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The Church of Satan

Anton knew the date upon which the first Church of Satan must be established. It would have to be during the traditional night of the most important demonic celebration of the year, when witches and devils roam the earth, orgiastically glorifying the fruition of the Spring equinox: Walpurgisnacht, the night of April 30th—May 1st.

LaVey shaved his head as part of a formalized founding ritual, in the tradition of medieval executioners, carnival strongmen, and black magicians before him, to gain personal power and enhance the forces surrounding his newly-established Satanic order. It was the enactment of an allusion at the end of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Kubla Khan: an incantation rejecting the Holy Trinity and the spiritual life in favor of one devoted to Hell and material pursuits.

Shaving the head is also traditional to the Yezidi devil worshippers as a rite of passage that the emerging adept must perform. The razor for this rite is washed in the waters of Zamzam, the subterranean well of Islam said to be the point of origin for underground streams flowing under the Seven Towers of Satan. The caverns beneath the Towers are supposedly tributaries leading to the place of the Satanic Masters, known as Shamballah, or Carcosa. Thus, shorn of his locks, he leaves the world of the descendants of Adam behind him. To make the ritual complete, LaVey declared 1966 Year One, Anno Satanas—the first year of the reign of Satan.

The Council of Nine, following the dictates of the Nine Unknown, was established throughout the world. Many significant writers have obliquely referred to this mysterious cabal—Shakespeare, John Dryden, Talbot Mundy, Richard Johnson—an archetypal formation which is reflected in the nine members appointed to sit in positions of absolute authority on the United States Supreme Court. The new Age of Fire had been inaugurated, and though the ceremony on Walpurgisnacht, 1966, was a highly personal, private one, LaVey would soon feel the tremors it was to produce.

“We blended a formula of nine parts social respectability to one part outrage,” says Anton LaVey. “We established a Church of Satan—something that would smash all concepts of what a 'church' was supposed to be. This was a temple of indulgence to openly defy the temples of abstinence that had been built up until then. We didn't want it to be an unforgiving, unwelcoming place, but a place where you could go to have fun.”

And thus was initiated two revolutions which have carried over into today: 1) the integration of magic and logic, and 2) a religion based on self-indulgence, carnality (here and now instead of there and then), and pleasure instead of self-denial. Other ego-affirming, human potential programs like EST, drew from the ground-breaking attitudes and techniques of the Church of Satan.

Lucifer Rising

Membership in the Church of Satan expanded steadily. LaVey tried to include visits with his constituents around the globe wherever he traveled, blessing them with papal visits to their grottos, where he was greeted with an excess of pomp and black capes. “It became rather embarrassing after awhile. I'd step off the plane and there they'd be, all huddled together to meet me in their black velvet robes with huge Baphomets around their necks. Many of our grass-roots people didn't know much about subtlety then, or decorum. I was trying to present a cultured, mannered image and their idea of protest or shock was to wear their 'lodge regalia' into the nearest Denny's.”

In the beginning of the church's activities, LaVey freely printed his address and phone number on posters, fake folded money (to be left lying on the street as a promotional gimmick), and allowed reporters to print his address as they wished. “I don't like to think I was naive during that period of my life. I just wanted the Church of Satan to be honest, open and above-board. I also had a dream of being able to work out of my own home, as most of my friends did who were writers or performers. I envisioned the pleasure of rolling out of bed and having your work right there waiting for you without having to get in your car and drive to an office or another location. I didn't think that was unreasonable. But I didn't understand then how treacherous people could be.” Afterwards, LaVey, like most celebrities, established living quarters around the world to which he retreated so that he'd no longer trapped by his own popularity.

After a few years, LaVey began cutting back on the administrative demands on his time, concentrating his energies on his own projects more than on public relations and personally ministering to his ever-increasing flock. Following LaVey's plan, it was time to “stop performing Satanism and start practicing it.” The Church of Satan was having its desired impact on the outside world and LaVey wanted to encourage new directions among the members rather than siphoning off the best energy for compulsory performance of rituals. The period of actual above-ground activity confined to LaVey's Victorian digs was relatively brief, but long enough to do irreparable damage to established religion. “After that original blast,” LaVey remembered, “there was no need for the ongoing public spectacle and outrage of an inverted Catholic Mass anymore. Christianity was becoming weaker every day. That was just beating a dead horse. There were plenty of other sacred cows to attack, and that's what keeps Satanism vital and thriving.”

In 1970, rituals and lectures conducted by LaVey and open to the public ceased. All weekly public ceremonies in the Black House stopped in 1972. Responsibility for Satanic activities was shifted to the dozens of Church of Satan Grottos established around the world, with Central Grotto (as LaVey's original Black House was designated) serving only to screen, approve and direct potential members in the Church of Satan.

By 1975, a re-organization had taken place and those few who were counterproductive to LaVey's Satanic ideals, who were more interested in what Anton called “Phase One Satanism” (i.e., group rituals, blaspheming Christianity in a rigidly-structured, limited way) were phased out. With his intensely elitist attitude, Anton was incensed to see his creation degenerating into a “Satan Fan Club,” where the weakest, least innovative members were buoyed up with time and attention at the expense of the most productive, most Satanic members. At a time when other leaders might have turned over command to someone else in disgust, taking advantage of the more tempting doors then opening to him—acting, directing, more writing—LaVey was bound by the loyalty he felt for the organization he'd started. Consequently, LaVey devised a diabolical way to “clean house,” which eventually eliminated much of the dross and administrivia that LaVey felt was obscuring the organization's true destiny. The Grotto System was loosely maintained but no longer strictly managed through Central Grotto. LaVey wanted his Church of Satan to evolve into a truly cabalistic underground rather than degenerating into a long-running public pageant or a “Satan pen pal club.”

