The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor Lavey
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Book Reviews of The Satanic Bible
Book Review: Give the Devil his Due (Review!)
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is unexpectedly thought provoking and suprisingly good -- "suprising" to anyone coming to the topic with no prior knowledge of the subject. First point to be made to those wanting to get a preview of the book: This has nothing to do with "worshiping" or some malicious little man in a red suit with horns and a tail; nor is it about "being bad". La Vey's message is rational and compelling. And, to those who would argue that it isn't 'real Satanism' or that he is some kind of phoney because he doesn't advocate killing virgins or molesting children, I would suggest that you have problems more immediate than religious/philosophical concerns you need to deal with before concerning yourself with any of this.
'Satan' is a concept of Judaeo/Christianity symbolizing it's 'Evil' (That Good and Evil are relative terms is the fundamental underlying concept). Therefore REAL Satanism is NOT about absolute contrariness, performing anti-social acts, gratuitous harm inflicting -- and all for absolutely no purpose other than "to be 'Evil'". That is not Satanism -- that is Moron-ism. That is performing actions for no reason which is the the definition of irrational behavior.
As Judao/Christianity is itself an eclectic and often contradictory meandering hodge-podge, with a LONG and winding history (both in its ideological development and in its institutions) -- and as its concept of 'Evil', 'the Devil' etc. is at LEAST as ecclectic, meanderind and complex as it itself -- it is only fitting that LaVey's Satanism takes on the freedom to empoly this ecclecticism in organizing and defining itself. This does not make it "phoney" -- on the contrary, it adds to its legitimacy.
Satanism as the book illustrates, brings religion out of the realm of power-wielding authoritarian institutions, corruption, politics, un-human & un-natural codes of behavior, hypocracy, and in general being a totalitarian-minded BURDEN upon the individual -- to its proper function: being an agent of FULFILLMENT TO THE INDIVIDUAL! Satanism as the LeVey suggests, is all about freedom. Freedom of the individual, and breaking off the chains of an oppressive, and not on the whole beneficial or 'Good' established religious establishment in our society.
As you can see, I was impressed with the book and would recommend it. It takes what is seemingly a non-topic and very compellingly and rationally brings it to life!
If you are a druggie kid who's into killing cats or wants to see what stabbing a person is like and is looking for a book that glorifies his idiocy and pointless behavior, you are not a Satanist: You are a Butt-Head-ist, and you have serious emotional problems. This book will not provide any cofort to you. Similarly if your idea is to "sell your immortal soul" to some little ill-tempered goat-boy with a pitchfork for whatever reason -- you are just wacky.
Book Review: Best "Bible" I have ever read!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Satanic Bible is the best Bible I have ever read! It makes a lot of sense. And it is certainly far far better than any other Bibles and holy books that I have ever read including the Judeo Christian writings both canonical and uncanonical, Hindu writings, the Quaran, Book of Mormon, and the range of Buddhist writings, and modern apocrypha, New Age occult writings. This book has them all beat. Yes, it has some mumbo jumbo towards the back of it. LaVey did believe very much in sorcery and ritual magic. But the book overall is a very logical piece. It is a lot more honest, too. LaVey never pretends to be what he is not. He does not claim to be some prophet of some god that cannot speak for himself/herself/itself ( or even a prophet of Satan), he just speaks for himself, using his own mouth and his own words. He might have been the Devil in a matter of speaking, but he never claimed to be actually the Devil incarnate or his prophet. In every other holy book and occult writing, you have somebody presuming to speak for a god or supreme power (and the god never speaks for him/her/itself). Even Jesus who was supposed to be God as depicted in the New Testament, never has any of his own writings, it is a collection of writings *about* him and what he said by his disciples. That always bothered me about the sacred writings of traditional religions.
A modern example of this same thing is the writings of Jane Roberts Butts, who transcribed writings for an entity named "Seth". Again, this Seth entity never speaks for itself, Jane always spoke for this entity, which though was not a "god" was supposedly some sort of discarnate entity; but you get the idea.
This book blows the lid off all that pretense. Here is a book which while it believes very much in magic also believes in natural law, and affirms the self and the validity of the ego.
I have a lot of respect for that old carney. He was a showman, and he may have fudged some of the details of his life. (What do you expect from a showman?) But he was far more honest than the writers of most of the stuff found on occult bookshelves and in holy books.
Even in the Satanic Bible itself, he clearly states that the book contains both truth and fantasy. How is that for honesty! What book do you know tells you ahead of time that parts of it are illusion or even self imposed delusion?
Well, maybe some truth is fantasy. Or fantasy can sometimes become truth.
Hmm...something to think about.
If the Devil is a liar and the father of lies, he certainly tells a lot of truth. I've come to the conclusion that the real fathers of lies are the founders of the traditional religions and that the god of these traditional religions is the biggest liar of them all.
Book Review: HOW TO INCUR ANTON LAVEY'S (spirit's) WRATH...
Summary: 5 Stars
The Satanic Bible is a remarkably clear, concise, yet complete treatise on contemporary Satanic philosophy and magic. But who the Hell is Peter Gallmore--er, Gilmore??? And why is HIS name on LA VEY'S Satanic Bible when it comes up on Amazon? I'll tell you who he is. He is the usurper of the noble role of High Priest of ANTON LA VEY'S, not Gilmore's OR his benefactor's (Sharon Densley aka Blanche Barton), Church of Satan. According to one of his closest associates, Anton LaVey thought Gilmore was a joke! LaVey was too ill and weak to object during the period when Gilmore insinuated himself into LaVey's last consort's life and, because she was too lazy to do anything with the organization Anton LaVey left when he died, she blithely handed over LaVey's title. By what right does he, who was in grade school when the book was written, attach HIS name to magus La Vey's Satanic Bible?
