What Is Satanism? A Complete Guide to Types, Beliefs & History
Satanism is not a single religion but an umbrella term encompassing diverse philosophies, spiritual practices, and organizations that use Satan — either as a symbol or deity — as a central figure.
The word "Satanism" evokes strong reactions, but the reality is far more nuanced than popular culture suggests. Modern Satanism is primarily a 20th-century phenomenon, born with Anton LaVey's Church of Satan in 1966, though it draws on centuries of literary, philosophical, and religious sources. This guide explains what Satanism is, the different types of Satanism, their core beliefs and practices, and answers the most common questions.
The Two Main Types of Satanism
Atheistic (Symbolic) Satanism
Views Satan as a powerful symbol representing individualism, rebellion against arbitrary authority, critical thinking, and human nature. Practitioners do not believe in any literal supernatural beings. Major organizations include the Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple.
Theistic (Spiritual) Satanism
Involves actual veneration or worship of Satan as a spiritual entity or deity. Beliefs vary widely — some view Satan as a fallen angel, others as a pre-Christian god, and others as a cosmic force. Practices range from formal ritual to personal devotion.
Key Facts About Satanism
Not "devil worship" as popularly imagined: Most Satanists do not believe in the Christian devil or engage in the activities depicted in horror films.
No criminal element: Legitimate Satanic organizations explicitly condemn illegal activity, abuse, and harm to others.
Philosophical diversity: Satanists range from strict materialists to spiritual practitioners, from libertarians to social activists.
Legal religions: Major Satanic organizations hold tax-exempt religious status in the United States.
Primarily a modern movement: Organized Satanism began in 1966, though cultural and philosophical roots go back centuries.
History of Satanism: From Medieval Accusations to Modern Religion
How Satanism developed from ancient fear to a recognized modern religion
Satan in Christian Theology
Satan becomes established in Christian communities as a rebellious angel and chief of demons. The concept of an adversarial figure opposing God develops from earlier Jewish traditions.
Medieval Accusations of Satanic Worship
Christians begin accusing heretical sects (Cathars, Waldensians, Bogomils) and Jews of deliberately worshipping Satan. These accusations served political and religious persecution — not evidence of actual practice.
Knights Templar Trials
The Templars are accused of worshipping "Baphomet" and engaging in Satanic rituals. Modern scholars consider these charges politically motivated fabrications by Philip IV of France.
Birth of the Witch Stereotype
In the western Alps, various ideas coalesce into the unified image of the Satanic witch — one who makes pacts with demons, attends sabbaths, and commits infanticide. This stereotype spreads via the printing press.
Malleus Maleficarum Published
German inquisitors Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger publish the "Hammer of Witches," establishing that all sorcery stems from Satan. This manual justifies systematic torture and execution of accused witches.
European Witch Trials
An estimated 40,000–60,000 people are executed for witchcraft across Europe. Approximately 100,000 are tried, with the majority being women. The Salem Witch Trials (1692) are part of this broader pattern.
Éliphas Lévi's Baphomet
French occultist Éliphas Lévi publishes his famous illustration of Baphomet as an androgynous, goat-headed figure representing the union of opposites — not as a devil, but as a symbol of esoteric knowledge and balance.
Church of Satan Founded — Birth of Modern Satanism
Anton Szandor LaVey founds the Church of Satan in San Francisco on Walpurgisnacht, declaring Year One of the Satanic Era. He presents Satan as a symbol of individualism rather than a deity — establishing the first organized modern Satanic religion.
The Satanic Bible Published
LaVey publishes The Satanic Bible, codifying his philosophy of rational self-interest, individualism, and rejection of conventional morality. It becomes the foundational text of modern atheistic Satanism and remains the most widely read Satanic text.
Temple of Set Founded
Michael Aquino, a U.S. Army intelligence officer and former Church of Satan priest, leaves over disagreements about commercialization. He founds the Temple of Set with a theistic orientation, centered on the Egyptian god Set.
The Satanic Panic
A moral panic sweeps the United States with widespread false accusations of Satanic ritual abuse. The McMartin preschool trial (1983–1990) — the longest and most expensive U.S. criminal trial — ends with no convictions. Suggestive interviewing techniques were shown to have implanted false memories in children. The panic has been thoroughly debunked.
