The Satanic Bible is a controversial and often misunderstood book written by Anton Szandor LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan. First published in 1969, it serves as the foundational text of LaVeyan Satanism, a modern, atheistic religion that uses Satan as a symbol of personal freedom, individualism, and rebellion—not as a literal being.
Who Wrote The Satanic Bible?
Anton LaVey wrote The Satanic Bible as a way to outline the beliefs, rituals, and philosophy of the Church of Satan, which he established in 1966. LaVey combined elements of philosophy, psychology, literature, and ritual to craft a belief system that embraces carnal human nature and opposes traditional religious dogma—especially Christianity.
What Does The Satanic Bible Talk About?
The book is divided into four sections, each named after one of the “Four Crown Princes of Hell” in LaVeyan Satanism: The Book of Satan, The Book of Lucifer, The Book of Belial, and The Book of Leviathan. Here’s what each part covers:
- The Book of Satan rejects traditional religious morality and promotes indulgence instead of abstinence. It calls for people to think for themselves and challenge authority.
- The Book of Lucifer presents the philosophy of Satanism. It includes essays on love, hate, sex, and human nature, emphasizing self-empowerment and logic over superstition.
- The Book of Belial focuses on magic and ritual, describing the use of symbolic ceremonies to release emotions and achieve personal goals.
- The Book of Leviathan includes invocations and ritual language, usually spoken during Satanic ceremonies. It embraces theatricality and emotional release rather than belief in supernatural powers.
What Do The Satanic Verses Talk About?
It’s important to note that The Satanic Verses is not part of The Satanic Bible. The Satanic Verses is a novel by Salman Rushdie, published in 1988, that explores themes of religion, identity, and freedom of expression. It controversially references a disputed Islamic story in which the Prophet Muhammad may have temporarily included verses in the Qur’an that were inspired by Satan. The book caused significant backlash in parts of the Muslim world and has no direct connection to LaVeyan Satanism.
What Does Satanism Believe In?
LaVeyan Satanism—based on The Satanic Bible—is not about devil worship. In fact, LaVeyan Satanists are atheists. They don’t believe in God, Satan, or any other supernatural being. Instead, Satan is used as a symbol of human nature: pride, individualism, and personal empowerment.
Here are a few key beliefs:
- “Indulgence instead of abstinence.” Enjoy life and satisfy your desires, as long as it doesn’t harm others who don’t deserve it.
- “Responsibility to the responsible.” Satanists value personal accountability and justice.
- “Turning the other cheek is for fools.” If someone harms you, it’s okay to defend yourself.
- Rituals are symbolic and used for emotional release, not for summoning spirits or actual magic.
What Is in the Devil’s Bible?
This is another common point of confusion. The term “Devil’s Bible” often refers to the Codex Gigas, a 13th-century medieval manuscript from Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic). The book earned its nickname because it includes a full-page illustration of the Devil, and legend says it was written in one night by a monk with the Devil’s help.
The Codex Gigas contains a mix of religious texts, medical knowledge, and magical formulas—but it’s not related to The Satanic Bible or LaVeyan Satanism.
Final Thoughts
The Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey isn’t about worshiping the Devil—it’s a modern, symbolic philosophy that uses Satan as a metaphor for human nature, freedom, and rebellion against dogmatic authority. It stands in stark contrast to both mainstream religion and pop culture depictions of Satanism.
If you’re curious about individualism, nonconformity, and living life on your own terms, The Satanic Bible offers a bold (and often provocative) perspective.