The UnKnown Essay Example

was a genuine Satanist, a trickster, or a fraud. I had already encountered individuals involved in the occult industry; in fact, Jeane Dixon was my landlady and I had an opportunity to write about her before Ruth Montgomery did. However, I considered all occultists to be dishonest, hypocritical, or fraudulent, and had no interest in writing about their deceitful practices. Every occultist I came across professed mystical powers from God and engaged in divination and witchcraft. On the contrary, LaVey seemed to ridicule or dismiss them with disdain. He portrayed himself as a dark magician who drew inspiration from the darker aspects of nature and primal human desires. His "church" appeared devoid of any spiritual essence. As I listened to LaVey that first time, it became apparent that he had no connection with the occult industry. He couldn't even be labeled as metaphysical. His speech was refreshingly honest, practical, relativistic, and above all else, rational.The talk given by LaVey challenged traditional religious worship, suppressed human desires,and revealed the hypocrisy of feigning piety while pursuing materialistic interestsIn addition, the text also made use of sarcastic humor to emphasize human foolishness. However, the most important aspect was its logical approach. Instead of offering his audience quackery or magical solutions, LaVey provided a philosophy that was grounded in common sense and the realities of life. Once I became convinced of LaVey's sincerity, I assured him that my intention was to conduct serious research rather than contribute to sensationalized portrayals of the Church of Satan as a bizarre spectacle. I familiarized myself with Satanism, discussing its history and reasoning with LaVey, and even attending midnight rituals at the famous

Victorian manse which once served as the headquarters for the Church of Satan. These experiences led me to produce a well-thought-out article, only to discover that mainstream publications were solely interested in presenting the Church of Satan as a freak show. Ultimately, it was Knight Magazine in September 1968 – frequently categorized as a "girlie" or "man's" magazine – that published the first authoritative article on LaVey, The Church of Satan, and his incorporation of ancient Devil legends and black magic lore into a modern philosophy and practice known as Satanism. This article now acts as the foundation, guide, and even Bible for all followers and imitators of Satanism. Rather than concluding my previous writing subjects like before, my magazine article marked just the beginning of an extensive and close relationship.In 1974, my biography of LaVey, titled The Devil's Avenger, was published by Pyramid. This marked the beginning of my journey as a proud member and eventually a priest in the Church of Satan. Over the past ten years since our late-night philosophical discussions began in 1967, they have continued to this day. Sometimes these conversations are enriched by the presence of a skilled witch or our own musical performances, featuring LaVey on the organ and myself on drums. These unique gatherings take place in a cabaret filled with hyper-realistic humanoids created by LaVey himself.

LaVey's background has prepared him perfectly for his role within the Church of Satan. His lineage includes ancestors from Georgia, Romania, and Alsace-Lorraine, including a gypsy grandmother from Transylvania who shared with him legends about vampires and witches from her homeland. Even at a young age of five, LaVey delved into

publications like Weird-Tales magazines and classic novels such as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula. Despite being different from his peers, he was chosen as their leader during mock military exercises and parades due to his fascination with toy soldiers.

This fascination also sparked concerns about World War II when LaVey was twelve years old in 1942.He explored military manuals and discovered that armies and navies could easily obtain weapons and equipment, much like groceries from a supermarket, to conquer nations. This contradicted the Christian Bible's belief that the meek would inherit the earth; instead, he believed it would be the powerful who would prevail. In high school, LaVey displayed exceptional talent in various areas, including music, metaphysics, and occult studies. At fifteen years old, he became the second oboist in the San Francisco Ballet Symphony Orchestra. Growing disinterested in his high school classes, LaVey dropped out during his junior year and joined the Clyde Beatty Circus as a cage boy. His responsibilities involved caring for lions and tigers by providing them with food and water. It was during this role that LaVey's skill in working with large cats caught the attention of animal trainer Bratty. Impressed with his abilities, Bratty promoted him to an assistant trainer. Despite his success with animals, LaVey had always harbored a passion for arts and culture beyond training jungle beasts or acting as a substitute for Bratty. By age ten, he had taught himself how to play piano by ear.LaVey's skill in playing the circus calliope proved valuable when the regular player arrived drunk and unable to perform. LaVey confidently took over, playing well enough on the unfamiliar organ

keyboard to provide the necessary background music. It turned out that he knew more music and played better than the regular calliopist, leading Beatty to dismiss the drunk player and appoint LaVey as the new musician. He accompanied acts like Hugo Zachia's "Human Cannonball" and The Wallendas' high-wire acts, among others.

When LaVey reached 18 years old, he left the circus and joined a carnival where he became an assistant to a magician. In this new role, he learned hypnosis and delved deeper into occult practices. This unique combination exposed him to both the thrilling world of physical performance and the mysterious dark side of human psychology.