Perhaps you would like to test some of LaVey's excellent magical principles by projecting the appropriate form of energy toward the audacious Mr. Gilmore. Avail yourself of one of the Enochian Keys at the back of the book to propel your working through the Portal.
If, after reading The Satanic Bible, you wish to enhance the impetus behind your working, do an Amazon search on the name Peter Gilmore, and you'll find he has written NOTHING. Then ask yourself, why does his name follow Anton LaVey's when one searches "Satanic Bible" on Amazon?
If you have any respect for Anton LaVey's legacy, or even if you have only a core sense of justice, DO NOT BUY THIS EDITION! Instead, WRITE TO THE PUBLISHER AND DEMAND THAT THEY TAKE GILMORE'S NAME OFF IT. (At the very least, if you want the Satanic Bible just buy one of the many used copies on Amazon instead of the latest edition.). Peter GALLMORE had absolutely nothing to do with the creation of The Satanic Bible, and judging by the "Peek Inside" offered on Amazon's Product Details, has added nothing (thank Satan for small favors!).
Anton LaVey was a brilliant magician who set in motion one of the most important movements of the last century and created some of the most promethean works extant. Upstart Gilmore is totally devoid of vision and invention. He has created nothing and IS nothing but a shameless coattail rider and opportunist.
FORGETFULNESS, n.
A gift of God bestowed upon debtors in compensation for their destitution of conscience.
- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary, 1881
Book Review: Basically a Book of Common Sense
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite the books title, it's basically a book of common sense for anyone that has ever payed attention to the world around them, or ever spent any significant time around Monotheists or Neo-Pagans to know that they have their collective heads in the clouds.
The first section (The Book of Satan) is basically a reworking of parts from Ragnor Redbeards masterpiece, "Might is Right". However, unlike the Judeo-Christian Bible, Anton LaVey admits that this is a composite piece of an earlier work by someone else. It's styled in the chapter and verse style used in the Bible and pretty much is a pep talk for the next section in the book...The Book of Lucifer.
The Book of Lucifer is a breakdown of what a Satanist would believe if a person was one. It's a logically written piece that presents many devil's advocate senarios to show the ways that natures eternal laws work and how the "other" religions both Monotheistic and Neo-Pagan, are either mislead (Neo-Pagan) or just a bunch of complete nonsense (the Mono's). I found that by the time you finish these two sections of the book, you've pretty much just read the blueprint for your own soul if you're one of the few that are among the living.
Next up is the Book of Belial which breaks down what goes into the workings of a Satanic Ritual and how it plays out as a psycho-drama in the magicians mind to create a desired outcome in the real world. Overall it's a good map to put one in a state of positive thinking about what they want done, and how they are going to make it a reality to enjoy, without the unproven claims of the Mono's that "God is looking out for you", or the silly bantering of the Neo's that there is actually a difference between white and black magick.
Last is the Book of Leviathan which ties all that you learn from the previous three books together to work a successful Satanic Ritual. This is the part of the book where it's either "put up or shut up", you're either a Satanist or your not. Believe me, by the time you finish reading this book, you'll know. The Enochian Keys are also contained within this section but I'll leave it up to the reader to discover what these are for themselves.
Overall, LaVey does a great job of taking the philosophy of "Might is Right" and turning it into a believable religion to enjoy the only life we can prove actually exists...This one.
Buy it.
Book Review: It's a 'devine' classic ^^
Summary: 5 Stars
I've owned this book for 4 years, and I must say it's really turned my life into another direction for where it was headed. LaVey had to courage to collectively compose all the thoughts EVERYONE on this planet have thought at one point or another. The record needs to be set straight: The stereotypical image of "Satanism" is not what this book glorifies. For the most part it condemns it. Those whacko teens who cut up animals and kidnap babies are merely mis-guided drug-junkies who got a little too creative -- they just use the inverted pentagram as propaganda. Satanism is, like mentioned before, a religion in the most 'surface-level' sense. It's more of a lifestyle that can be run entirely in parallel with a fruitful and successful life. You don't need to dawn black garments and paint your face black and live in a cave. I'm a Network Engineer for a international corporation, and have a wonderful relationship with a wonderful girl. Believe it or not, skeptics, I was taught more about 'living life' from this book than any other. The 'Bible', which so many people I know tort day in/day out, seems the polar opposite: 'bearing through life until it ends in hopes that you'll live eternally in paradise'. That's hardly living. "God" is nothing more than a paraphysical avatar of mankind's desire to feel 'protected' and less insignificant. Otherwise why do religions claim other religions are wrong? How do they know one way or another, since their own deity is no more real than the one they say is pure fiction? It just seems to me like you are taking a HUGE gamble by sacrificing the pleasures of life in hopes to earn yourself a ticket to a better place when you die. Christians call this 'faith', I call it 'denial'. Those they call 'Faithless' are really faithful in the places that count. They have faith in their ability to succeed, to take chances in life to make it better for themselves and those they love, and ultimately in the hopes that the precious years we have on this Earth will be lived in our own paradise.
Then they'll ask, "why all the devil references?". Well, what better way to give our fragile subconcious strength to believe the way we want than to manifest our own divine avatar to combat God? We mentally picture it as a source of power, but know full well it's coming from within. After all, we're all human.