What do you think?
Rate this book
Satanism: A Reader
Satanism is a current of thought that generates intense feelings. It remains understudied by academics. This selection of key source texts from the period 1841 to 2017 attempts to remedy that gap. Ranging from the esoteric to the anti-clerical, countercultural, and political, the texts span a wide variety of genres, from poetry and polemical religious tracts to ritual instructions and internet FAQ's. All are provided with comprehensive introductions, written by specialists in the field, that offer readers both critical historical context and expert scholarly interpretation.
Chronologically structured, the book can be read as a succinct historical overview of the development of Satanism, with the immediacy that only primary sources can provide. It is ideal for both classroom and research use, as well as a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in the occult, the transgressive, secularization, and the fringes of the religious landscape.
Chronologically structured, the book can be read as a succinct historical overview of the development of Satanism, with the immediacy that only primary sources can provide. It is ideal for both classroom and research use, as well as a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in the occult, the transgressive, secularization, and the fringes of the religious landscape.
- GenresNonfiction
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2023
About the author
Per Faxneld
17 books44 followersPer Faxneld is Swedish Historian of Religion
he holds a ph.d. in History of Religions (obtained in 2014). his field of specialisation is Western esotericism, new religions and "alternative spirituality" (e.g. Satanism, Theosophy, Anthroposophy, New Age, the sacralization of physical excercise, etc), with a particular emphasis on how they are formed in tandem with processes of modernization (especially secularization). he has also worked from a sociological perspective with questions pertainng to strategies of legitimation, religious authority and identity formation. Other interests include religion and popular culture (reflection my background in cinema studies), folk religion (e.g. editing a critical edition of a folkloristic classic), gender issues, globalization and religion and violence. A key theme in his research is the relation between Western esotericism and art/literature.
My doctoral dissertation (Satanic Feminism: Lucifer as the Liberator of Woman in Nineteenth-Century Culture, awarded the Donner Institute Prize for Eminent Research on Religion, and later re-published by Oxford University Press) adresses how anti-clerical feminists – primarily during the time period 1880–1930 – used Satan as a symbol of rejecting the patriarchal traits of Christianity. I emphasized how these women were inspired by the period's most influential new religion, Theosophy, and how the anti-religious discourses of secularism impacted feminism.
he holds a ph.d. in History of Religions (obtained in 2014). his field of specialisation is Western esotericism, new religions and "alternative spirituality" (e.g. Satanism, Theosophy, Anthroposophy, New Age, the sacralization of physical excercise, etc), with a particular emphasis on how they are formed in tandem with processes of modernization (especially secularization). he has also worked from a sociological perspective with questions pertainng to strategies of legitimation, religious authority and identity formation. Other interests include religion and popular culture (reflection my background in cinema studies), folk religion (e.g. editing a critical edition of a folkloristic classic), gender issues, globalization and religion and violence. A key theme in his research is the relation between Western esotericism and art/literature.
My doctoral dissertation (Satanic Feminism: Lucifer as the Liberator of Woman in Nineteenth-Century Culture, awarded the Donner Institute Prize for Eminent Research on Religion, and later re-published by Oxford University Press) adresses how anti-clerical feminists – primarily during the time period 1880–1930 – used Satan as a symbol of rejecting the patriarchal traits of Christianity. I emphasized how these women were inspired by the period's most influential new religion, Theosophy, and how the anti-religious discourses of secularism impacted feminism.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 24, 2024
i’m the first to review this lol. I loved this volume, the book delves into history and the beliefs of various satanic thinkers throughout history, from Eliphas Levi to The Satanic Temple, and does an amazing job. I am left wanting more.
December 24, 2024
I came to this text from the perhaps idiosyncratic position of a Ghost band fanfic writer wanting to make her Satanic librarian OC as convincing as possible, but by the end, I discovered an interest in the subject matter extending beyond my creative writing endeavors, and multiple directions for further reading. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to read a chronology of Satanic thought, written with much-appreciated academic rigor and a levelheadedness that avoids sensationalism without sacrificing engagement with the material.
December 29, 2024
Probablemente el mejor libro que puedas encontrar si deseas una introducción al satanismo y todas sus variantes. Y siendo un tema tan controvertido, la imparcialidad de sus autores es algo que agradecer.
March 19, 2024
Excellent academic resource for those studying occult and esoteric movements as they relate to religious history. The book proceeded chronologically and helps fill in the gaps as to where certain ideas and movements came from, as well as making important distinctions between Satanic or Satanic adjacent movements. If you’re interested in world religions or just want to converse more intelligently in the current religious milieu, I highly recommend this as a helpful resource.
August 15, 2025
Satanism: A Reader gives a short, focused introduction to multiple "satanic" ideers // believesystems from Eliphas Lévi to the modern day.
A book with less than 400 pages will of course not be able to cover everything, but Faxneld and everybody ells in the book have made a great tool for studying 'Satanism' academicly, and creating what will be for many a building block in understanding satan worshippers.
The choices of characters to include is absolutly great, and the throughout research and concise points, make this book a joy to read. There is no bloat!
The preface with zooming in on what a satanist is, is important for understanding what this book will work with, and how it works with those ideers. In my opinion, this is absolutly the right way to study and preview satanic ideers.
Between the different authors and different 'satanist', this book will give you a great, although not full, understanding of the difference between people like Ben Kadosh & LaVey. Absolutly 5/5.
A book with less than 400 pages will of course not be able to cover everything, but Faxneld and everybody ells in the book have made a great tool for studying 'Satanism' academicly, and creating what will be for many a building block in understanding satan worshippers.
The choices of characters to include is absolutly great, and the throughout research and concise points, make this book a joy to read. There is no bloat!
The preface with zooming in on what a satanist is, is important for understanding what this book will work with, and how it works with those ideers. In my opinion, this is absolutly the right way to study and preview satanic ideers.
Between the different authors and different 'satanist', this book will give you a great, although not full, understanding of the difference between people like Ben Kadosh & LaVey. Absolutly 5/5.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews