Every sect has a worldview that stabilizes its position and justifies its followers. The anti-religious and violent sect of Satanism is no exception to this rule and has its own worldview and ideology. Based on various studies, this sect can be divided into four categories in terms of ideology, which should be understood as a classification of modern Satanism. Most of these divisions emerged after the 16th century, a time when modern Satanism began to take shape. Consequently, some contemporary writers have categorized modern Satanism into four ideological categories.
1. Philosophical Satanism
This branch of Satanism is attributed to “Antoine Shandor Lavey,” the author of The Satanic Bible (1969) and the founder of the Church of Satan (1966). More explanations about the Satanic gospel and the Church of Satan will follow. Based on the research, this organization is the first to use the term “philosophical Satanism.”
From the perspective of this group, man is the center of the universe. Therefore, the superiority of each individual over others is seen as a condition for personal salvation. This group does not believe in any deity and considers each person to be their own god. For them, life is limited to this world, and they do not believe in an afterlife. Additionally, they hold that those who identify with Satanism should not be loyal to any particular group or accept moral standards set by others. Instead, they advocate for individualism, emphasizing that they should always strive to be superior to those who consider themselves morally strong or engage in philanthropy without deeper consideration.
Today, philosophical Satanism is more visible under the broader category of Satanism, which is associated with the leadership of Anton LaVey. This group believes that a creature known as the devil does not exist externally or objectively; rather, the devil is viewed as a symbol of human ambition, desires, and hedonism. In essence, humanity is seen as the only existential axis, with no higher being above it.
2. LaVey’s Satanism
This type of Satanism was developed by Michael Aquino, a member of the U.S. Army and the CIA, based on the philosophy of Anton LaVey. Aquino founded the Temple of Set in San Francisco, presenting a different view on the existence of Satan compared to LaVey. Unlike LaVey, Michael Aquino believed in the external existence of the devil and his immense power in controlling the universe. Aquino essentially distanced his philosophy from LaVey’s, emphasizing Satan’s domination of existence and establishing the Temple of Set in opposition to LaVey’s Church of Satan.
Some contemporary researchers consider this branch of Satanism to be a sub-category of LaVey’s philosophy; however, the beliefs of the Temple of Set align more closely with philosophical Satanism, as both deny the external existence of Satan, defining it instead as a symbol of self-worship.
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