The Satanic Temple Founded
Lucien Greaves and Malcolm Jarry found The Satanic Temple in Salem, Massachusetts. Unlike the Church of Satan, TST emphasizes political activism, compassion, and religious equality while maintaining a non-theistic stance. It grows into the most publicly visible Satanic organization of the 21st century.
Present
Satanism Today
Satanism continues to evolve with diverse organizations, online communities, and philosophical movements. Legal recognition, religious equality cases, and cultural visibility have increased significantly. Satanic organizations now operate chapters worldwide.
Types of Satanism: All Branches & Traditions Explained
A guide to every major Satanic organization and tradition
Atheistic / Symbolic Satanism
Church of Satan — LaVeyan Satanism
Founded · San Francisco, California · Atheistic
The Church of Satan was founded by Anton Szandor LaVey (born Howard Stanton Levey, 1930–1997) on Walpurgisnacht 1966, marking the beginning of organized modern Satanism. LaVey, a former carnival worker and occultist, drew from Ayn Rand's objectivism, Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy, and ritual magic traditions to create a coherent Satanic philosophy.
LaVeyan Satanism presents Satan not as a supernatural being but as a symbol of self-assertion, vital existence, undefiled wisdom, and rebellion against herd conformity. The philosophy emphasizes rational self-interest, stratification based on merit, and the rejection of conventional morality.
Key texts: The Satanic Bible (1969), The Satanic Rituals (1972), The Satanic Witch (1971). Ritual is understood as psychodrama — a tool for emotional catharsis rather than supernatural invocation.
After LaVey's death in 1997, leadership passed to Blanche Barton, then to Peter H. Gilmore (current High Priest). The organization maintains a hierarchical degree structure but does not operate local chapters.
Founded · Salem, Massachusetts · Atheistic / Activist
The Satanic Temple was founded by Lucien Greaves and Malcolm Jarry as a non-theistic religious and activist organization. Unlike the Church of Satan, TST emphasizes political engagement, community building, and advocacy for religious equality and separation of church and state.
TST's Seven Fundamental Tenets serve as ethical guidelines emphasizing compassion, justice, bodily autonomy, respect for freedom, scientific understanding, acknowledgment of fallibility, and noble action. These contrast sharply with LaVeyan Social Darwinism.
The organization has gained national prominence through high-profile campaigns: installing Baphomet monuments to challenge religious displays on public property, establishing After School Satan clubs, and pursuing reproductive rights cases under religious freedom protections. TST holds IRS tax-exempt church status.
Karla LaVey, Anton LaVey's daughter, founded the First Satanic Church in 1999 following her father's death and disputes over Church of Satan leadership. It preserves original pre-1975 LaVeyan teachings with an accessible organizational structure emphasizing individualism and self-empowerment.
Modern tradition · Theistic with esoteric influences
The Satanic Church bridges atheistic and theistic practice. While sharing an emphasis on individualism and ritual, it incorporates genuine belief in Satan as an actual spiritual entity worthy of veneration. Rituals draw on esoteric traditions emphasizing personal transformation and acausal theory without extremist or illegal elements.
Traditional theistic Satanism encompasses diverse individuals and groups who worship Satan as a literal deity. Practices and beliefs vary widely — some view Satan as a fallen angel, others as a pre-Christian god, and others as a primordial force.
Major variations include:
Demonolatry: Working with demons as teachers, guides, and spiritual allies
Gnostic Satanism: Satan as liberator from the Demiurge (the flawed creator god of Gnostic tradition)
Polytheistic Satanism: Satan as one deity among many in a personal pantheon
This tradition is highly decentralized with no central authority. Many practitioners are solitary.
Luciferianism
Varied traditions · Can be theistic or atheistic
Luciferianism centers on Lucifer as a symbol or deity of enlightenment, knowledge, and liberation. It is distinguished from Satanism by emphasizing light, wisdom, and self-deification rather than darkness or transgression.
Michael W. Ford, beginning in 1999, developed modern Luciferianism through over 27 books. His system rests on the Four Pillars (Balance, Power, Strength, Wisdom) and the Triad of the Morning Star (Liberation, Illumination, Apotheosis).
Key concepts include Samael (masculine principle of self-determined change) and Lilith (feminine principle of intuitive power). The philosophy emphasizes individualism, self-accountability, and pragmatic personal empowerment.