Putting the brakes on the “lodge hall” activities, LaVey emphasized that a person's status within the Church of Satan should reflect his status outside the organization. Highest ranking people in the outside world should hold a commensurate position within the group, since LaVey considered their material, creative or social success as the truest measure of magical prowess. Anton also shifted the organizational focus to those who could benefit the church in a substantial way through who and what they were, not just feeling compelled to spend large chunks of time with nonproductive “psychic vampires,” no matter how dedicated.

“There always has to be a fair exchange,” LaVey said. “I could see that many people were joining our ranks simply because it was a guarantee of friends, or because they wanted the glory of passing tests to earn degrees, much like the 'Grand Poobahs' who take off their robes and vestments and become another local nobody again outside their lodge. They were getting more 'spook appeal' out of being members of the Church of Satan than we were getting esteem from having them among our membership. As an organization grows, group activities only cause contention, drain vital energy that could be better applied elsewhere, and eventually become counterproductive. Teaching people that they're all right and society is all wrong, that the only ones who really understand them and that they can relate to are within the group, is damaging in the long run. It only reinforces their own inability to deal with the larger world.

“I wanted to create a forum, a loosely-structured cabal for the productive aliens, not misfits who need to depend on a group. After the re-organization, I was free to be more selective. I would much rather attract and lend support to those individuals who use their alienation—just as most leaders are usually different or distinctive in some way. Groups encourage dependence on beliefs and delusions to reinforce their omnipotence. Instead of fostering self-sufficiency and honest skepticism, I saw my group lapsing into blind belief and unhealthy anthropomorphism. That's not what I intended and I had to make moves to get the Church of Satan back on track.”

Of course, there were those who wanted to continue group activities. Rather than seeing LaVey's change as moving the Church of Satan beyond the realm of a “cult”—where all activity is strictly dictated by a central figure—some members felt betrayed by LaVey for discontinuing their avenue for meeting others of like-mind. Of course, there were also those who simply felt “sour grapes” toward LaVey from 1966 on; who felt they could do the same thing only better. An ever-shifting spectacle of alternative groups formed and disbanded. Most of them took on a Laurel and Hardy-like “Sons of the Desert” quality and never seemed able to stick together for more than a few years, with infighting and jealousies insuring constant upheaval. Some have written disparaging remarks over the years which LaVey passed off as “absurdly self-righteous,” and many have assumedly thrown their share of “sour-grapes” curses in LaVey's direction. To these “wannabes, shoulda-beens and parasites” LaVey considers himself “just an old spoilsport.” Sadly, even his own beloved daughter Zeena later joined such ranks.

At the same time, LaVey became more selective about granting interviews, since his doors were no longer open to anyone off the street who wished to drop by for his lectures. Because of this rather abrupt cessation of activity, rumors spread of the end of the Church of Satan and even of LaVey's death.

Satanic Panic

During the 1980's, the media worldwide launched a “witch hunt” which is now referred to as “The Satanic Panic.” It is usually acknowledged to have been seeded by Lawrence Pazder's Michelle Remembers. This was a popular book which recounted the purported repressed memories of the author's wife. Via hypnotherapy which he performed himself, the author dredges up the details of “Michelle's” supposed experiences with a world-wide Satanic cult. Typical of the historical accusations made against the Jews by Christian zealots in earlier centuries, Michelle Remembers claims that devil-worshippers have a conspiratorial network dedicated to ritual child sacrifice and world domination, to which the author adds modern media “innovations” such as “snuff” films, drug cartels, and “kiddie porn.” A look back at this period shows how Christian evangelists jumped on the bandwagon, and Christian “therapists” began “finding” similar tales buried in the subconscious of their “patients.” The then-current talk-show/freak-show circuit found this to be a bonanza, and representatives of the Church of Satan carefully selected specific media forums to debunk the hysterical nonsense. In due course, the “Satanic Panic” was debunked like any other urban legend, but not before the most costly trial in United States history took place, persecuting several innocent individuals who ran a day school. Law enforcement agencies, skeptical societies, and sociologists subsequently examined this Christian-promulgated hoax and dissected its mechanisms. Now, courts of law are reversing decisions made against people who were accused by family and friends caught up in this Salem-like madness, and substantial financial awards are being judged against the Christian “therapists” who essentially brain-washed pliable patients into belief in false “ritual abuse.”

Hell on Reels

When Rosemary's Baby was about to be released in 1968, LaVey, besides playing the part of the Devil, attended advanced screenings set up by the studio's publicity department to elicit his observations as various religious groups previewed the film. It was, after all, a metaphorical as well as a very real offshoot of LaVey and the Church of Satan. (LaVey has said Rosemary's Baby “did for the Church of Satan what The Birth of a Nation did for the Ku Klux Klan, complete with recruiting posters in the lobby.”) Taking advantage of the High Priest's high visibility, small black buttons were passed out at the screenings which said, “Pray for Anton LaVey,” a variant on the “Pray for Rosemary's Baby” buttons also being handed out as a promotional item. LaVey remembered the audience's reaction to the ending of the film, when it clearly showed the Satanists had no intention of hurting the child, as everyone expected, but glorified it as the son of Satan. “People got very angry—stomping their feet and showing general disapproval. Sometimes the reality of Satanism is a lot more terrifying to people than their safe fantasies of what it's supposed to be. For the first time, they've been confronted with a Devil that talks back.”

