An Academic Review of Anton LaVey’s Satanic Philosophy

Abstract

Satan has been a changing character for the last 2500 years. For most of its history, the Devil was represented as God’s archenemy, the representation of absolute evil. By the 19th Century, this approach had begun to change with the Romantics, some of whom represented a more heroic character. In the mid-20th Century, in the mist of counter-cultural movements, the figure of Satan was once again apprehended by non-conformists. The most notorious of these was Anton LaVey, who founded the Church of Satan. This article reviews LaVey’s approach to the figure of Satan, some of the rituals and symbolisms associated with this movement, and the way LaVey used Satan as a way to represent his particular philosophical views. Key Words: Satanism, Anton Lavey, Church of Satan, Devil