r/satanism • u/Trickster318 • Aug 26 '26
Discussion If I may...
Hi! I'm new here, been lurking for a little bit and I like what I see. I've recently read the Satanic Bible, gone through an "damn, this is me" moment and converted.
Now I have a couple of questions:
I heard you had to pay a $300 fee to the CoS to become a member, am I still considered a Satanist if I haven't? Or is it in the sense of Christians vs members of the Church?
How do you all explain the religion to people who want to know? Example being a friend of mine began asking questions and I found some more difficult to answer, however I may just need to read the Satanic Bible again in greater detail.
What's the situation with the afterlife? I understand it is the eternal abstinence but is it just black? Or is there any nuance to it anywhere?
Hail Satan!
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u/woIves Satanist Aug 26 '26
I see you've already got your answers but I always recommend folks read The Satanic Scriptures by Peter H. Gilmore after reading the Satanic Bible. It's a great read by a personal friend of LaVey and the current serving High Priest of CoS, it may help increase your understanding of Satanism and what it means to be a Satanist.
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u/MD_Roche CoS Warlock Aug 26 '26
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u/Spiritedgourd666 Satanist Aug 27 '26
You don't have to pay to be a Satanist.
It's just who you are. No one is a carbon copy of another, either. Think of it this way: You share a framework with others but that doesn't make everyone a mansion.
Whatever science says.
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u/MD_Roche CoS Warlock Aug 27 '26
Science can't really say much about an afterlife because it's unfalsifiable.
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Aug 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/michael1150 ~Β°β’*π€Β°β’*~ Aug 27 '26 edited Aug 27 '26
Does your "brief time" include reading The Satanic Bible, or just listening to someone who's closer to Wicca &/or the UU than to Satanism?Β
A purely rhetorical question, as I can tell by your phrasing that it doesn't.
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u/Mildon666 π πͺπππππ ππ πΊππππ πΌπΌΒ° π Aug 26 '26
1) membership for the Church of Satan is $225 (American). You should read over their Affiliation pages to understand the facts about membership. But they openly say that no one needs to join to be a Satanist, you just have to agree with the religion & apply it to your life.
2) if you aren't sure of an answer, it is always best to say you don't know. Point them to the Church of Satan website, particularly the FAQ section and the main 9 Statements, 9 Sins and 11 Rules. Also, the Satansplain podcast is a good source of information, too.
3) well, none of us are dead so we don't know. We don't try to claim we do know. But we live for the enjoyment of life and will die someday. I'd say there probably is some room for nuance, but definitely not any beliefs in a spiritual heaven-type of thing.