Besides Rosemary's Baby, there were a few other films made about or including LaVey and the Church of Satan. Satanis, an extensive feature-length documentary on the Church of Satan was released in theaters across the country early in 1970, often playing on a double bill with another movie Anton appeared in—Kenneth Anger's Invocation of My Demon Brother. The ads for the film, showcasing LaVey's scowling countenance, promised bloody, sexually-explicit rituals. In true William Castle fashion, serious cautions were included in the large display ads: “Satanis is the most pertinent, and perhaps the most shocking film of our time. But it's definitely not a movie for everyone. If you choose not to see it, we will understand.” Today, Ray Laurent's Satanis is a highly-coveted underground classic. Clips have been incorporated into several recent documentaries on the subject of witchcraft and the occult. It had long been the only footage of the Church available for TV producers to flash on the screen when describing the evils of Satanism. In more recent years, this has been supplemented by Speak of the Devil: the Canon of Anton LaVey, a feature length documentary produced and directed by Nick Bougas, notorious chronicler of Man's dark side.

Sadly, several other foreign documentaries covering LaVey's church—notably, footage by Germany's Florian Fuertwangler and France's Victor Vicas—never got American distribution. Different versions of Luigi Scatini's Angeli Blanca, Angeli Nera, were released around the world, the American version titled Witchcraft '70. The segment on LaVey and the Church of Satan was one of the few included in every version.

Diabolical Endeavors

Within a year and a half of its creation, the Church of Satan had been the center of three separate media sensations that splashed front page headlines around the world. The first of these was the marriage of two of LaVey's prominent members on February 1st, 1967. John Raymond, a politically radical journalist and Judith Case, New York socialite daughter of a well-known attorney, asked LaVey, their High Priest, to officiate at their wedding ceremony, blessing their union in Satan's name.

Word got out and on the day of the ceremony, newspapers from California to Europe had more reporters and photographers than any event since the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge crowding the Black House to witness this supreme blasphemy. There was such a mob that police had to cordon off the area. Joe Rosenthal, who took the immortal shot of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima during World War II, was assigned to photograph the evil doings for the San Francisco Chronicle. The L.A. Times, among other prominent newspapers, devoted four columns at the top of their front page to one of Rosenthal's pictures of the wedding. Most of the accompanying stories lingered on the naked female altar, the array of personalities present, and Togare, the Nubian lion, roaring from somewhere further inside the house. The press was delighted. They dubbed LaVey “The Black Pope” and clamored for interviews. While many of the early articles were published in men's magazines because of the nude altars, mainstream magazines jumped into the fray as well. Eventually all the major magazines were doing in-depth cover stories on the rising tide of Satanism.

The rituals for the first year were largely intended as cathartic blasphemies against Christianity. Many of the elements were consistent with the reports of Satanic worship from the famous writings of diabolists, such as the description in Joris-Karl Huysman's La Bas (translated into English as Down There). A nude female altar was always used, the accompanying music was a series of corruptions of church hymns, the cross was turned upside down, the Lord's Prayer was recited backwards, mock holy wafers were consecrated by insertion in a naked woman's vagina, whiskey was used instead of wine for Christ's blood, holy water was substituted with seminal fluid in milk, and the names of the infernal deities were invoked instead of the Christian God. It was too much for some lapsed Christians to stand. Some would attend out of curiosity, only to find eustress quickly turn to distress, rush home and dig out their crosses to protect them from the devils they'd confronted.

After awhile LaVey got tired of simply mocking Christianity and decided to work up rituals which would be blasphemously positive and exciting. “I realized there was a whole grey area between psychiatry and religion that had been largely untapped,” said LaVey. He saw the potential for group ritual used as a powerful combination of psychodrama and psychic direction. Instead of just throwing off the bio-electrical energy and releasing it to be dissipated in the surrounding ethers, that energy could be structured, shaped, and directed to accomplish a specific goal. He didn't want to do parlor tricks but real, applied magic.

LaVey decided the world was ready now for the first public Satanic baptism. People would be forced to see that Satanism is not drinking the blood of babies and sacrificing small animals. He declared, “Rather than cleanse the child of original sin, as in the Christian baptism imposing unwarranted guilt, we will glorify her natural instincts and intensify her lust for life.” Who better to be baptized in such a public ceremony than LaVey's own three-year-old daughter, Zeena? With her soft blonde hair and engaging smile, she captivated reporters—such an angelic child to be dedicated to the Devil. While many Christian organizations and other “concerned citizens” were outraged at the spectacle, there was little they could do. Today, LaVey probably would have been charged with Satanic child abuse—there were no such legal avenues for religious hysterics in 1967.

