The Satanic Bible?

Lucky Cynic

I had a book thread a while ago in here and would like to thank you all for the awesome bundle of books I have gathered but recently a friend of mine suggested me get the Satanic Bible and dispelled popular belief with Satanism. Such that it isn't about animal sacrificing and wild rape/orgies. Specifically LaVey's type of Satanism which is different from the rest because it actually seems to be the most realistically designed to actually be a religion. The others, judging from wiki seem to not even be applicable to me. I'm not looking to convert or anything but I do enjoy a good philosophical book if it is highly acclaimed and from the looks of it, it seems it is.


Thing is, I have several issues surrounding it:

+ First off, will it be hard to find? I don't think it will be too bad but I haven't seen it in stores before.

+ Next off, I am still trying to find out exactly more about what the whole deal about it is. I'm finding it actually somewhat hard to get a good, unbiased review. Some of the reader reviews from Barnes and Noble are helpful, while others are either written by Satanists backing up their own book or Christians going nuts or even people like:

Rick, jesus freak, 10/22/2003 Customer Rating for this product is 1 out of 5
stupid!
This made me become a catholic it was so dumb!
Also recommended: the real bible!! ever heard of it?

+ Another issue I have is my Mother. Were not super religious or anything, but all she wants me to do is believe in God and just be a good person. She has friends who are very religious from all different faiths; Hindus, Muslims, Catholics, etc. so choosing a different faith won't bother her much. I just think walking home with the Satanic bible might not sit well with her, or other people for that matter.


Anyways, what do you guys recommend I do? Should I get the book? Maybe try and get it at the library? And how would I go about talking to my Mom about this.

(I should note, I am 17, but I'm not one of those kids from high school that listen to ICP, think that Bush is a fascist and wear trashy Gothic clothes and such. Just FYI... :oops:)

lunasea

You shouldn't limit your literary horizons based on the beliefs of others, get it for the pursuit of knowledge if nothing more. It's 20 dollars on Amazon, so as long as you can afford it, I don't see any reason for you to not get it. I'm assuming this is the book your talking about.

Steev

I've never read it myself, but my suggestion is to check your local library (and I say this as a soon-to-be librarian). It'll save you money, and you could probably just read it there if you don't want to take it home. And if they don't actually have it anywhere in their system, they'll probably be able to get it for you from another library system via interlibrary loan -- in which case you might have to take it home. In any case, I don't think it'll be hard to find.

As far as dealing with your mom, I imagine that she wouldn't react too well to you bringing home the Satanic Bible. Perhaps tell her what you just told us about being interested in the philosophy of the religion? In the end, it's just another book.

edit:

lunasea wrote: »

You shouldn't limit your literary horizons based on the beliefs of others, get it for the pursuit of knowledge if nothing more. It's 20 dollars on Amazon, so as long as you can afford it, I don't see any reason for you to not get it. I'm assuming this is the book your talking about.

Nah, that's not the same book. He wants the one by Anton LaVey.

edit2:

Which is available for a cheap $8.

Rhino

Wait till you're 18 then get all the books you want [?]

Also why not just get books you plan to read instead of just hoarding a bunch of random shit that you think will impress your emo friends?

I'm just kidding with you.

Having said that, get like a Harry Potter book, discard book, keep book cover. Insert Satan book into Harry Potter cover.
??
Profit.

As far as the "Church of Satan" - [the way I understand it] they basically believe A) everyone is their own god and you should worship yourself as a god.

not really that far out there, but most Satanist that I've meet have been major wack jobs. I haven't meet a sane respectable satanist yet [nor one that doesn't have a closet full of Metallic t-shirts]. Your mileage my vary.

What I suggest:
Get a big ass book about Religion if you want to "enjoy a good philosophical book". That'll at least give you the difference views on different religions.

