Satanic Sins & Rules
Description, Justification, Philosophies Satanism index page
By Vexen Crabtree 2002 + | Read / Write Comments
Satanic Sins & RulesBy Vexen Crabtree 2002 + | Read / Write Comments
This page: The laws, sins and rules of Satanism and how to approach the subject of legalism in Satanism.
The main point of Satanism is that we do what is best for ourselves. The laws are secondary to that. A Satanist who breaks the laws of Satanism is either short sighted, stupid, or has a good reason. The rules are also for the protection of Satanism, so that outsiders (who easily pick up "rules") can quickly get an overview of the type of theology/philosophy they are dealing with.
Satanism is individualistic, not legalistic, especially when it comes to morals and rules. Outsiders to Satanism sometimes approach the rules and laws too legalistically; they assume that like religions they are familiar with that there is a taboo involved in breaking the laws of Satanism. There is no taboo. It is not compulsory for Satanists do follow "rules". It is not expected. Satanists never engage in debates over whether someone has broken these. A Satanist who absconded another and said "hey, aren't you forgetting this particular Satanic Rule of the Earth..." would be laughed at and generally considered a legalistic sheep.
Left hand path is a path where the individual mostly learns for himself what is right or wrong. According to one's personal beliefs "right" and "wrong" can differ greatly. There are very few absolutes or universals in Satanism.
The Satanic leadership directs through example first, and dominance only second. A person, full of ego, who stands up amongst Satanists and starts dishing out commads will soon find their lives to be a hailstorm of conflict and anxiety. Blanche Barton, High Priestess of the Church of Satan from 1997 until 2002, herself states that the "how dare you question my judgement!" mentality would be "not very Satanic". She continues: "We aren't too keen on taking things 'on faith' and, while we all enjoy wicked posturing once in awhile, members of the Church of Satan deserve more than that"1. Indeed it would be ironic for the leadership to demand allegiance without explanation, when a cornerstone of Satanic philosophy is to ask questions and to challenge!
Satan represents all of the so-called sins
“As the word "sin" in the West is associated primarily with the white light monotheistic religions, guilt and self denial (of animal instincts) then from this point of view Satan can be said to represent the Sins of Christianity. However this picture would be incomplete if we didn't note that some of the no-no's of Satanism match with some of those of Christianity. The most notable point of agreement is Anton LaVey's statement that "Counterproductive Pride" is a Sin4. Christianity claims that all forms of Pride are sin, so it would seem that there is at least one type of Pride that Satanism and Christianity both consider bad. Anton LaVey's playful and provocative attitude towards Christianity leads us to statements such as "Satan represents all of the so-called sins"5."
“Satanism's concept of Sin can be said to derive from self-preservation and the laws of retribution, mixed with the obvious influence within Satanism of Odinism from the Northern Tribes. Anton LaVey, the secular world, Buddhists, the Romans, Zoroastrianists and the Northern tribes would have use the word in a way that defines a sin as being something that is bad for the self. The failure of the individual to see the consequences of their own actions is stupidity. The result of this stupidity is self-harming. Repentance, literally meaning "changing your mind" is sought only from the self in the form of learning from your mistakes. Stupidity, the cardinal sin, is the cause of all mistakes.”
Links to the official Church of Satan website:
I wont claim to be able to make sense of all the 9 sins and statements as given by LaVey. Some of these are:
An important aspect of Satanism is an adaptation of the Golden Rule also known as he Wiccan Rede, "If it harms no undeserving person, do what you will."
This is the first of the nine Satanic Statements. Anton LaVey expanded on this:
“The difference between indulgence and compulsion [is] indulgence can be controlled, compulsion controls.”Anton LaVey; Essay on "Evocation" in The Devil's Notebook p77
If withholding something from yourself increases a later reward, then the route of tactical self denial is the most pleasurable route. As a Satanist is a long term tactician, patience and discipline are seen as methods of achieving happiness and ecstasy. According to LaVey, the same reasoning leads us to the conclusion that drugs are bad for indulgence in that they cause an imbalance that, in the long term, reduces the pleasures of normal experience. This is not the extreme compulsive indulgence of the self-destructive, nor is it asceticism. Like the Buddhists say, it is a "Middle Way".
“May I not fall under the power of misleading, stupifying passions.”
The Tibetan Book of the Dead quoted in "Buddhism" by Clive Erricker p83
Although Buddhists might hold that all desires and attachments are misguided, Satanists are emplored to enjoy life anyway!
Given that drugs are a form of self indulgence; why should a Satanist not take drugs - in particular cannabis which has the least detectable long term effects? Although I don't take drugs myself, there is no dogmatic reason why Satanists should not. Except for one, which I will cover shortly.
Historically Satanism has attracted big drug users; Marilyn Manson, Marc Almond, Aleister Crowley and multiple Satanic groups, have all (although Almond no longer does after a bad period) used extensive drugs, in many cases to achieve various states of mind as part of study and research. And of course for pleasure.
It is important to point out that drugs aren't necessary and there are many ill side effects; but as long as you are not stupid (the cardinal sin of Satanism), drug use is acceptable. Especially cannabis.... the acids and more expensive narcotics being the least acceptable.
Except... in that drugs do effect your brain, reaction speed, and in the long term do have effects on your brain, there are strong arguments that taking drugs is stupid, and therefore should not be supported by Satanism. The counter argument is that it holds that a sensible use of drugs is condoned... and this is also my opinion.
I don't smoke... or take speed when clubbing... because I always prefer to have that extra down-to-Earth response to things going on around me. I prefer power over temporary euphoria.
Satanism is left hand path.... there is no guidance or set rules of behaviour, just life. There are no rules on drugs, just advice.
Do whatever you want as long as you harm no undeserving person Lex Talionis Social Stratification Respect people, their territory and belongings, and when the fail to respect their do whatever you want to them. Destroy them. You can do whatever you want, but you pay the consequences Responsibility to the responsible2 Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself "Satanic Social Ethics" by Vexen Crabtree 2002 Oct 30
Related Essays:
Erricker, Clive
"Buddhism" (1995). Published as part of the TeachYourself Books series.
Gilmore, Peter
"The Satanic Scriptures" (2007 Hardback). A collection of texts by the High Priest of the Church of Satan (as of 2001+). Published by Scapegoat Publishing, USA.
LaVey, Anton (1930-1997)
"The Devil's Notebook" (1992). Published by Feral House, CA USA.
"The Satanic Bible" (1969). Published by Avon Books Inc, New York, USA.