A date for Zeena's baptism was set for May. Photographers started showing up at 6 a.m., even though the ceremony wouldn't begin for another 15 hours. One of the Church members, survivalist Kurt Saxon, designed and made a special amulet for Zeena just for the occasion. It was a colorful Baphomet with an ice cream cone, lollypop, and other things a little girl would like included in the circle. Her mother dressed her in a bright-red hooded robe and sat her on the edge of the altar while photographers from New York to Rome snapped away.

LaVey recited an impressive invocation, later adapted for inclusion in The Satanic Rituals:

“In the name of Satan, Lucifer...Welcome a new mistress, Zeena, creature of ecstatic magic light...Welcome to our company; the path of darkness welcomes thee. Be not afraid. Above you Satan heaves his bulk into the startled sky and makes a canopy of great black wings...Small sorceress, most natural and true magician, your tiny hands have power to pull Heaven down and from it build monuments to your own sweet indulgence. Your power makes you master of the world of frightened, cowering and guilt-ridden men. And so, in the name of Satan, we set your feet upon the left-hand path...Zeena we baptize you with earth and air, with brine and burning flame. And so we dedicate your life to love, to passion, to indulgence, and to Satan, and the way of darkness. Hail Zeena! Hail Satan!”

The entire ceremony was designed to delight the child, welcoming her with sights and smells that were pleasurable to her. Unlike the Christian method of dunking already frightened children in water to baptize them, Zeena sat cheerfully chewing gum throughout the ritual, basking in the attention she was receiving from admirers and the press.

In December of the same year, Anton was approached by Mrs. Edward Olsen who wanted the High Priest to perform a funeral for her recently deceased husband, a Navy man killed in a traffic accident near San Francisco's Treasure Island station. Both she and Edward Olsen had become members of the Church of Satan, despite his Baptist-oriented upbringing and his earlier membership in Youth for Christ. When he'd entered the Navy, seen more of the world and married a sexy brunette, he realized Satanism was a more realistic way of life. “He believed in this church,” said Mrs, Olsen, “and it is in this church that he would have wanted his funeral.”

Though the Navy officials were a bit nonplussed, they agreed to Pat Olsen's instructions without much discussion, considering it their duty to comply with Mr. Olsen's last request with dignity. There was a chrome-helmeted honor guard in attendance at the ceremony, standing rigidly at attention alongside the black-robed witches and warlocks wearing their Baphomet medallions. The sailors held an American flag over the coffin while LaVey recited a eulogy emphasizing Edward's commitment to life in choosing to walk the Devil's path. To end the funeral, the Navy guard fired three volleys with their rifles, and a Navy musician played taps after the mourners shouted, “Hail Satan!” and “Hail Edward!”

Even though the Archbishop of San Francisco was upset by the whole affair, immediately sending an outraged letter to President Johnson, most San Franciscans, including Naval officials, felt Olsen should receive the same consideration as any other Navy man. The response from the White House was actually quite fortuitous for the widow and her young son. Olsen, a machinist-repairman third-class was erroneously referred to by White House aides as “chief petty officer.” Mrs. Olsen was able to use those letters to file a claim for a posthumous promotion for her husband and receive higher survivors' benefits. LaVey credits “demonic intervention” for Mrs. Olsen's good fortune. Because of the sharp increase of declared Satanists in the military, Satanism was soon outlined as a recognized religion in the Chaplain's Handbook for the Armed Services where it remains today, the description updated every few years by the Church of Satan.

Besides the weekly ceremonies, Anton conducted Witches' Workshops and various seminars which attracted notable personalities from up and down the California coast. Jayne Mansfield, the sexy-sweet blonde bombshell famous for her stunning measurements and orgasmic squeal, insisted on meeting the Black Pope. LaVey and Mansfield hit it off immediately, each fulfilling a diabolical need in the other. Jayne became passionately obsessed with Anton, calling him several times a day from wherever she traveled, eventually applying for a driver's license just to be able to drive to San Francisco unescorted by her persistently ubiquitous lawyer/boyfriend, Sam Brody. Jayne's commitment to LaVey, and her dedication to the Satanic philosophy, continued until her death in June of 1967. The auto crash she died in also killed Sam Brody, who LaVey had formally cursed in response to Brody's jealous threats and attempts to discredit LaVey.

The night of Mansfield's death, LaVey had been clipping a Church of Satan news item from the German magazine, Bild-Zeitung. When he turned the item over to paste it in the press book, LaVey was shocked to see he had inadvertently cut a photo of Jayne on the opposite side of the page, right across the neck. Fifteen minutes later, a reporter from the New Orleans Associated Press bureau called Anton to get his reaction to the tragic accident. Jayne had been practically decapitated when she was thrown through the windshield of the car.

Madness rituals, fertility rites, destruction rituals, shibboleth rituals, and psychodramas in the form of Black Masses were devised for the public to participate in and be entertained by every Friday night. The early period of rituals was not a time of games or chicanery, but of necessary development, growth, and experimentation—as well as generating a pool of concentrated energy to draw from in later experiments.

We were established in 1966 c.e. by Anton Szandor LaVey, who declared the Year One—Anno Satanas, thus opening the floodgates to a revolution designed to smash the hypocrisy and unreason which has reigned for the past 2000 years. We have, since 1966, stood as the most formidable threat to those who would halt progress in the name of spirituality. We are explorers on the untrodden paths of science, human motivation and mystery—all that is most truly occult.

Those who proudly carry our red cards identifying themselves as members have the strength and dedication to implement the tools of Satan, the imagination to confound and confuse, the wisdom to recognize the Unseen in our society, the pragmatism of a skeptic, and the passions of a classical Romantic soul.

Regarding contact with non-members

Many people write to the Church of Satan who have read some of our literature but want to further their knowledge through personal contact before they decide to affiliate. It has always been our policy NOT to place non-members in contact with members, as an individual's membership is held in strictest confidence by the Church of Satan. This does not reflect upon the sincerity of the person making the inquiry, but as realists, we acknowledge that Satanism remains a controversial religion and thus our policy is an important matter of security for our members.

We thus do not maintain any structures or offices open to visitation by the public. Non-members may not attend rituals (which are by nature private activities held in the homes of members), regardless of their degree of interest or reason for wishing to participate. The Satanic Bible explains in detail the basics of ritual for those curious about our practices.

The protection of our members is one of the reasons we gather information through our extensive questionnaire about the people who affiliate and wish Active Membership participation. We attempt to make it reasonably certain that those whom we accept may interact safely and responsibly with our other members. Individuals who have not yet affiliated are an unknown quantity, and realistically, we cannot trust those whom we do not yet know.

However, for non-members who want to interact with other Satanists (those who have placed themselves in public by personal choice), we suggest that you participate in the message board on www.personalsatan.com called Letters to the Devil upon which many people who call themselves Satanists (as well as many Church of Satan members) exchange their thoughts. This board is moderated, so time-wasting posts by Christians and pseudo-Satanic kooks are removed. This forum has general areas open to anyone, as well as “members only” areas which can be accessed once one joins the Church of Satan and presents proof of membership to those who run this board. Membership has its privileges.

A word to the wise: since Satanism is a philosophy which holds individualism as one of its main values, we don't expect all of our members to agree on everything, or even to “get along” with each other. Thus, you are cautioned that you might find some differences of opinion in these discussions. Satanism, by definition, is a philosophy in which you won't find “group hugs” as part of the repertoire. Also, since only a very small percentage of our members choose to interact with people online, it would be an error to think that your online experience is necessarily a reflection upon what your personal experience with the Church of Satan might be. That is an Is-To-Be that is in the hands of each individual who chooses to join. The Red Card of membership is just a key—it is up to you to open the door and earn the attention of those already in the organization.

Registered Membership

We don't solicit memberships; however, if you wish to join us, to show your support or appreciation, you can become a Registered Member. For a one-time registration fee of two hundred dollars in United States currency, you will receive an embossed crimson card declaring you a member of the Church of Satan. This card is your means for identifying yourself as a genuine member of the Church of Satan to other members. If you expect to meet another member for the first time, be prepared to produce your card. Likewise, you may be expected to produce a scan of your card to certify your membership to other members online.

No further dues will be expected. There are no further obligations. There are no age requirements. See our Satanic Youth communiqué for clarification of this issue. Follow the instructions at the bottom of this page to become a Registered Member.

If you represent yourself as affiliated with the Church of Satan, you are legally required to register with us as a member. Download a PDF file containing the Registration Statement.

Active Membership

If you wish to take a more active role in the Church of Satan, we require that you become an Active Member. This requires that you are of at least 18 years of age, and that you fill out an Active Membership Application, indicating your more serious interest in our organization. By completing and returning it (e-mailed Active Applications in plain text, rich text, or MS Word format as well as snail-mail are accepted), you may request to be included in our E-Bulletin List (the mailing schedule for this is “as needed”) so you can receive announcements pertinent to your affiliation. Your file will also be reviewed for further involvement; we have Grottos/Special Interest Groups of all persuasions who are working on many fronts toward the fulfillment of our Satanic destiny. There is no additional charge for a Registered Member to apply for Active Membership. You may even pay for your Registered Membership and include your Application for Active Membership at the same time. All questions must be given thorough answers and a recent photograph of the applicant must be included or the Active Application will not be processed. Download a PDF file containing the Active Membership Application.

Once you have been accepted as an Active Member, the Church of Satan acknowledges that your presentation of yourself fits our definition of “Satanist.” We are currently working through an extensive backlog of Active Applications, so it may take many months before you will receive the response, which will come via regular post. Your patience is appreciated.

The Grotto System

We are currently re-evaluating our system by which individuals in geographic proximity may form an association for ritualization, socialization, and the pursuit of various projects. Each local cabal is called a Grotto, reinforcing the hidden and mysterious aspect of the Church of Satan. Grottos are established by individuals who are granted the responsibility of being a Grotto Master. When filling out the Active Application, indicate that you are interested in Grotto activities in your area. If there are, the local Grotto Master will contact you to arrange a meeting to evaluate you for participation. Be aware that it is within the rights of the Grotto Master to deem you unsuitable for participation in his Grotto, even though you are a bona fide member of the Church of Satan. This does not reflect on your membership in the Church of Satan itself, only that particular Grotto. Grotto Masters receive an in-depth manual to assist them in their efforts as well as guide them through the difficulties that might be encountered.

Grotto Masters are not de facto spokespersons for the Church of Satan, nor are Grottos local representations of our Church. Grottos exist organically, solely to serve the specialized interests of a particular association of local members. When they have outgrown their purpose, then they are dissolved, so expect to see them come and go. Grotto Masters are encouraged to represent Satanism in whatever appropriate situations may arise, but they do not speak for the Church of Satan unless they are members of the representational hierarchy, which is our Priesthood. Special situations might arise locally in which permission is given for a Grotto Master who has not yet attained the Priesthood to act as a spokesperson for a specific situation.

Only a small percentage of our membership participates in Grotto activities. We do not give out information concerning the location of Grottos to non-members. If a local Grotto has a public profile or a web presence, then non-members may learn of its existence and such will be noted on the Links page of this site. Many Grottos choose to remain “underground,” fulfilling the nature of that word. If you are considering affiliation with the Church of Satan solely for the purpose of Grotto activities, we suggest that you reconsider. Affiliation must primarily be a result of philosophical agreement, not the desire for socializing. We are not a huddling flock of sheep in wolves' clothing.

Understand that if you wish to pursue group activities using the Church of Satan as an identity, you are legally required to be a Registered Member of the Church of Satan who has been recognized to the Active level.

When you fill out the Active Membership Application, note the question about Grotto Activities and answer accordingly.

Hierarchy

Anton LaVey formulated a system of degrees during the early years of the Church of Satan, as such was a general practice in many prior social and esoteric organizations. However, the criteria for elevation in our Church were based not on mysticism or occultism, but on knowledge of practical subjects beyond Satanism, and even more than that, on the application of such wisdom towards measurable ends. Dr. LaVey experimented by mandating the specific colors for medallions which could be worn by each member according to degree. And, for a time, written exams were given to assess a member's readiness for a particular level.

In the mid 1970s, it became clear that many members had become obsessed with “jockeying for position”—being overly concerned with their place in the organization rather than working towards advancement in the world “outside.” This was contrary to our carnal philosophy's emphasis on tangible personal progress and so, after that point, the existence of the degrees was de-emphasized in Church literature, and formulaic methods for recognition were jettisoned.

Today, we maintain our traditional degrees, but these should not be seen as “initiatory steps” which are expected of our members. The Church of Satan is not an initiatory organization. It is our position that, for those with awareness, by living fully you will have plenty of authentic initiatory experiences through the many avenues you explore, hence there is no need for such artificial posturing in our Church. In fact, no member is required to move beyond Registered Membership. The First Degree denoting Active Membership is only for members who seek more involvement with the organization and other local members. The remaining degrees (from the Second through the Fifth) are not open to application or to request. Our specific standards for them will not be publicly released. The administration watches the progress of qualified members, and may choose to grant recognition to outstanding individuals based on demonstrated excellence in the understanding and communication of Satanic Theory, coupled with significant potent practices in the arena of the real world which have produced superior achievements. People naturally and quite organically rise to particular levels, and we may take note at our discretion. This is meritocracy at work. So, if you are so inclined, keep us updated on your accomplishments so that your progress may be noted.

Registered Member (no degree)
Active Member—Satanist (First Degree)
Witch/Warlock (Second Degree)
Priestess/Priest (Third Degree)
Magistra/Magister (Fourth Degree)
Maga/Magus (Fifth Degree)

“Administrator,” “Agent,” and “Grotto Master” are descriptive titles for what people do, not levels of rank, thus they can can be held by members with different degrees. “High Priest”/“High Priestess” are the top administrative titles, and can be held only by Fourth or Fifth Degree members.

Those who hold the Third through Fifth degrees are all members of the Priesthood of Mendes and individuals with these titles may be called “Reverend.”

Our protocol for member interaction is based on the paradigm of a “mutual admiration society.” We do not expect all of our highly individualistic members to like each other, but we do require that they behave as ladies and gentlemen when dealing with each other in all situations and forums. Interaction is never required, and in the case of extreme disagreement wherein civility apparently cannot be maintained, we expect involved members to cease interaction with each other. Violation of this standard can be grounds for expulsion.

Agents

An individual who demonstrates a thorough grasp of the philosophy of the Church of Satan, and would like to be a contact for local media or other interested parties, and who is generally not interested in Grotto Activities, may be chosen to serve as an Agent for the Church of Satan. As your expertise and influence in the real world expands, you may then be considered for recognition to our Priesthood.

When you fill out your application for further involvement, let us know if you would like to be considered to be a qualified contact point in your area or for media representation. You may also include material which demonstrates your qualifications, such as samples of your writing and video tapes (VHS format) of yourself in a public speaking mode.

Priesthood of Mendes

These are the individuals who act as spokespersons for the philosophy of the Church of Satan, which include the titles of “Priest”/“Priestess,” “Magister”/“Magistra,” “Magus”/“Maga.” Members of the Priesthood make up the Council of Nine, which is the ruling body of the organization, responsible to the High Priest/Priestess. The Order of the Trapezoid consists of the individuals who assist in the administration of the Church of Satan. Members of our Priesthood are people of accomplishment in the real world—they have mastered skills and have won peer recognition, which is how they have attained their position—“as above, so below.” They are “movers and shakers” who are the core of our movement. While expected to be experts in communicating our philosophy, they are not required to speak on our behalf and they may even choose to keep their affiliation and rank secret, in order to better serve their personal goals, as well as those of our organization. Thus, you may (even as a member), encounter members of our Priesthood and never know it.

Membership in the Priesthood is by invitation only. The old truism “If you have to ask, you can't afford it” is certainly highly pertinent to our Priesthood. Words to the wise: Do not ask “How do I become a Priest?”




