Library

The "Alien Elite" Sheep

Christopher X

"Upon entering the chat room, I was deeply saddened and disgusted. There I witnessed one operative sporting the nick 'Josef Mengele' after the infamous nazi death camp doctor. There were others who spouted thinly veiled Nazi gibberish, using code words like 'Alien Elite' to replace 'Master Race'. They would belittle and intimidate their own members for no reason whatsoever, establishing a superficial pecking order. Free thought Satanism was all but dead (and) I felt determined to revive it."

Lord Egan - First Church of Satan, Salem, Massachusetts

October 31 1998 CE

Many Satanists came to the "faith" to escape from the stifling individualist repression that they suffered in another faith, having not liked being forced into ranks for the sake of acceptance. I sure did, among other reasons. Like most new Satanists, my initial exposure to Satanism was all through the writings of Anton Szandor LaVey (born Howard Stanton Levey) and his Church of Satan. Having had an initial emotional connection with this man, I felt it was only logical that I eventually join his ranks and become one of the privileged few.

However, I was still young and under my parents roof they, being Fundamentalist Christians, wouldn't appreciate their son being involved with any Satanic organization, so I couldn't just yet formally join. I did, however, compensate the best that I could and joined an online group long since dead known as the "United Satanic Front". All in all the experience was good for me, and I was exposed to various types of Satanists. What I found interesting is how cruel they could be to one another, and how unaccepting they would be of someone who’s view of Satanism was not their own - wait a second, wasn't Satanism supposed to be about individuality?

I won't name any names, for compared to many of the CoS lackeys I later ran into, they were perfectly mild nor do I think their "bad" people, just a bit caught up in the post-lavey fascist dogma. About this time the infamous Zeena documents concerning LaVeys fraudulous past came to surface, and the leader of the USF had a nice healthy attitude along the lines of "this doesn't change how I feel, Satanism is about me, what LaVey did is what LaVey did...etc." I must admit, however, that for many Satanists LaVey respect can cross over into LaVey worship, idolizing him and thinking every word he spoke to be gold. I was crossing that very line for a while. I do, however, still respect the man but meeting other Satanists in online chat can make me sick, learning early that only a "LaVeyan" Satanist is the only type of Satanist and to never doubt what he said. What happened to free thought? I never agreed with everything LaVey said, right from the start. Even more so latter when I read "The Devil’s Notebook" and "Satan Speaks!," where he proclaimed a sort of admiration for Adolph Hitler. It made my stomach turn. Lex Talionos was getting to me...I later even read a interview by a known national magazine of a Church of Satan priest and the journalist came to the conclusion that the modern Satanic movement had a lot in common with the Neo-Nazi movement, needless to say I found it revolting that we could even be compared to that. Satanism is supposed to be a constantly evolving religion, yet lately it seems to have stopped abruptly with LaVey's death, like he was the only one furthering it.

It was also around this time that Lord Egan first showed his face and formed the First Church of Satan, taking the churchofsatan.org domain name for his own and thus pissing off the Church of Satan, among other things. I was initially turned off from this organization, as it seemed to focus too much of its time on Anti-LaVey/CoS sentiment, though several USF members up and left for them. It wasn't until fairly recently that I looked into them again, and loved most everything I read...and decided that membership was a must. Egan had a habit of opening his mouth and getting himself into trouble often, but I could respect a guy who played Devil's Advocate and often won, he was damn good at it. (side note - one thing to remember is a bit of history; all the crap the CoS is saying about Egan now was also said about Aquino when he broke off and formed the Temple of Set, nothing new, same identity crisis and propaganda.)

Lord Egan happens to be bi-sexual and currently in a gay relationship, so it figures that the Church of Satan had to lower itself to the "he's a pedophile" bit...sigh, Aquino was similarly charged early on. I've been to their propaganda pages showing pictures of Egan with his lover, and all I saw was two gay consenting men having sex. So he's gay, what of it? Had they shown me pictures of Egan and a five year old boy or what not, that would be different…but this? This is just silly. I don't remember homophobia being a part of Satanism, I thought that was restricted to "lesser" religions ala Christianity...sigh.

Now enters the Church of Satan in its present state. A rotting corpse of its former self, it degenerates into bullying new Satanists and members, kicking out their best and brightest for merely questioning authority or doctrine, revoltingly similar to Christian behavior - "Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions."-Jerry Falwell is strikingly similar to "If people have substantial disagreements with LaVey's work, or wish to promote something else as the basis for Satanism, like the "dark doctrines," then they should not be members and should tender their resignations immediately." - Peter Gilmore, CoS lackey - yikes!

