By Vexen Crabtree 1999
The inverted cross was not invented or first used by Satanists. It is the cross that St Peter was crucified on because he didn't feel himself worthy to be crucified on the same form of cross as his "messiah", Jesus Christ, was.
It was a symbol for unworthiness and deep respect of ones superiors: representing folly, hardship, failure and reverence for Christ. That's what it used to mean. Since the advent of the B-Movie and limited public intelligence the inverted cross became a reversed Christian symbol - a symbol of Anti-Christian sentiment. Let us not forget that The Cross is just a symbol, used and misused over the millennium for a multitude of reasons.
The Baphomet is the official symbol of the Church Of Satan, but many Satanists use the inverted cross to symbolize their dislike of Christianity. Its modern meaning has came to mean "anti-Christian" and it is used and recognized as such in today's world, but not in history.
Related pages:
There is a form of selective discrimination and it is based on a persons knowledge, power and style. Let's face it, stupid people, invisible people and unimpressive people are not easily accepted into the Satanic community. In the case of stupidity/ineffectualism the exclusion is certain. This type of exclusion is not prejudice but survivalist and occurs after learning about the individual person and not before. Therefore it is not prejudice, in that it is not presumptuous, but it is a dogmatic exclusion.
A frequent question about The Satanic Bible and Satanic Rituals is the meaning of "Shemhamphorash", it has been matched closely by scholars with the Hebrew scriptures (note the additonal 'a'):
"History of Magic" by Eliphas Levi, p100 But, given this explanation, I do not claim to know why Shemhamphorash is used within the context of Satanism.
Shemhamphorash2
"It has been said in the Doctrine of Transcendental Magic that the name of Jehovah resolves into seventy-two explicatory names, called Shemahamphorash. The art of employing these seventy-two names and discovering therein the keys of universal science is the art which is called by Kabalists the Keys of Solomon."
LaVey, Anton [Who Is?]
"The Satanic Bible". 1969, Avon Books Inc, New York, USA.
Levi, Eliphas (Alphonse Louis Constant)
"The History of Magic". 1860. Translation and Preface by Arthur Edward Waite, 1971, first edition of Waite translation was 1913. Published by Rider & Company, London, UK.
Notes:
Most text written in 1999/2000 By Vexen Crabtree. Additions and alterations are frequently made.