Incenjucar

While the people attracted to it may be questionable, from what I know of the Satanic Bible, the religion is basically just healthy hedonism. It actually recommends against body-destroying activities like drugs (not that this is listened to by followers). Your body is a temple and whatnot. It's also against causing harm to those who don't harm you. It's actually one of the least questionable religious statements out there, compared to the various "kill the infidels" things.

The main thing is that, from what I recall, it's not heavy on actually improving the world around you. It's basically a doctrine of harmless selfishness.

So, anyone who gives you flak about it, make them actually read the thing before they get on your case.

CangoFett

From what I've heard, and I could be way wrong, there is no 1 set religion of Satanism. Ask 10 different Satanists, you're likely to get 10 different answers. Some see it as the actual belief in God and Satan, choosing to worshiping to latter. Some see it as just a rejection of Christianity, and being all up for the whole, 'woo lets do orgies' and what not. Some see it as - as was suggested earlier- healthy hedonism.


Then again, I may have heard wrong.

supabeast

The Satanic Bible is, at best, a waste of time. It was written by Anton La Vey, who in the 1960s and 1970s ran a cheesy satanic “cult” in Hollywood. Most of the members were washed up starlets and wannabes who got involved because it was getting lots of publicity—La Vey was a press whore so there were often photographers around just waiting to get a follow-up to the famous shot of Ann Margaret gulping out of a goblet of what was supposedly blood, held by La Vey.

La Vey's Satanism was sort of like Scientology; a cult made up for fame and fortune, except that in Satanism everyone was in on the joke. When asked how he came up with the religion, La Vey claimed to have taken Ayn Rand's Objectivism and added ritual. His last big stunt as head of the church of satan was an ordination of Marilyn Manson. There wasn't much serious stuff in there.

There isn't really any point to studying satanism aside from the humor value. Aside from a few crazy serial killers, everyone else who has been into it was doing it for the same reason La Vey was—shock value.

That said, if you really have nothing better to do, you can find the Satanic Bible at most large bookstores and on Amazon for $7.99. Do yourself a favor and buy beer instead.

Lucky Cynic

supabeast wrote: »

The Satanic Bible is, at best, a waste of time. It was written by Anton La Vey, who in the 1960s and 1970s ran a cheesy satanic “cult” in Hollywood. Most of the members were washed up starlets and wannabes who got involved because it was getting lots of publicity—La Vey was a press whore so there were often photographers around just waiting to get a follow-up to the famous shot of Ann Margaret gulping out of a goblet of what was supposedly blood, held by La Vey.

La Vey's Satanism was sort of like Scientology; a cult made up for fame and fortune, except that in Satanism everyone was in on the joke. When asked how he came up with the religion, La Vey claimed to have taken Ayn Rand's Objectivism and added ritual. His last big stunt as head of the church of satan was an ordination of Marilyn Manson. There wasn't much serious stuff in there.

There isn't really any point to studying satanism aside from the humor value. Aside from a few crazy serial killers, everyone else who has been into it was doing it for the same reason La Vey was—shock value.

That said, if you really have nothing better to do, you can find the Satanic Bible at most large bookstores and on Amazon for $7.99. Do yourself a favor and buy beer instead.

Well, I'm 17 and already said so, so the beer thing is out. Not like Beer is my sort of thing anyways. And I don't know about the whole shock value thing. It doesn't seem like a humor book, but then again neither does the Zombie Survival Guide which is humor only because its about Zombies and fighting them. It could have very well been based on such a thing, but that doesn't mean nothing good can come of it.

If I wanted shock value, Id read about one of the Other Satanism branches that revolves around animal sacrifices and rape and such.

Einhander

One time I got ahold of a copy of Capital that was published in 1932. I saw it for $3 at a thrift store. Most people who look at it just pass it off as an old book, but if they actually crack the cover they automatically assume I'm some kind of freedom-hating communist.

So I can only imagine what kind of looks you'll get from the people who see the book in your house who will automatically assume you're some kind of virgin-sacrificing Satanist.

