I had an innocent interaction today that led me down a deeper path of thought and reflection. I am concerned some of my comments during live streams may have been taken out of context, or delivered by myself in a less than concise manner. So as a point of clarity, please indulge this reply to an individual who was simply sharing a personal project and had no ill intent in said sharing but which struck my need to clarify a point that I am afraid too many Satanists give credence to and too many detractors use as a badge of authority.
The meeting or knowing of Anton Szandor LaVey.
Here was my reply:
I want to be absolutely clear about this:
There is no team anything. For me, there is Satanism and not Satanism. Occult-y clap trap is fun, but just as made up as Thundercats. I do not cater to or tolerate those who collaborate with or speak out against the CoS like Aquino has.
There is nothing sacred about having associated with Anton LaVey. It doesn’t make one interesting, valuable or genuine. Simply having met the man, though it means something to the individual, means less than shit to me, who as a Satanist, champions ones own real world success, not the pressing of flesh to those who have done something.
There is nothing intrinsically interesting or valuable about someone who at one time knew someone else, in any context. Moreover, simply having known someone of substance does not make one substantive, and having a fallout with that individual of substance does not make one daring, equal in stature or worthy of note of any kind.
To that end, I am not interested in now, and never will be interested in any detractors point of view, works or expressions of any kind. There are no teams. There is Satanism and there is not. There is the CoS which defined and codified Satanism, and there is not. There is Anton LaVey, the founder of the CoS and the creator of Satanism and there are his fanboys, sycophants, and detractors.
I don’t mean to be a dick about it, but I draw a clear line on this issue. No teams, just reality and fantasy.
I am a Satanist. I am in the Priesthood of Mendes. I champion study over worship and this extends to my religion. As a human being, I may be less than enthusiastic with individuals that share my religious affiliation or their ideals, but I will always side with them over the detractor, as we have a common bond… Satanism. It’s purity in message and complexity in practice is unparalleled in that which it demands of it’s acolytes. I know of no other religion that demands ones action over adherence, or their individual success over herd conformity.
I will always be critical of others. I will always judge, Satanists and non Satanists alike, but I will not tolerate the detractor. Simply put, because they are shouting down the very black flame that is within me. Their assault on Satanism or the Church of Satan is literally an assault on me, and I would remind you all of The Book of Satan, chapter III, paragraph 7:
Hate your enemies with a whole heart, and if a man smite you on one cheek, SMASH him on the other!; smite him hip and thigh, for self-preservation is the highest law!