Church of Satan Overview

March 17, 2015 · updated February 15, 2022

The Church of Satan was started by Anton LaVey in San Francisco, California on April 30, 1966.

Satanic Beliefs

The Church of Satan neither worships the Judeo-Christian devil nor does it believe in the being's existence. "Satanism" to church members is more like a philosophy than a traditional religion. The following three lists are starting points in understanding the church's belief system.

The Nine Satanic Statements

The Nine Satanic Statements articulate what "Satan" means to the church:

    - Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence. - Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams. - Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit. - Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates. - Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek. - Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires. - Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his "divine spiritual and intellectual development", has become the most vicious animal of all. - Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification. - Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years.