The Invention of Satanism

by Asbjorn Dyrendal, James R. Lewis, Jesper Aa. Petersen

Satanism is a complex phenomenon that has often been the source of controversy across social and rhetorical contexts. Some consider it the root of all evil. Others see it as a childish form of rebellion or as a misapplication of serious esoteric beliefs and practices. Still others consider it a specific religion or philosophy that serves as a form of personal and collective identity. In The Invention of Satanism , three experts explore Satanism as a contemporary movement that is in continuous dialogue with popular culture, and which provides a breeding ground for other new religious movements.

By shifting the focus from mythology to meaning-making, this book examines the invention of Satanism among self-declared religious Satanists. Like all ideologists and believers, Satanists incorporate, borrow, and modify elements from other traditions; the authors investigate how traditional folklore and prior strands of occultism were synthesized by Anton LaVey in his founding of the Church of Satan and creation of the Satanic Bible. Later chapters discuss contemporary Satanist subcultures, demonstrating how Satanism continues to reinvent itself despite its brief history as an organized phenomenon. There are now numerous forms of Satanism with distinctive interpretations of what being a Satanist entails, with some of these new versions deviating more from the historical "mainstream" than others. In this fascinating account of a seemingly arcane and often-feared movement, Dyrendal, Lewis, and Petersen demonstrate that the invention of Satanism is an ongoing, ever-evolving process.

Genres: Satanism, Religion, Nonfiction, History, Occult, Philosophy

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, thorough, and refreshingly objective study. The research and survey presentation in the final chapters may read a little dry to some, but still a great read.

[ouliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

i wish they taught this in schools

[Emma Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the sweeping title, The Invention of Satanism (2016) provides a deep investigation into only a limited area of Satanism. The book touches briefly upon premodern and early modern beliefs about fallen angels, demons, and witchcraft, but moves rapidly into the 20th century. The best, most rigorous chapters are about Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan, including a history of the development of the Church and a close reading of the Satanic Bible that does not shy away from the misogynistic, dilettantish aspects of the movement. The second half of the book is dominated by surveys of self-reported Satanists, including basic demographic information as well as questions about their introduction to Satanism, moral and social beliefs, conception of Satan, etc. A good deal of the survey data comes from the late 1990s and early 2000s, before the ubiquity of the internet, and should thus be taken with a decent helping of salt. If you’re looking for a quick, honest introduction to Satanism and to LaVey’s brand of it in particular, this book is a good choice. However, if you’re more interested in an in-depth look at the pre-LaVey strains of Satanism, the Satanic Panic, or more modern movements like the Satanic Temple, it might be a good idea to look elsewhere.

[Stephen Buchanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating historical look at Satanism, both as it was defined by Anton LaVey's The Satanic Bible as well as the satanic panic of the 80s. The book also delves into the literary and philosophical influences of LaVey's Satanism as well as the personal history of the internal author.

The latter portion is a bit more dry, presenting the results of surveys and data collected to gain a better understanding of current satanists. There are interesting data points but overall the read became more academic towards the end.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a terrible book, and here’s why: 3 authors writing what reads like 3 unrelated books forced between its covers. The first third (* star) is practically unreadable clunky academic history in awkwardly-rendered English, with no narrative flow. The 2nd third (***) is the best narrative section that discusses the cultural milieu of post-1960s CoS satanism, the 1980s satanic panic, and so forth. The last third (**) summarizes and extrapolates 3 surveys of self-selecting self-identifying ‘satanists’ from NEW ZEALAND making no reference to the other sections of the book. Thus, 3 books in 1, like an unholy trinity…..

[Minister Jane Trivigno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful and informative insight, this scholarly work of religious studies examines the history and beliefs of Satanism right before The Satanic Temple really started to publicly rock the boat of the Satanic Community

[Reader]

I want to know about this satanism.