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If you have not already done so, we strongly suggest you purchase The Satanic Bible, and study it. It is a diabolical book, the basis for our philosophy. There is currently a great deal of literature available by our founder as well as other Satanic pioneers. See our Sources page for additional information.

Satanism is not for everyone, but if it is for you, we welcome you. We are not a fan club, a pen-pal society, or a lonely hearts group. We are a group of dynamic individuals who stand forth as the ultimate underground alternative—the Alien Elite. We realize what we have, what we are, and what we shall become. Our scope is unlimited, and the extent of your involvement is based upon your own potential. All names and addresses are held in strict confidence and you are under no obligation as a Registered Member, unless you choose to present yourself for further consideration

There continues to be furious debates in Witchcraft and Satanist circles. These are the firestarters:

"Satanists are born not made."

"I am a Witch and you know you a Witch from an early age. You don't need to have training; you either are or are not."

The statements are interesting and responses can prove to be educational. Unfortunately, some people truly believe one or both of the above statements. The fact is we do not live in a black and white world. There are many shades of color around us and almost as many responses to the above.

The first problem we find with these statements are that there is usually no qualifying definition. For example, the Church of Satan believes that individuals are born with certain traits or they are not. Like the Marines, they advocate to have these "superior" individuals join their organization. While this has proven successful in some arenas, there is an obvious watermark and an elitist attitude. Some people will absolutely accept this idea, while others have questions. At least these individuals can be monitored by the organization, not so with our alleged "fam trad" witches.

For the Witches, the problem becomes even more apparent. Copper Rat Squirrel claims she comes from a seventh generation line of real druids. While this sounds impressive, this does not necessarily make Copper an elder in any tradition other than her own family. While she may be a legend in her own mind, Copper has not proven to anyone her knowledge, but only tried to impress a group with "hereditary dropping." This is no different than name-dropping, and very similar to pigeon droppings.

While it seems many Witches today have a grandmother who gave them a "Book of Shadows" and the second sight, again this does not make them any better than a Witch who started by reading Sybil Leek.

We have an objective versus subjective defintion issue here. While most pagans will state that anyone has the right to self-identify themselves as a Witch, druid, etc., we question WHY they believe that this self-identification is correct. In the case of the COS, at least there is that filter for membership. Unfortunately, Witchcraft has become so trendy, that truly trained tradition Witches are woefully outnumbered by the IRAB (I Read A Book) group.

Today we are fighting with too many defintions and new ones being made up everyday. It started with the Wiccans. Once upon a time, there was Gardner, there was Sanders and there was Starhawk. Today some Witches do not know these founders and instead say with a straight face that they are from the Looney Tunes tradition or the Star Wars Coven. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it certainly would confuse the average individual as to which Witch is which.

For many years, the Satanists did not succumb to this. You basically had the Church of Satan, then Temple of Set (which were Setians or Satanists) and those called Traditional where the individual, solitary or not, believed in an actual Devil, Lucifer or a dark pagan male deity. Recently, the gender barrier has been broken with more deities being male or female, or male and female. It is not unusual to hear talk of Lilith , Ereshikigal or Kali. We also have those who are atheists and primarily refer to themselves as Modern or LaVeyan Satanists.

The theistic Satanists,(as defined by Diane Vera) or dark pagans (as defined by John Coughlin) , or Free Thought Satanists (as defined by John Allee) are just some of the many groups that really defy the old style of categorization.

The labels fail us. We have Satanists that may not really be Satanists by the strict LaVeyan definition. We have Witches who may not be defined by the older trads as Witches, yet these people deserve some kind of recognition. Everyone has an opinion.

Why do people say that Satanists are born and not made? There are certainly traits that would make an individual MORE LIKELY to be a Satanist; self-empowerment, a bit of arrogance, the ability to rule their own world and not accept a herd mentality, the ability to question everything, and the ability to ignore societal rules. Most would say a Satanist is also very successful on the mundane and able to take care of his or herself and those she or he loves. The question remains while these traits point out good foundation for a Satanist, you can find such empowered people in many other religions including Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.

Let's use the example of a medical doctor. Some will say that these professionals are born and not made. Certainly, those in medical school will have genetic traits such as superior intelligence, math and science skills, and excellent dexterity that others may lack. These traits alone do not make one a doctor. They must be able to be in a situation, to enter college and have had a supportive childhood that will allow them to succeed in this field. Many doctors go right into medical school after college. However, what about the doctors who adopt this career later in life? Are these less qualified individuals just because their circumstances may have caused this to happen? In some cases, engineers were seeing downsizing and then chose medicine. Others may have gotten their "calling" after being pharmacists or nurses. We cannot simply say that he was born to be a doctor, based on WHEN he made this conscious decision.

Another example from a totally different perspective is those Catholics and Christians who in the 80s were fighting over the idea of who goes to heaven. Most believed that only by following the tenets of the "true Church" would one reach their ultimate reward. Unfortunately, some more astute theologians questioned whether ideas such as limbo or purgatory were even logical. What about the unchurched individual in a corner of the world who was not exposed to the teachings of Jesus Christ? Is zip code alone a ticket to heaven? Further what about those individuals who were raised Muslim or Hindu or whatever and lived and healthy existence adhering strictly to their own moral codes? Would Joe's friend Jamal automatically be denied heaven after saving 50 lives while with the fire department? Pope John Paul II actually answered this and let his flock know that it was all in the intent. In other words, it was based on the person and their acts, rather than the path they followed. If the person had not been exposed to Christianity, this was not a black mark on their soul which would give them a one-way ticket to hell.

