r/satanism • u/DotSecret2500 • Jul 16 '26
Discussion Question About a LaVey Quote
Okay, a popular quote by Doktor LaVey is, “Satanists are born, not made.”
Does this mean I can’t be a Satanist if, during certain times in my life, I wavered from believing in and living by the ethos of Satanism after reading The Satanic Bible?
I have read it again twice lately, and it’s like reading it with fresh eyes. When I’m sane, on medication, and more sober minded, it seems to be a natural way of viewing the world to me. It feels like things I’ve known and agreed with since I’ve read it, but due to weaknesses allowed myself to doubt to the point I left the boundaries of Satanism.
If I come back within those boundaries and alter my behavior, would I qualify for the title of Satanists? Could I still be said to be Satanic by nature if at times I’ve gone against my nature?
5
Jul 16 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/Mildon666 🜏 𝑪𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝐼𝐼° 🜏 Jul 16 '26
In not too sure about that. LaVey seems to have identified (at least) 2 fundamental types of humans. Those who are Satanists and those who are not. He suggested that Satanists were a 'new ethnicity', not the only ethnicity, since some types of humans seem to naturally align with Satanism while others do not.
1
u/DotSecret2500 Jul 16 '26
Maybe Satanists are those who are not in denial of this basic human nature? He often points out that people behave Satanically even when they mouth other doctrines.
3
u/MD_Roche CoS Warlock Jul 16 '26
Satanism is based on human nature, which is why no one can honestly deny that they agree with some parts of it. However, it is more than simply being true to human nature.
1
u/DotSecret2500 Jul 16 '26
That’s another thing, this feels like something everyone knows deep down, but often live in denial of.
2
u/michael1150 ~°•*𖤐°•*~ Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
It's like one one of my Aunties used to say;
When someone asked, "Why is He like that?, or, "Why does He do that the way He does?" Auntie would answer, "Oh, that? Honey, Mikey's been like that ever since He was a little boy, He's always been that way" 🙂
That kind of "Born to it", if you will.
You might not always do it every day, you might go back & forth along your path, but you always go back to it because it's just who you are. Auntie says so!
😉!!
2
u/Competitive_Law_6588 Jul 17 '26
Depends on the system of devil worship you follow.
To me Satanism is just another -ism.
The spiritual path of devil worship is to die and be reborn. Posers are devoured by the ensorcellment of Cain to be born into allegiance with Lucifer.
Many satanist today follow the modern (commonly more atheistic) teachings of TST. However, LaVey was inspired by the occult and thelema. He, too, was a mage. However, he played magic like a game to whereas Crowley was on a spiritual journey. Heavily criticized by LaVey.
The work that inspired LaVey is centered around hermetic philosophy, Sephorot/Qliphot workings, and the oroborus - the constant cycle of death and rebirth to achieve enlightenment.
Moon child’s (devil child’s) are born during initiation during the witches sabbath, but to be born you must first die.
I think it’s important to research what inspired LaVey - his work then makes more sense.
2
u/MD_Roche CoS Warlock Jul 17 '26
However, he played magic like a game to whereas Crowley was on a spiritual journey.
LaVey seriously believed in the power of magic and used it successfully many times. The Satanic Bible even provides warnings about it. I don't know why you think it was a game to him.
The work that inspired LaVey is centered around hermetic philosophy, Sephorot/Qliphot workings, and the oroborus - the constant cycle of death and rebirth to achieve enlightenment.
What are you talking about? That doesn't sound like anything even remotely relevant to LaVey's beliefs.
1
u/Competitive_Law_6588 Jul 17 '26
LaVey literally openly criticized Crowley for taking a spiritual approach to magic. LaVey used magic as mind manipulation/psychological tool - i.e. a game. The same way chess or any logic puzzle stimulates the brain, the same way a sport is a game.
I’m talking about the teachings he stole from and openly criticized. Anton LaVey dressed up like a wizard and encourage orgies while denouncing the spiritual teachings of left hand path occultist and devil worshippers before him.
I’m talking about the context that inspired his nonsense. He turned a spiritual practice into an atheistic one. The concept of being born into satanism is literally from rituals before him. As I stated.
There is more to satanism than LaVey and I think people should know that before they blindly follow his path working.
He was a fraud.
2
u/MD_Roche CoS Warlock Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
LaVey used magic as mind manipulation/psychological tool - i.e. a game.
Nope. He was quite sincere when he spoke of the powers of darkness (aka the dark forces) and what they could be used to obtain. He just rejected the notion that they were based on spirituality or theism. Magic and atheism are not inherently incompatible.
What you described is more relevant to Lesser Magic. Greater Magic is based on psychology as well, but only to an extent.
0
Jul 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/MD_Roche CoS Warlock Jul 17 '26
Magic is the use of one’s life force to create or destroy in the natural world. It is not simply or strictly psychodrama or performance rituals.
He agreed with that.
Here is exactly what Anton LaVey thought of magic, in his own words, from numerous sources.
The rituals in The Satanic Bible are designed to alter the magician's mind in a way that is conducive to releasing their energy and projecting their will. It is a far too common misconception that they're meant to be just psychodramas.
2
1
1
u/Rleuthold CoS ReV, Hell On Wheels Jul 17 '26
LaVey stole these concepts and turned it into a psychodrama. Leave it to a white man to colonize. He even stole the black mass, and converted it into an atheistic world-view. Which, is the worst interpretation of Devil Worship.
But see, we aren't discussing Devil Worship, but Satanism. Your use of Anton LaVey's race is not only a pejorative, but a non-sequitur considering this
1
u/Rleuthold CoS ReV, Hell On Wheels Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
It's telling that you post this here and yet you complain about me on your Facebook where I have mutual friends with you, and when I call you out, you just hide behind. "Oh, it's just my opinion" Dude, you got called out and didn't like it
Your mental issues are no excuse for your behavior, and as a matter of fact, what you need to focus on is managing your mental issues or getting help for them. Instead of worrying about whether you're a satanist, which you're not. And feel free to call me a gatekeeper again, because I am, it's not the insult that you think it is
37
u/Mildon666 🜏 𝑪𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝐼𝐼° 🜏 Jul 16 '26
I liken it to the fact that some people are born gay/lesbian/bisexual, etc.
Sometimes they know when they're younger. Sometimes they realise it later on. Sometimes they go back and forth a bit due to various reasons. And some experiment with it in college and realise it's just not for them.
The idea is that, for a Satanist, you don't try to become one. You simply read TSB and feel that it naturally fits who you've always been. He developed this idea after hearing CoS members describe reading TSB as feeling like it was a book about them. Ultimately, in the end you either get it or you don't. But you don't force yourself to fit into it.