While playing organ for carnival sideshows, LaVey noticed a stark contrast between men lusting after scantily clad women on Saturday nights and then repenting in church on Sunday mornings, seeking forgiveness for their carnal desires. However, this cycle of indulgence followed by repentance would repeat itself as they returned to places of indulgence shortly after. Recognizing the hypocrisy of Christianity and its inability to purify human nature despite attempts through religion, LaVey was led towards formulating a religion that opposed Christianity along with its Judaic origins.LaVey organized a religion that predated Christianity and Judaism, which had never before been established with specific beliefs and rituals. After marrying at the age of twenty-one in 1951, he left behind his carnival life to pursue a career more suitable for family-oriented living. LaVey studied criminology at City College of San Francisco and eventually became a photographer for the San Francisco Police Department. Surprisingly, this job played a significant role in shaping his development of Satanism as a way of life. Witnessing gruesome acts

such as shootings, stabbings by friends, and innocent children dying from reckless drivers deeply disgusted and depressed him. This experience led him to question the existence of God and grow to despise people's hypocritical attitudes towards violence, often attributing it to God's will. These feelings prompted LaVey to quit his job as a crime photographer after three years due to disgust. He returned to playing the organ but this time in nightclubs and theaters for sustenance while continuing his studies into occult practices that fascinated him throughout his life. To share his knowledge, he held weekly classes on various esoteric subjects like hauntings, ESP, dreams, vampires, werewolves, divination, and ceremonial magic. These gatherings attracted many individuals who would later achieve recognition in the arts, sciences, and business world.
Eventually, our group transformed into a "Magic Circle" whose primary objective was to practice the magical rituals that I had either discovered or created. As time went on, I built up a collection of descriptions detailing notorious ceremonies such as the Black Mass performed by groups like the Knights Templar in fourteenth-century France, the Hell Fire Club, and the Golden Dawn in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century England. Unlike some of these secret societies that aimed to mock and defy the Christian church while venerating a personified Devil figure, my perspective diverged. I perceived the Devil as a concealed force within nature that influenced earthly matters, for which neither science nor religion could account. LaVey's Satan symbolized progress and inspiration for advancing civilization and humanity. He embodied rebellion and freedom, liberating through heresies. On Walpurgisnacht (April 196), an important magical festival night, LaVey adhered to tradition by shaving his head

and announced the establishment of the Church of Satan. To denote his role as a minister, he wore a clerical collar which made him appear almost holy except for his shaven head, devilish beard, and narrow eyes that gave him an infernal appearance befitting his position in Earth's Devil-worshipping institution. Referring to it as a church allowed LaVey to strike a balance between outrage and social respectability for achieving success.
The main goal was to unite individuals with similar beliefs and utilize their collective energy to summon the dark force known as Satan in nature. Unlike conventional churches that prioritize spiritual worship and reject worldly desires and intellect, LaVey recognized the importance of a church that celebrated human minds and cravings. The promotion of rational self-interest and a strong ego were crucial aspects. LaVey came to realize that the traditional concept of a Black Mass used for mocking Christian services was no longer relevant, or as he put it, "beating a dead horse." Instead, in the Church of Satan, LaVey introduced thrilling psychodramas as alternatives to Christianity's self-deprecating practices. This served to unleash repressed emotions and release constraints imposed by mainstream religious beliefs.

Even within the Christian church itself, there was rebellious sentiment against orthodox rituals and traditions, with the widely proclaimed notion that "God is dead." Consequently, LaVey transformed his alternative rituals from negative mockery into positive forms of celebration and purification. These included Satanic weddings celebrating sensual pleasures, funerals rejecting hypocritical platitudes, lust rituals fulfilling sexual desires, and destruction rituals empowering members over their adversaries. These unique ceremonies garnered significant press coverage without solicitation during special occasions such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals conducted in

Satan's name.Newspapers from San Francisco to Tokyo and Paris were sending reporters to cover the Church of Satan by 1967. A photograph of a half-naked woman adorned with a leopard skin serving as an altar during a wedding ceremony conceived by LaVey was circulated worldwide by major wire services. This publicity led to an increase in grottos affiliated with the Church of Satan globally, proving LaVey's belief that the Devil is alive and popular among many individuals. LaVey emphasized that the Devil represents the dark forces in nature rather than a cloaked figure with red garb, horns, tail, and pitchfork, which are popular stereotypes. However, despite this explanation he occasionally wore a black cowl with horns himself, seemingly contradicting his earlier statement. When questioned about it, he responded that people need rituals and symbols as outlets for emotions they struggle to express or understand independently - similar to those found in baseball games, church services, or wars. Over time though, LaVey grew tired of these games due to setbacks such as complaints from neighbors about his lion house pet resulting in its donation to the local zoo.In addition to mourning the tragic deaths of Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe, both Hollywood sex symbols whom Anton Szandor LaVey had close relationships with, he also found himself growing tired of organizing entertainment for his church members. Despite warning Mansfield about her suitor Sam Brody, she tragically passed away under a curse placed by LaVey. This event left him feeling despondent. Seeking new inspiration, LaVey reached out to prewar occult fraternities in Europe and studied their philosophies and secret rituals from before Hitler's era. Devoting time to studying,