This makes sense. Who cannot agree with the idea of being judged by their actions or deeds? Most of us who are reading this are probably not concerned with admission to the clouds, but with the present. It is wise to judge people on their current actions and take responsibility for your own. This begs the question, "Why would some people walk around saying they were pre-destined to be a certain philosophy or religion?"

Our first answer is that it discounts the journey of faith that experts such as Joseph Campbell have written about. What separates the dark pagan from the Church of Satan is usually the quest for knowledge and wisdom based on a need to find out more about the Source. Most pagans believe that there is a superior force or intelligence. This alone is a journey and it may take a while to find out whether they are made for a particular religion.

We also have to question the selfish and manipulative aspect of the statement. While it is certainly important to not waste one's time with those who will not benefit you in any way, why condemn their search for the answer? Sometimes a falsely inflated ego covers the insecurities a person has regarding his or her own place in the world. What not be just who you are? Does it matter when you came into a mindset? Whether it occurred through genetic or educational means? The FCoS firmly believes that Satanists, Witches and Pagans can be born AND made, depending on the individual's physical traits, psychological profile and life experience.

The fact that Wicca and Witchcraft is one of the fastest growing religions proves that the Skinnerian model of shaping behaviors does not work either. Many a pagan was forced to sit through Christian teaching and trainings only to discover their true path once outside the family home.

Why do some still support the "born not made" theory? It is a Cinderella story that gives hope to all. Despite being born in the poorest of circumstances, a young man from the ghetto is able to pull himself through, get into college, and be the first in his family to have a degree, let alone an advanced degree. Some would call it the American Dream, revisited for our generation. We can work with what we have, take advantages of opportunitives and thrive.

Nietzsche says it is based on the individual, and we have B F Skinner saying it is based on an operant conditioning procedure. Our point is that both are right. In some cases, the "super men" will always succeed and take an alternative path with their philosophy that leads them to further greatness. There remains those who have some of the traits, but need to be socialized and educated in that direction. It is not just philosophy or religion, but truly an in-depth study of psychology that will help one understand that Individualism can be born and made.

It gets more involved. As more people run to the dark side and left hand path groups regress to a herd mentality, we will see those "born" and "made" choosing yet another alternative, less common, less mediocre belief system. It again shows the importance of balance and polarity not only within us, but in society itself.

The most disheartening trend now is the born again Witch or Satanist. This month Jane is a Witch. She then may go back to Christianity, and then become a druid, and then go back to Christianity and then become a neo-pagan. It is confusing for those watching as well as the individual. While there may be pathology in this, it may also be Jane's way of finally finding her path, just a little slower than the others. When Stan is a Satanist this year, next year an agnostic, next year a Luciferian, and the next year a dark pagan, this gets more involved. The Satanists that continually join and then dismiss this philosophy are showing a lack of commitment and fear about the path they are choosing. The fact that they cannot overcome their fear shows that they were not "born" to follow this path and certainly are not "making" the commitment to prove their individualism and autonomy to themselves and others. These are the ones who will eventually fall between the cracks or live in the midst of mediocrity once they stop struggling to recreate themselves.

Some individuals cannot be born or made. They are what they are and need to find comfort in their own identity, whether it is in an alternative spirituality or lifestyle. This is why we believe that Satanists and others are born and made. It is both a genetic and psychological component and a conscious decision.

The born not made theory will never be able to be proven, sadly. Imagine if it is true, as some believe, that truly talented musicians are born. We certainly can witness in any high school band or orchestra, those who play mechanically due to teaching method, and those who become one with their instrument, and far outshine the others. Have you ever wondered how many violin virtuosos this world has lost because no one put a violin into their hands? Maybe Jack on the factory line shows incredible manual dexterity and perfect pitch as he hums to the radio. Could he have had a totally different life under different circumstances with an opportunity to make music? Is this why the classic movie stars were always described as "being discovered" rather than flaunted as the latest graduate from Yale Drama?

An interesting sidebar is you never see Christians who brag about the fact they are seventh generation Catholics. They are Catholics. It is not a badge or a blemish, it just is. In some of the more diverse neo-pagan groups this acceptance is also seen. Even in a religion where lineage matters such as Judaism, outside their own community, you do not hear them bragging that they were "born not made" Jewish or that their Jewish traditions go back farther than some other Jewish family. This should give us all an idea on how to approach the "born not made" theory. Only in certain occult circles do people claim things that cannot be proven ("my mother's mother's mother's mothers mother was a REAL WITCH in Scotland.) In fact, with the idea of individualism being born into an individual this can be discerned by the individual's demeanor, attitude and approach to the outside world.

We believe that one can be born or made. It is up to the individual. The born again (and agains) will certainly have to work to find balance and stability in their own beliefs. While this debate will always come up, it is best to keep in mind that while the topic is titillating, it has too many variables.

The next time you encounter a "born Satanist" or "seventh generation Witch" explain you are more interested in the successes they've had recently and that you cannot judge their worth on DNA or genealogy, but on the psychological strength, responsibility and wisdom that has been gained despite such claims.