Concerning Satanism

By Don Webb, High Priest Emeritus (1998)

The Temple of Set has begun the process of distancing form the term "Satanism," a cultural fad of the latter part of the Twentieth Century of the Common Era. The usefulness of this particular tool as a means to antinomianism is fading in our post-Christian society, just as it had no meaning in the pre-Christian society where the first explorations of the Setian
path occured.

The tradition of spiritual dissent will not, nor cannot, cease to be a part of the Left Hand Path. We need that first trial of standing up and saying "I am not as you!" Breaking that fetter is the the first Willed piece of friction that is Necessary to annihilate resistance at other levels of being.

The questioning of distancing ourselves from Satanism is not what the profane think of the word. The profane guided by the forces in the human psyche that tend toward naturalization (hatred and ignorance) will manage to hate us quite nicely.

The question is, does the label "Satanist" provide any meaningful form of spiritual dissent? In the Year I, of course it did. In a society polarized between clear culture and counterculture, LaVey's formula provided enough of a challenge to set the individual apart, but not an unsurmountable one. In our postmodern society with a lack of clear ruling paradigms, simple
rebellion is not enough.

The word "Satanism" does not fulfill that function. Firstly, unlike in the Year I, it is now a word of the populace. TV evangelists lead perfectly La Veyan lives (total environments, money from LBM, etc.), and "rebelling" teenagers sport the most hideous "Satanic" T-shirts. "Satanism" is actually one of the ruling paradigms. Secondly, in our postmodern society, the paradigm to revolt against is dependence. The populace looks for a label to do its lobbying through and whine to the rest of the weak world with. Listen to the news -- every interview is filled with, "We, in our group, think . . ." or "I want them to do something about it. . . ." "Satanism" reached its all-time low in an interview with a Texas "grotto" wherein a member whined for the camera, "If they're real Christians they'll leave us alone. All we want is to give our lives to the dark lord." "Satanism" is unfortunately fulfilling La Vey's dream as a symbol for a new identity, a tribalism lead by the few who still preserve a fetish for but not a true sense of self. Thirdly, although "Satanism" provides almost no spiritual friction (afterall, Butthead does it), it can provide an easy target for the brutal in our world. In short "Satanism" isn't an aid to the Initiate -- something much more RADICAL and Independent is called for.

Our distancing needs to be filled with the statement that we are seeking a more radical form of the LHP, that is less bound to current cultural perceptions, and is more in line with a metacultural elitism. We seek to be immortal gods, not junkies who get off on how much they can shock society. La Vey's formula is based on the resistance between the individual and the Here and Now. It is a good formula, and one that any institution serious about furthering the LHP must use as a Gateway for those who, suddenly awakened, must seek it out.

However, "Satanism" is not the exterior model. Rebellion is VERY meaningful when the Two Partners rule the world. Focus and Independence are the antinomian paths of today and are the gateways that attract those who would joins us in ruling the Age. For this, we must, as magicians and philosophers, carefully design our exterior gateways. We choose to attract a leaner, meaner Initiate. Not one who is glad to come to us because we have stepped away from "Satanism" like an old lady avoiding a puddle in the street, but one who fully sees we have gone beyond to a more radical taboo-breaking experiment, whose effects last longer than this life only.

Let us further our rich historical background in studying antinomianism. Let us seek after the tradition of the LHP beyond those found opposing a Judeo-Christian culture (for example, reading Svoboda's Aghora: At the Left Hand of God). The Creation of a newer and more radical Dark is an activity not only for discussion, it is a Mission arsing out of our Bond with Set.

As for those who would dwell under that banner and carp at us in our Change -- let us come to view them as the rich forest loam, and hope that amidst their rot some seeds may sprout to produce new and different schools which, although they may lack our precision, will be lesser gateways for those who would break with the weakness of the world. There will be great rejoicing in their camp, since they will perceive our exit as a victory. Of course for the large part they weren't around when we used the word "Satanist" to provide the friction and strength we need to become the international organization we are today. The sun never rises on the Temple of Set. What that camp knows not, and cannot know, is that by the Power of our Mandate we lay upon them the Curse of Truth; that is to say, the Curse of Not Forgetting, so that they shall come to revalorzie their symbols, and that they too will be drawn toward a better understanding of the Prince of Darkness.

Having strengthened the word "Satanism," we leave it as a runestone to transform those unfit to join us.