But buy it anyway. Don't let your mom see it if you really think that she'd go DefCon 5 over it. Or, even better, see if your local library has a copy and just read it there.

Iroh

Darkest_3|i+3 wrote: »

supabeast wrote: »

The Satanic Bible is, at best, a waste of time. It was written by Anton La Vey, who in the 1960s and 1970s ran a cheesy satanic “cult” in Hollywood. Most of the members were washed up starlets and wannabes who got involved because it was getting lots of publicity—La Vey was a press whore so there were often photographers around just waiting to get a follow-up to the famous shot of Ann Margaret gulping out of a goblet of what was supposedly blood, held by La Vey.

La Vey's Satanism was sort of like Scientology; a cult made up for fame and fortune, except that in Satanism everyone was in on the joke. When asked how he came up with the religion, La Vey claimed to have taken Ayn Rand's Objectivism and added ritual. His last big stunt as head of the church of satan was an ordination of Marilyn Manson. There wasn't much serious stuff in there.

There isn't really any point to studying satanism aside from the humor value. Aside from a few crazy serial killers, everyone else who has been into it was doing it for the same reason La Vey was—shock value.

That said, if you really have nothing better to do, you can find the Satanic Bible at most large bookstores and on Amazon for $7.99. Do yourself a favor and buy beer instead.

Well, I'm 17 and already said so, so the beer thing is out. Not like Beer is my sort of thing anyways. And I don't know about the whole shock value thing. It doesn't seem like a humor book, but then again neither does the Zombie Survival Guide which is humor only because its about Zombies and fighting them. It could have very well been based on such a thing, but that doesn't mean nothing good can come of it.

If I wanted shock value, Id read about one of the Other Satanism branches that revolves around animal sacrifices and rape and such.

I would advise spending your eight dollars elsewhere. Given the author's background, the book definitely is not going to expand your horizons or grant you a new perspective on anything.

Not to mention this averts any difficulty with your mother, however little it may have been.

DrFrylock

Seconding the above, I can't ever see a good reason why reading something should be prohibited. If someone says that there is some material that is SO awful that it shouldn't be read at all, that's a huge red flag.

If you want to avoid conflict with your mom over the silliness of the satanic bible, I'd also go to the library and get some books by Richard Dawkins. She'll be so distraught over those that she'll likely ignore the whole satanic bible thing.</humor>

Taximes

If you're really into differing perspectives on religions, you might also considering taking a class on it at university (assuming you'll be going to university in a year or so).

I haven't taken one myself, but I know several people who did and enjoyed it quite a bit. You really learn what various religions are about instead of what everyone thinks they're about. For the class my girlfriend's sister went to, it was a requirement that she attend some sort of service at a religious institution that was not related to her religion of choice (she went to a Buddhist temple, I think).

Axim

really given the wealth of more valid and credible religious dichotomies around the world i would probably pass this one by. you might as well swing by your local scientology branch and pick up some reading material there as well. most people i know get into this sort of thing because of the wickedness of flaming skulls and the goth factor and honestly if you are going for casual philosophical reading there is a wealth of books available that weren't written by some hollywood cultist washup.

Incenjucar

You should probably keep in mind that LaVey's Satanism is an atheist religion.

The rituals are mostly just a big middle finger to the Christians. I've heard that LaVey did believe in psychic powers and whatnot, but in a limited sense. But the Satan thing is just a symbol, ala Milton's rebellious angel figure, who is still popularly considered a symbol for rebellion from self-righteous tyranny.

Cpgnition

Interesting, I just bought this off of Amazon and should be getting it in the mail today. I found the Wikipedia article very helpful when I was researching whether to buy it or not.

It seems like it should be an interesting read, although I'm a little concerned with how much it will talk about "magic" and "hexes".

