Contemporary Religious Satanism: A Critical Anthology

290 Pages·2009·3.96 MB·English

by  Jesper Aagaard Petersen

Contemporary religious satanism
the Church of satan was founded by anton laVey on april 30, 1966. in his
hands, satan became a provocative symbol for indulgence, vital existence, natural
wisdom and the human being’s true animal nature. at present, religious satanism
exists primarily as a decentralized subculture with a strong internet presence within
a larger satanic milieu in Western culture. though most are inspired by laVey, the
majority of contemporary satanists are not members of the Church of satan. the
various expressions of modern satanism all navigate in today’s detraditionalized
religious market through the creative appropriation of popular culture, philosophy,
literature and religion. the concrete solutions are varied; but they all understand the
power of transgression allying oneself with a most powerful symbol of resistance,
namely satan. thus, contemporary religious satanism could be understood as a
complex negotiation of atheism, secularism, esotericism and self: a “self-religion”
in the modern age.
Despite the fascinating nature of religious satanism, it has attracted little scholarship
until relatively recently. this book brings together a group of international scholars
to produce the first serious book-length study of religious Satanism, presenting a
collection that will have wide appeal to specialists and non-specialists alike. the
first part contains broader studies of influential groups and important aspects of
the satanic milieu, especially regarding historical developments, the construction
of tradition and issues of legitimacy. the second part narrows the view to regional
variations, especially with studies on northern and eastern europe. the third part
consists of primary documents selected for their representational and informational
value.
ControVersial neW religions
Series Editors:
James r. lewis, lecturer in religious studies,
university of Wisconsin, usa
george D. Chryssides, senior lecturer in religious studies,
university of Wolverhampton, uK
this new series on new religious movements focuses particularly on controversial
new religions. The popularity and significance of the New Religious Movements
field is reflected in the explosion of related books and articles now being published.
this ashgate series of anthologies will offer a valuable resource and lasting
contribution to the field.
Other titles in the series:
The Order of the Solar Temple
The Temple of Death
edited by James r. lewis
The New Generation Witches
Teenage Witchcraft in Contemporary Culture
edited by Hannah e. Johnston and peg aloi
Contemporary religious satanism
a Critical anthology
Edited by
Jesper aagaarD petersen
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
First published 2009 by Ashgate Publishing
Published 2016 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
Copyright © Jesper aagaard petersen 2009
Jesper aagaard petersen has asserted his moral right under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the editor of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in
any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Notice:
Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are
used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Contemporary religious satanism: a critical anthology. – (Controversial new religions)
1. satanism
i. petersen, Jesper aagaard
299
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
petersen, Jesper aagaard.
Contemporary religious satanism : a critical anthology / Jesper aagaard petersen.
p. cm. – (Controversial new religions)
includes index.
isBn 978-0-7546-5286-1 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. satanism. i. title.
Bl480.p39 2008
299–dc22
2008024648
isBn 9780754652861 (hbk)
Contents
Notes on Contributors vii
Acknowledgements xi
1 introduction: embracing satan 1
Jesper Aagaard Petersen
PART I Broader Studies: History, Tradition, Legitimacy
2 satanism: performing alterity and othering 27
Graham Harvey
3 infernal legitimacy 41
James R. Lewis
4 Darkness Within: satanism as a self-religion 59
Asbjørn Dyrendal
5 self-Conscious routinization and the post-Charismatic Fate of the
Church of satan from 1997 to the present 75
Maxwell Davies
6 embracing others than satan: the multiple princes of Darkness
in the left-Hand path milieu 85
Kennet Granholm
7 the Devil’s Down in Dixie: studying satanism in south georgia 103
Kathleen Lowney
PART II RegIonAL STuDIeS
8 the peculiarities of lithuanian satanism: Between Crime and
atheism in Cyberspace 121
Milda Alisauskiene
9 satanism in estonia 129
Ringo Ringvee
vi Contemporary Religious Satanism
10 Cyber-satanism and imagined satanism: Dark symptoms of
late modernity 141
Rafal Smoczynski
11 social Democratic satanism? some examples of satanism
in scandinavia 153
Didrik Søderlind and Asbjørn Dyrendal
12 “With my art i am the Fist in the Face of god”: on old-school
Black metal 171
Gry Mørk
13 italian martyrs of “satanism”: sister maria laura mainetti and
Father giorgio govoni 199
Andrea Menegotto
14 speculating on the point 003 percent? some remarks on the
Chaotic satanic minorities in the uK 211
Dave Evans

PART III PRImARy DoCumenTS

15 Reflections on Satanism 231
Vexen Crabtree
16 excerpt from lords of the left-Hand path: a History of spiritual
Dissent 239
Stephen E. Flowers
17 Dark Doctrines: two examples 247
Tani Jantsang
18 the satanic politic 255
Nathan Wardinski
19 the Culture Cult 259
Ole Wolf
Index 267
notes on Contributors
Milda Alisauskiene
phD candidate, Department of sociology, Vytautas magnus university, Kaunas,
lithuania.
[email protected]
Vexen Crabtree
a British satanist who has been active on-line since the late nineties on discussion
forums and with numerous websites. a member of the Church of satan.
www.vexen.co.uk
Maxwell Davies
graduate of religious studies, university of Wisconsin oskosh, usa, freelance
writer, journalist and a guest lecturer on satanism.
[email protected]
Asbjørn Dyrendal
phD, associate professor, norwegian university of science and technology,
trondheim, norway.
[email protected]
Dave Evans
phD, university of Bristol, uK. independent scholar.
www.occultebooks.com
Stephen E. Flowers
stephen edred Flowers, phD, also known under the name edred thorsson, has
been active in various esoteric organizations since the early seventies, most notably
the temple of set, the rune-gild and the ring of troth.
www.xeper.org, www.runaraven.com, www.runegild.org
Kennet Granholm
phD, Visiting researcher at the Centre for the History of Hermetic philosophy and
related Currents, amsterdam, the netherlands.
[email protected]
Graham Harvey
phD, reader in religious studies, open university, uK.
[email protected]
viii Contemporary Religious Satanism
Tani Jantsang
active in various esoteric and occult groups since the seventies, but became well
known as an advocate of the Dark Doctrines in the late eighties and one of the
founders of the satanic reds in 1997.
www.geocities.com/satanicreds
James R. Lewis
phD, university of Wisconsin, milwaukee, usa.
[email protected]
Kathleen Lowney
professor, phD, sociology/anthropology/Criminal Justice program, Valdosta state
university, georgia, usa.
[email protected]
Andrea Menegotto
milan Branch manager, Centre for the study of new religions (Cesnur), italy.
[email protected]
Gry Mørk
m. phil. independent scholar.
[email protected]
Jesper Aagaard Petersen
research Fellow, norwegian university of science and technology, trondheim,
norway.
[email protected]
Ringo Ringvee
advisor, Department of religious affairs, ministry of the interior, estonia.
[email protected]
Rafal Smoczynski
phD, institute of philosophy and sociology, polish academy of sciences, poland.
[email protected]
Didrik Søderlind
research Journalist, Consultant to the norwegian Humanist association.
[email protected]
Nathan Wardinski
american satanist. a member of the obsidian enlightenment.
www.uwosh.edu/obsidian
Notes on Contributors ix
Ole Wolf
a Danish satanist, active in satanic groups since the early nineties, most notably
satanisk Forum, an independent Danish organization created in 2001.
www.sataniskforum.dk