milieu Satanic Ritual Satanism scare Satanists Schreck seems self-identified sexual social society spiritual Stephen Flowers Table Temple of Set theistic Satanism tion topic tradition University Press witchcraft witches Zeena Schreck