Product Description

A founder of the Church of Satan explains its philosophies of indulgence and freedom, and discusses Satanic rituals.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7620 in Books
• Published on: 1992-04-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 272 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
One might expect The Satanic Bible at least to offer a few prancing demons or a virgin sacrifice, but if you're looking for a tour of the house of horrors, this is the wrong book. Far from a manual for conquering the realms of earth, air, fire and water, The Satanic Bible is Anton LaVey's manifesto of a new religion separate from the "traditional" Judeo-Christian definitions of Satanism. While LaVey rails against the deceit of the Christian church and white magicians, he busily weaves his own deceptions.

The Satanic Bible claims the heritage of a horde of evil deities--Bile', Dagon, Moloch, and Yao Tzin to name a few--but these ancient gods have no coherent connection between each other or to Satanism, except that all have been categorised by Christianity as "evil". Calling on these ancient names like a magician shouting, "Abracadabra", LaVey attempts to shatter the classical depiction of Satanism as a cult of black mass and child sacrifice. As the smoke clears, he leads us through a surprisingly logical argument in favour of a life focused on self-indulgence. The Satanic Bible is less bible and more philosophy (with a few rituals thrown in to keep us entertained), but this philosophy is the backbone of a religion that, until LaVey entered the scene, was merely a myth of the Christian church. It took LaVey, and The Satanic Bible, to turn this myth into a legitimate public religion.--Brian Patterson, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews

Maybe we are all Satanists!
The Satanic Bible is without doubt an intriguing, thought-provoking and mind-opening book. Yes the title and its dark cover is sinister and captivating. The name itself will attract people to buy it or get hold of a copy and read it. As stated in the book it has become more popular than the Bible especially amongst college students. Maybe it is a fad or a fashion item to add to one's collection. However take away the Devilish side, the stereotypical horned god that your soul is sold to, and this book will make you redress your existence within this world.

The book is not one long "dig" at the Christian church; it does not tell you to go out and sacrifice a live animal or a young virgin, but puts across a new perspective on the term Satanist from the eyes of the author Anton Szandor LaVey (the founder of the Church of Satan). Look at your life and look at how you do things on a daily basis. Dig deep into your conscience and realise that you often get angry, or depressed, or bitter and resentful, or jealous, or feel good about yourself, and indulgence yourself, and so on, and realise as argues in the book, everyone at some point will commit the seven deadly sins - think hard at why such sins were "invented" by the "white" religionists - after all they are natural human traits. After reading this book I'm afraid to say that you will find it hard not to say you are not a Satanist is part or in full.

Don't buy this book if you think it is a fantasy adventure that will take a Hollywood style approach to what is viewed as the dark side, evil beings, Hell, Leviathan etc. This book analysis life - humanism - and how for far too long people have lived as sheep's, blindly following a faith that is maybe out of date.

Personally I have to partially if not fully perceive myself as a Satanist. I can relate many parts of my life to the theory's put forward in this book. Don't be put off from poor reports about this "novel". Open you mind, your eyes and take heed from what is written. It has already been said in another review, but this will be one of the best books you will ever buy.

If I ever had the chance to meet the author, I wouldn't hesitate to shake his hand and thank him for his enlightenment, his courage to stand up against the grains of moral brain washing that the human race has been subjected to and buried in for over two thousand years.

Note: the author does not condone God, in whatever shape or form you perceive him to be; he merely puts forward notions and theories of the Devil, the dark forces, Satan, Belial, Lucifer etc as a way of enjoying life, freedom, self-empowerment etc.

If you need to find yourself, you are here...
Anton Szander Lavey created a brilliant masterpiece when he wrote The Satanic Bible. Before the time of this books initial publication (1966), few people had ever touched on the subject of Satanism as a full-fledged religion. Of course, there was Crowley, but this wasn't exactly Satanism - it was mereley a misunderstood concept called Satanic by the masses. However, The Satanic Bible touches on the TRUE issues of Satanism and sheds light on the REAL subculture, not the assinine people slaughtering animals, each other and desecrating gravesites. Once you read this book, you will discover a new meaning behind the title "Satanist" and it will forever change your outlook on what the term means. I have been a Satanist for more than 12 years, and have reffered hundreds of people to Anton's literature.

Misunderstood
The Satanic Bible is NOT as some people seem to suggest, the perfect book for the occultist. It is a guide to the philosophies of Anton Lavey, founder of the Church of Satan, with some rituals included.

Satanism has been completely misunderstood by most of the world, but these people have obviously never read Lavey's (completely sensible and not at all related to the sacrificing of children) writings on self indulgence and human nature in general.

Arguing that the 'seven deadly sins' have been chosen specifically because they are natural traits in human beings, Lavey presents a devastating attack on organised religion today and in the past. By instilling guilt in people for committing natural acts ("sins")such as lust, the power of religion has grown at the expense of peoples' happiness ("it will be better in the afterlife").

Forget the cod satanism of youth culture, and ritual murder: Anton Lavey's advice on self-empowerment and happiness in freedom is invaluable to anyone with an open mind and the will to think for themselves. Buy this book now.