Temple of Set
Founded · San Francisco · Theistic / Esoteric
The Temple of Set was founded by Michael Aquino (1946–2019), a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who had been a Church of Satan priest since 1969. He departed over disagreements about commercialization and LaVey's atheistic stance.
The central concept is Xeper (Egyptian: "to come into being") — a philosophy of continuous self-transformation and conscious evolution through Black Magic, aiming for immortal consciousness. Set is understood as a distinct pre-Christian Egyptian deity, not merely a symbol.
The Temple maintains a formal degree system (Setian I through VI) and emphasizes intellectual rigor over mass appeal. Setians generally distinguish themselves from Satanists.
Warning: The following groups have been associated with criminal activity, extremism, or harmful ideologies. This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement.
Order of Nine Angles (O9A / ONA)
Emerged late 1960s–1970s · United Kingdom · Extremist
The Order of Nine Angles emerged in the UK under figures including "Anton Long" (likely a pseudonym for David Myatt, a neo-Nazi activist). O9A promotes a syncretistic ideology blending Satanism, neo-Nazi beliefs, and occultism, and has promoted violence including human sacrifice.
Legal Status: Multiple subgroups have been banned as terrorist organizations in the UK. U.S. prosecutors have labeled it an "occult-based neo-Nazi extremist group." Linked to multiple terrorism convictions. It is explicitly rejected by all mainstream Satanic organizations.
Joy of Satan Ministries
Founded early 2000s · Online · Neo-Nazi / Theistic
Joy of Satan Ministries promotes "Spiritual Satanism" incorporating antisemitic conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial. It has been widely criticized for using Satanism to recruit into white supremacist ideology. It is explicitly rejected by mainstream Satanist organizations and bears no resemblance to legitimate Satanic practice.
Satanism Beliefs, Tenets & Philosophy
Core principles and philosophical teachings across Satanic traditions
LaVeyan Satanism Philosophy — The Nine Satanic Statements
Anton LaVey's Satanic philosophy is codified in several key texts. The Nine Satanic Statements articulate the core beliefs:
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 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.
The Satanic Temple — Seven Fundamental Tenets
The Satanic Temple's beliefs are guided by seven tenets that emphasize compassion, justice, and rational thinking:
One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason.
The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.
One's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone.
The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one's own.
Beliefs should conform to one's best scientific understanding of the world. One should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit one's beliefs.
People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one's best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused.
Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.
Common Satanic Philosophy: Shared Themes
Individualism: Most Satanic philosophies emphasize the sovereignty of the individual over herd mentality and mob conformity.
Self-empowerment: Taking responsibility for one's own life and development, rather than deferring to external authority.
Skepticism: Questioning authority, tradition, and received wisdom — a core satanic teaching across traditions.
Carnality: Acceptance of human nature and physical existence rather than denial or shame.
Anti-dogmatism: Rejection of blind faith and unquestioned obedience.
Theistic Satanist Beliefs
Theistic Satanists hold diverse beliefs about Satan's nature:
Fallen Angel: Satan as a rebellious angel who chose independence from the Abrahamic God.
Pre-Christian Deity: Satan as an ancient god (often identified with Set, Enki, or other deities) demonized by Christianity.
Cosmic Force: Satan as an impersonal force representing chaos, individuation, or transformation.
Gnostic Liberator: Satan as the bringer of knowledge who freed humanity from a flawed creator god (Demiurge).
Satanic Rituals & Practices: What Satanists Actually Do
Ceremonial and devotional practices across Satanic traditions
LaVeyan Ritual Practice
In LaVeyan Satanism, ritual is understood as psychodrama — a theatrical performance designed to produce psychological and emotional effects rather than supernatural results.
Greater Magic: Formal ritual performed in a ceremonial setting, using specific tools, invocations, and symbolism to focus will and emotion toward a goal.
Lesser Magic: Manipulation and psychology applied in everyday life — the art of influence, seduction, and getting what you want through understanding human nature.
The Black Mass, as practiced in the Church of Satan, is a blasphemous psychodrama mocking Christian ritual, often featuring a nude woman as the altar. It serves as catharsis and rebellion rather than worship of any supernatural being.
Theistic Satanic Practices
Theistic Satanists engage in genuine devotional practices directed toward Satan as a spiritual entity:
Invocation: Calling upon Satan or demons to be present during ritual.
Evocation: Summoning entities to manifest externally.