writing, and developing new principles became essential for LaVey during this period. He particularly focused on geometric spatial concepts known as "The Law of the Trapezoid," dismissing current trends that emphasized pyramids. Alongside these occult pursuits, LaVey became increasingly sought after as a speaker and served as a guest on radio and television shows. He also acted as a production or technical advisor for various satanic films made for TV and movies.He also occasionally took on acting roles himself. Sociologist Clinton R. Sanders emphasizes that no other occultist has had as significant an impact on formulaic cinematic portrayals of Satanism as Anton Szandor LaVey. The rituals and esoteric symbolism central to LaVey's church are prominently featured in the films he has been involved with, depicting detailed satanic rites and traditional occult symbols. The Church of Satan prioritizes ritual to channel individual emotional power, similarly seen in LaVey's films using ornate ritualism to engage and focus the cinema audience's emotions. LaVey relocated rituals and activities to Church of Satan grottos worldwide, enabling him to concentrate on writing, lecturing, teaching, and his family. His wife Diane holds the position of High Priestess while his daughter Karla lectures about Satanism at universities. Zeena, known for a famous photo as a child during a Satanic Church baptism, has grown into a teenager attracting attention from male admirers. During this time period, LaVey authored influential books including The Satanic Bible (now in its twelfth edition) and The Satanic Ritual which explores somber and complex subjects discovered through his research. Lastly, The Corn pleat Witch achieved bestseller status in Italy but unfortunately went out of print without realizing its potential due

to its American publisherLaVey's expansion into writing books for global distribution has greatly increased the membership of the Church of Satan. The rising popularity of Satanism has led to concerns from religious groups, who claim that The Satanic Bible now outsells the Christian Bible on college campuses and is a significant factor in youth turning away from God. Pope Paul seemed to recognize this when he proclaimed two years ago that the Devil is "alive" and "a person," spreading evil like a living, fire-breathing character. In response, LaVey, who believes in embracing and enjoying what others consider "evil", argues that people, organizations, and nations profit millions of dollars from them. Without the Church of Satan, they would have no one to blame for all the terrible occurrences in the world. If these groups truly feel this way, then they shouldn't exaggerate their significance; instead, they are frauds who exploit their presence. They are an incredibly valuable asset as they have supported businesses, boosted the economy, and generated millions of dollars that have also benefited the Christian church. They consistently prove their belief in the Ninth Satanic Statement which states that both individuals and churches rely on the existence of the Devil.The Christian church must pay a cost for this change. The predicted events in the original edition of The Satanic Bible have indeed happened. Suppressed individuals have broken free from their restraints, and sexuality has become widespread. This liberation of collective sexual desire can be seen in movies, literature, public spaces, and private homes. People are now engaging in topless and bottomless dancing. Nuns have discarded their traditional habits and are baring their legs while

performing the "Missa Solemnis Rock," initially perceived as a prank by LaVey.

Society is now actively pursuing entertainment, gourmet food and drinks, adventure, and enjoyment in the present moment without waiting for rewards based on asceticism and dull spirituality in an afterlife. This cultural shift has led to a prevailing mood of neopaganism and hedonism. Accomplished individuals from various professions such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, writers, stockbrokers, real estate developers actors/actresses mass communication professionals (among others) seek to formalize and sustain this all-encompassing religion and way of life.

Adopting Satanism is not easy especially in a society dominated by Puritan ethics. Unlike other religions Satanism does not promote mandatory love-thy-neighbor concept or false altruismThe text highlights the philosophy of Satanism, which is centered around selfishness and brutality. It argues that humans are inherently selfish and violent creatures, leading to a constant struggle for survival where only the strong prevail. This perspective is grounded in the real conditions of the world, contrasting with idealized lands described in Christianity's Bible. Anton LaVey's book, The Satanic Bible, offers a profound explanation of Satanism's philosophy and introduces innovative rituals and practices to establish a church for realists. Since its first edition, many individuals have turned to this book to learn how to start satanic groups and perform black magic rituals. While there have been numerous imitators without proper attribution, comparing them to LaVey's pioneering work will highlight their lack of authenticity. Furthermore, it emphasizes that Anton LaVey brought Satanism into public awareness and established the Church of Satan as the source of modern Satanism.The summarized book, described as a challenge and an inspiration, remains relevant from its publication date to

the present. The preface reveals that it was written in response to the absence of authentic and objective sources on magic. Most existing works are deceitful or filled with guilt-ridden ramblings and obscure nonsense. Many authors have attempted to explain "white and black magic" principles but only succeeded in further obscuring the subject matter. Consequently, those interested in studying sorcery often engage in meaningless activities like using a planchette on a Ouija board, standing inside a pentagram waiting for a demon, half-heartedly tossing I.Ching yarrow stalks, or predicting an insignificant future with playing cards. They attend seminars that promise ego reduction but ultimately deplete their finances. Ultimately, they end up embarrassing themselves before those who truly comprehend magic's nature. True magicians understand that occult literature is rife with fearful thoughts and pointless rules unknowingly serving those in power; these books fuel the fires of Hell. Amidst this misinformation and false prophecies, both truth and fantasy coexist — each reliant on the other's existence but necessitating recognition for what they genuinely are.Despite the potential for dissatisfaction, it is important to acknowledge that one will encounter certain things. Here, we present a genuine perspective on Satanic thought from a Satanic standpoint.