Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
View your shopping cart Shopping Cart | My Account | Help | Become a Fan on Facebook Become a Fan | Follow Us on Twitter Follow Us | Watch Us on YouTube Watch Us | Subscribe to our RSS Feeds Subscribe
Browse ProductsAuthorsArticlesBlogsEncyclopediaNewslettersAffiliate ProgramContact UsBooksellers
Advanced Search
ENCYCLOPEDIA
Glossary
What's New
Most Popular
List of Articles

Email Exclusives
Sign up to receive special offers and promotions from Llewellyn.

Get the Latest Issue of New Worlds

New Worlds October/November/December 2011 (Holiday Gift Guide) Issue

New Worlds Catalog

Download the PDF File version of the latest issue of Llewellyn's New Worlds Catalog


The Llewellyn Encyclopedia

Term: Satanism

DEFINITIONS

Satanism: The worship of Satan. Although there is very little evidence of the existence of Satanism prior to the 17th century, many were accused of it and died because of the accusation. Actual Satanism developed in response to the repressiveness of Christian authorities and frequently simply reversed Christian practices and symbolism with such things as reciting the Lord’s Prayer backwards or spitting on the holy symbol of Christianity, the cross, or Crucifix.

In 1966, Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan to practice his form of Satanism that did not worship Satan at all. Rather, it promotes a philosophy of extreme individualism and can be compared to Objectivism, libertarianism, and Nietzscheism. There are also some other groups practicing Satanism of this kind, the most notable being the Temple of Set. There are some smaller groups based on the writings of devout Christians (criticizing supposed Satanists), the writings of LaVey, novels, comic books, and even fictional movies.

In the late decades of the 20th century, some Christians started seeing “satanic abuse” everywhere, resulting in expensive legal cases, the destruction of families, and the ruination of many lives.


ARTICLES

Witchcraft and Voodoo
Voodoo and Witchcraft are the two most misunderstood religions in the world. Each has a public image and an inner reality. Most frequently that public image has little to do with the private, inner and real religion. Voodoo Voodoo is a mixture of ...
Relevance:  3 % 3%


The Work of the Medsen Fey - the Leaf Doctors of Haiti
Loulou Prince is the medsen fey (leaf doctor/herbalist and shaman) for a Haitian community of around 1,500 people who live in the vicinity of Jacmel, a small town close to the border with the Dominican Republic. In his daily practice, he deals with ...
Relevance:  2 % 2%


Witchcraft: What is it?
Candles gleam. Incense smoke swirls. Robed figures, chanting in a long-dead language, whirl around a rustic wooden table. On it sit sacred images—a robust female wearing a crescent Moon on her forehead, a horned male holding a spear in his upraised ...
Relevance:  2 % 2%



When I first came up with the idea of writing the book Spells for Tough Times, I did so because I knew people out there needed help. They may need help with their finances, they may need help with their families, they may need help with their health; whatever the topic, there are people in this world in need, and it seems we often tend to forget... read this article
A Growing, Ghostly Intimacy
It's Hard to Keep a Good Vampire Down
Astrology on the Cusp
Good Magical Hygiene: Essential Personal Energy Management for The Spiritually Gifted
Put Purpose into Raising Your Frequency

Most recent posts:
Facets of Love
Inspired by the fast-approaching holiday where we all celebrate love in our own way, let's explore another pair of love-related cards. Last week we...

Getting Back on Track
Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Kerri Connor, author of Spells for Tough Times. So it's February. Chances are some of you have...

Stressed? Bubbles to the Rescue!
While rushing through my morning routine I was surprised with a little tid bit on a morning radio show. First, they dangled the carrot: According to...


Calling all gardeners! Do you have gardening tips to share? Do you read Llewellyn's Moon Sign Book? Want to see your gardening tips in print?...



Llewellyn's 2012 Astrological Calendar Llewellyn's 2012 Astrological Calendar
Horoscopes for You Plus an Introduction to Astrology

By: Llewellyn
Price: $13.99 $11.19 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2012 Witches' Calendar Llewellyn's 2012 Witches' Calendar
By: Llewellyn
Price: $13.99 $11.19 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2012 Witches' Datebook Llewellyn's 2012 Witches' Datebook
By: Llewellyn
Price: $10.99 $8.79 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2012 Moon Sign Book Llewellyn's 2012 Moon Sign Book
Conscious Living by the Cycles of the Moon

By: Llewellyn
Price: $10.99 $8.79 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2012 Daily Planetary Guide Llewellyn's 2012 Daily Planetary Guide
Complete Astrology At-A-Glance

By: Llewellyn
Price: $12.99 $10.39 On Sale!