What is Satanism
Satanism Satanism encompasses a range of related beliefs and social phenomena, all united by their use of symbolism, which may or may not involve veneration or admiration of Satan or similar figures. It is believed that Satan first appeared in the Hebrew Bible, portrayed as an angel who tests human faith and challenges religion. In the book of Job, he is referred to as "the Satan," acting as a kind of prosecutor or informer in God's heavenly court.
The figure named “Satan” appeared in many early Christian Gospels as the cosmic adversary of humanity and as the tempter of Jesus. This portrayal expanded over time, depicting Satan as a powerful force associated with Armageddon and the Apocalypse, especially in the Book of Revelation. Rooted in these Jewish, Christian, and Islamic texts, Satan has traditionally been viewed as an adversary or enemy present throughout creation and the fall of man. Christian and Muslim traditions often represent Satan differently: as a rebellious, envious competitor to humans, characterized as a fallen angel or demon ruling a penitential hell. According to these beliefs, Jesus cast him down because Satan obstructed angels and humans in heaven, and now wanders the earth competing for souls or instigating worldly corruption. After the European Enlightenment, works like John Milton’s Paradise Lost were embraced by Romantics who interpreted Satan allegorically—as a symbol of crises in faith, individualism, free will, wisdom, and progressivism. Though rare, some literary works portray Satan as a heroic figure; George Bernard Shaw and Mark Twain are two authors known for this perspective, which has also influenced certain expressions of Satanic thought.
Legislation such as the British Witchcraft Act of 1735, which remained in force until 1951, reflected strong public opposition to witchcraft and Satanism. The Satanic religion emerged in 1966 with the establishment of the Church of Satan..
Modern Satanic groups, those that have appeared since the 1960s, are highly diverse. However, two major trends stand out: traditional or theistic Satanism and atheistic Satanism. Theistic Satanists worship Satan as a supernatural deity, while atheistic Satanists view themselves as atheists, revering Satan as a symbol of certain human qualities. Although this division of Satanism (sometimes categorized as 'traditional' versus 'modern') is common, many Satanists themselves do not specify which type they adhere to. Some Satanists believe in the concept of God as a form of power but, similar to atheistic Satanists and based on Deist ideas, reject any active divine involvement in mortal affairs, instead emphasizing self-worship.
Each branch typically identifies simply as "Satanic."
Religious practices and devil worship date back to ancient times and are documented, for example, in the case of the medieval nobleman Gilles de Rais.Verifying the historical truth is difficult because, in times of ignorance and superstition, any activity deemed heretical or pagan was often mistakenly labeled as Satanic—for instance, the Church’s persecution of the Templars. Still, there are records throughout history of cults that believed in the real existence of the entities they invoked, including the devil. Various historical figures have been linked to Satanism—such as Elizabeth Báthory, William Blake, or Francis Dashwood and his Hellfire Club—but the level of their genuine involvement in devil worship is debated. Some scholars argue that these were pagan rituals or involved esoteric symbolism rather than true Satanic worship.
See also: Satanic rituals
Anton LaVey Anton LaVey was among the first, at least publicly, to define Satanism as a symbolic religion that does not worship the devil as a real entity. Until then, most forms of Satanism incorporated some level of theistic belief, which is why distinguishing between traditional theistic Satanism and symbolic Satanism became necessary.
The figure named “Satan” appeared in many early Christian Gospels as the cosmic adversary of humanity and as the tempter of Jesus. This portrayal expanded over time, depicting Satan as a powerful force associated with Armageddon and the Apocalypse, especially in the Book of Revelation. Rooted in these Jewish, Christian, and Islamic texts, Satan has traditionally been viewed as an adversary or enemy present throughout creation and the fall of man. Christian and Muslim traditions often represent Satan differently: as a rebellious, envious competitor to humans, characterized as a fallen angel or demon ruling a penitential hell. According to these beliefs, Jesus cast him down because Satan obstructed angels and humans in heaven, and now wanders the earth competing for souls or instigating worldly corruption. After the European Enlightenment, works like John Milton’s Paradise Lost were embraced by Romantics who interpreted Satan allegorically—as a symbol of crises in faith, individualism, free will, wisdom, and progressivism. Though rare, some literary works portray Satan as a heroic figure; George Bernard Shaw and Mark Twain are two authors known for this perspective, which has also influenced certain expressions of Satanic thought.
Legislation such as the British Witchcraft Act of 1735, which remained in force until 1951, reflected strong public opposition to witchcraft and Satanism. The Satanic religion emerged in 1966 with the establishment of the Church of Satan..Modern Satanic groups, those that have appeared since the 1960s, are highly diverse. However, two major trends stand out: traditional or theistic Satanism and atheistic Satanism. Theistic Satanists worship Satan as a supernatural deity, while atheistic Satanists view themselves as atheists, revering Satan as a symbol of certain human qualities. Although this division of Satanism (sometimes categorized as 'traditional' versus 'modern') is common, many Satanists themselves do not specify which type they adhere to. Some Satanists believe in the concept of God as a form of power but, similar to atheistic Satanists and based on Deist ideas, reject any active divine involvement in mortal affairs, instead emphasizing self-worship.
Each branch typically identifies simply as "Satanic."
The history of Satanism
Throughout history—particularly within Christian Europe and, to some extent, Muslim regions such as among the Yezidis—various individuals and groups have been labeled as Satan or devil worshippers or followers of his work. The prevalence of such groups in European cultures is largely linked to Satan’s significance in Christianity. Examining the historical evolution of Satanism reveals that early accusations against groups (such as in the Catholic Church’s campaigns against pagans and heretics, or against figures like Urbain Grandier) reflected efforts to suppress opponents. From the era of the Marquis de Sade onwards, Satanism became more openly associated with hatred, sacrilege, and blasphemy directed especially at Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church.Traditional Satanism
Traditional Satanism—often called theistic Satanism—refers to forms of Satanism grounded in supernatural beliefs that involve literal worship of the devil and demons as real entities and spirits. This term distinguishes such beliefs from symbolic Satanism, primarily represented by Anton LaVey’s Church of Satan, which embraces atheism, denies the existence of any deity, and views Satan as a symbol of rebellion, human nature, and personal power rather than an actual being.Religious practices and devil worship date back to ancient times and are documented, for example, in the case of the medieval nobleman Gilles de Rais.Verifying the historical truth is difficult because, in times of ignorance and superstition, any activity deemed heretical or pagan was often mistakenly labeled as Satanic—for instance, the Church’s persecution of the Templars. Still, there are records throughout history of cults that believed in the real existence of the entities they invoked, including the devil. Various historical figures have been linked to Satanism—such as Elizabeth Báthory, William Blake, or Francis Dashwood and his Hellfire Club—but the level of their genuine involvement in devil worship is debated. Some scholars argue that these were pagan rituals or involved esoteric symbolism rather than true Satanic worship.
See also: Satanic rituals
Anton LaVey Anton LaVey was among the first, at least publicly, to define Satanism as a symbolic religion that does not worship the devil as a real entity. Until then, most forms of Satanism incorporated some level of theistic belief, which is why distinguishing between traditional theistic Satanism and symbolic Satanism became necessary.