What the hell happened to Satanism? Why has the once great Church of Satan degenerated into a personality-cult? It gets worse folks - check this out: "Anyone who lacks the courage and audacity to stand behind our leaders 100% should leave NOW. Anyone who is interested in debates about moot points should get out NOW. Anyone who doesn’t agree with our goals, our methods and our aims should turn in their cards and get out, NOW. Your blood and soil are being threatened. The honor of the organization you’ve sworn loyalty to is being profaned. People who have betrayed the sacred legacy passed on to us to Anton LaVey [...] There is an inner circle [...] one thing in common: a fanatical dedication to their Church, its leader and its philosophy. Not merely an interest, mind you, but a violent, unwavering, all-consuming love." - Reverend K.S. Anthony, CoS. Chillingly similar to religions we thought we were escaping? As HR Vad, a former priest ordained by LaVey himself only later to have it stripped from him, pointed out in a letter of his, "What is that? This guy may be loyal, but for all the wrong reasons! He’s done nothing but replace "The Church, Jesus and Xtianity" with "The Church of Satan, Anton LaVey and Satanism". Where’s his loyalty to himself?" This is sickingly contrary to what most of us perceive Satanism as being all about.

I’ve long held the belief that those who feel compelled to belittle those perceived as weaker then themselves are merely embellishing a fragile ego, themselves weaker then those they would crush. True power and pride comes from within, not a public show of form. I’d rather focus my energies on growing as a sentient magical creature, focusing on what brings me joy, and exploring new things, sharing experiences with others - not crushing newbies in a chat room like so much rubbish. We all start somewhere, no one is born instantly knowing everything - if someone new to Satanism asks a stupid question, merely look back in memory to yourself when you started out - I too once had some really stupid questions. True, some don’t have a clue from the start - but that’s still no excuse for unprovoked cruelty.

Cruelty begets cruelty, violence begets violence - a life of violence and cruelty is shallow, quite simply. I am not saying that we should become as Christians and help those whom are beyond help for hollow reasons (‘cause the Good Book says so), but rather that Satanism from breaking with the chains of Christianity can help lead one to a more balanced life. It can be extremely gratifying when you help one who is worthy, for we’ve all had times when we had to rely on others. We all have our moments of weakness, and while many of the "helpless" are themselves responsible for their position, not all are. Walking about with an air of superiority certainly doesn’t make you any better then anyone else, nor does how much money you make, or anything material. Happiness itself should be warrant enough.

Ayn Rand, influence for much of modern Satanism and indeed The Satanic Bible, wrote - "I stand here on the summit of the mountain. I lift my head and I spread my arms. This, my body and spirit, this is the end of the quest. I wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning. I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction. It is my eyes which see, and the sight of my eyes grants beauty to the earth. It is my ears which hear, and the hearing of my ears gives it's song to the world. It is my mind which thinks, and the judgment of my mind is the only search-light that can find the truth. It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect. Many words have been granted me, and some are wise, and some are false, but only three are holy: "I will it!" Whatever road I take, the guiding star is within me; the guiding star and the loadstone which point the way. They point in but one direction. They point to me. I know not if this earth on which I stand is the core of the universe or if it is but a speck of dust lost in eternity. I know not and I care not. For I know what happiness is possible to me on earth. And my happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means to an end. It is the end. It is it's own goal. It is it's own purpose. Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their alters."

While Satanism encourages indulgence, it has always does so on the grounds of responsibility. Also, while being caught up in the material world may not itself be "bad", there’s far more to life then that. Spiritual religions are scorned for ignoring the obvious merits of the fleshly life, there’s nothing "sinful" about sex or enjoying good food, for instance, but Satanism can be said to be doing the same damn thing, but in reverse. As Christians became petty for denying their flesh, Satanism had become equally petty for being overtly "materialistic" and "hedonistic". LaVey himself wasn’t a constant party animal, he immersed himself into his interests - he too had a sense of what I’m talking about. There’s something incredibly powerful about the realization of the self, something dare I say can be considered "spiritual."

What the CoS has become is a fascist dogmatic personality-cult who breeds simpletons touting "Lex Talionos!" or "Alien Elite!" - themselves sheep in wolves clothing, little better then those they belittle and scorn - Christians. They both demand blind obedience, demand adherence to their rules, contain unquestionable dogma, and both focus on a dead guy. So much for the religion for "non-joiners."

Sadly, this is exactly the fate that Christianity suffered. Originally Christianity was merely about the message, what mattered wasn’t what was said exactly, or what happened where - but rather what was taught. Christianity was a radical departure from Judaism, anyone could join, and there was no central authority. Judaism, of course, is largely an ethnic religion: you're born into it. Women held equal position as men, and sexually speaking the early Christians were much more liberal minded then their modern descendants. So why did Christianity become this disease that we all hate? Its rather simple, while the Pagans ("Gentiles" in the New Testament, non-Jewish believers) may have been tolerant of others and decentralized, Judaism by its very nature is authoritarian and suspicious of foreign ideas. Christianity itself being a heretical off-shoot of Judaism eventually succumbed to inner pressures, conform to Jewish ideals even while maintaining radically different teachings. In short, you cannot betray your roots. Sadly, Satanism seems to be suffering a similar fate as we speak.

However, we can learn from history, and we don’t have to share this fate. We can simply say "NO!" to authoritarian dogma, recognizing it for the cancer that it is, and reject all chains. The future is in our hands, where will you go with it? A free spirit who questions all things or a sniveling lackey clothed in false feelings of superiority? Ask yourself, which is more Satanic?


Back to Top

CCP -- Christopher Charles Parker