On the whole taboo issue: If you don't want people seeing you reading a book on a certain subject, read it in private. Personally, I find peoples' reactions absolutely entertaining ("The God Delusion" initiated a few interesting conversations at my workplace). If people consciously limit their knowledge, that's completely fine with me -- it makes my pursuit of esoteria information that much easier.

Sarcastro

Satanism is not an atheist religion, it has a diety (one's own self) dogma, ceremony and everything.

I liked the comparison to Scientology, in the celebrity, gonna make me some dough and orgies kind of way.

Heavy philosophical read? Not really. Truly Satanic? Unlikely. A bit of a twist on embracing self-indulgence? Sure! And it's got some naughty bits as well, I hear. Keep in mind it's not so much acclaimed as it is unique, really the only serious public attempt at such a thing, but I'm sure there are worse things you could fill your mind with.

Szechuanosaurus

From what I can tell of the reviews, La Vey is basically the antithesis of Robert Anton Wilson. They both wrote totally bullshit books on make believe religions (aren't they all? lol) that borrowed heavily from the likes of Lovecraft and Poe but where Wilson's aim was to confuse, confound and entertain and went out of his way to avoid people who 'believed' they were members of any of the religions or organisations in his book (if anything, Wilson was a Gonzo journalist in the same vein as Hunter S. Thomson - Thomson originally wrote for Roling Stone and Wilson originally wrote for Playboy IIRC), La Vey seems to have embraced the hullabaloo, presumably for personal financial gain (or maybe he was just completely delusional).

Sounds like it might be a fun read, The Illuminatus Trilogy certainly was. I wouldn't take it too seriously though. The only true philosophical lesson to be extracted from Wilson's book is to not believe stuff just because someone says it's true, no matter how contextually believable the 'evidence'. The Satanic Bible seems to be mostly based on aspects of positive thinking and self-respect dressed up in the sort of crazy hokum that everyone was lapping up like candy-coated heroin in the 60s and 70s.

From the looks of things, I'd definitely say file The Satanic Bible along side The Illuminatus Trilogy and The Dice Man.

Chorazin

I own the Satanic Bible, the Satanic Rituals, the Satanic Witch, and the Devil's Notebook. All are good reads, mainly because LaVey is actually a pretty funny guy. The Satanic Witch is an odd read, because it's basically LaVey trying to tell women how to seduce men for money and power. Not the best of the bunch, by far.

I can't add much to the views listed above, but I do recommend you check out at least the Satanic Bible, as some of the concepts are interesting, even if it is pretty hokey for a "religion."

ben0207

As a religion it's bullshit. Funny bullshit, but bullshit regardless.

As a system of personal philosophies it's absolute solid gold, and is how I choose to live my life. Shock value has nothing to do with it, it really is an interesting take on how one might choose to live.

It's also quite entertaining in parts, and probably worth reading on that alone.

corcorigan

The Satanic Verses is more controversial. People died over it.

Rabid_Llama

You may as well just read a lot of Ayn Rand stuff. It preaches the same philosophies.

Andrew_Jay

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Theungry

I've read the satanic bible and known several people who claimed to be Satanists. I found it kind of boring, because it was mostly old hat for me (a "recovering catholic" at the time). The book itself contains a lot of justification for why Christian religions are hypocritical and satanism is more natural for humans. It has some instructions on casting spells (releasing the force of your will) as well as some general principles on how live successfully as a self-absorbed person. Its also pretty short. You could read it cover to cover in a couple of hours.

The one thing I do respect "the Church of Satan" for is admitting openly that they are a business and not seeking tax exempt status like most religious organizations do.

All in all, its on my book shelf, but i'd never recommend it to anyone. Read up on existentialism, especially Sarte.

Drakmathus

you know how sometimes jehovah's witnesses come knocking at your door? My brother made them a deal one time when they came to his place, he'd let them read from their bible if he could read from his. He already had the verses picked out and when they finished reading the verses they wanted he went and got it and started with "I'm going to read to you from the book of leviathan..." and they promptly left. Also, never came back (used to come every month).