Meditation: Contemplative practices to commune with Satan or develop spiritual abilities.
Pact-making: Formal dedication or agreement with Satan, often written and signed.
Temple of Set — Setian Practice
Setian practice centers on Black Magic as a tool for Xeper (self-becoming):
Working: Formal ritual operations aimed at self-transformation.
Meditation and Study: Intellectual development through philosophy, history, and magical theory.
Initiation: Progressive advancement through degrees with corresponding tests and transformations.
Luciferian Practice
Modern Luciferianism (per Michael W. Ford) emphasizes:
Self-deification: Rituals aimed at awakening the divine within oneself.
Balance of Forces: Working with both Samael (masculine/active) and Lilith (feminine/intuitive) energies.
Meditation: Techniques for developing will, focus, and spiritual awareness.
Satanic Symbols & Their Meanings
The iconography of Satanic traditions — what each symbol actually means
Sigil of Baphomet
A goat's head inside an inverted pentagram, often surrounded by Hebrew letters spelling "Leviathan." First appeared in this form in Stanislas de Guaita's 1897 La Clef de la Magie Noire. Adopted as the official emblem of the Church of Satan. Represents Satan, the material world, and rejection of spiritual transcendence in favor of carnal existence.
Baphomet
The winged, androgynous, goat-headed figure drawn by Éliphas Lévi in 1856. Originally represented the union of opposites: male/female, mercy/justice, human/animal, spirit/matter. Features include an upright pentagram on the forehead (representing light), arms pointing to white and black moons, and a torch between the horns. Used prominently by The Satanic Temple.
Pentagram
A five-pointed star. Upright, it traditionally represents spirit ruling over the four elements and has been used across many traditions including Christianity. Inverted (two points up), it represents matter over spirit and is associated with Satanism through the Sigil of Baphomet.
Sigil of Lucifer
A geometric symbol featuring a V-shape with an X below it, sometimes within a triangle. Derived from Grimorium Verum (18th century). Used primarily in Luciferianism to represent Lucifer as the light-bearer and symbol of enlightenment and self-knowledge.
Leviathan Cross (Sulfur Symbol)
An alchemical symbol for sulfur: a cross with an infinity symbol at the bottom. Sulfur was associated with fire and brimstone in Christian tradition. In Satanism, it represents the eternal nature of the human soul and connection to the material world.
Inverted Cross
Originally the Cross of St. Peter — Peter requested to be crucified upside-down, feeling unworthy to die as Christ did. In Satanic contexts, it represents rejection of Christianity. However, it remains a legitimate Catholic symbol of humility, predating its Satanic association by centuries.
666 — The Number of the Beast
The "Number of the Beast" from the Book of Revelation (13:18). In Satanism, embraced as a symbol of rebellion against Christian authority. Some scholars argue the original reference was a coded criticism of the Roman Emperor Nero, written in a time of persecution.
Star of Set
A symbol used by the Temple of Set, representing the Egyptian god Set as the isolate intelligence — the source of individual consciousness distinct from the natural order. Emphasizes Set's ancient pre-Christian origins.
Comparison of All Satanic Paths at a Glance
Key differences between every major Satanic tradition
Satanism: May embrace transgression and opposition
Luciferianism: Focuses on illumination and apotheosis
Some practitioners identify with both traditions
Satanism FAQ: Answers to the Most Common Questions
Everything people ask about Satanism — answered honestly and objectively
Do Satanists worship the devil?
Most Satanists do not. The majority of organized Satanism (Church of Satan, The Satanic Temple) is atheistic — practitioners do not believe in any supernatural beings, including Satan. They use Satan as a symbol of individualism, rebellion, and human nature. Only theistic Satanists venerate Satan as an actual spiritual entity, and their beliefs vary widely about his nature.
What are the different types of Satanism?
The main types are: LaVeyan Satanism (Church of Satan, atheistic, founded 1966); Activist Satanism (The Satanic Temple, atheistic, founded 2013); Traditional Theistic Satanism (worship Satan as a literal deity); Luciferianism (centered on enlightenment and self-deification); and Setian philosophy (Temple of Set, centered on the Egyptian god Set). Each has distinct beliefs, practices, and organizational structures.
What are the core beliefs and tenets of Satanism?
Satanic beliefs center on: individualism (sovereignty of the self), self-empowerment, skepticism toward authority and received wisdom, carnality (acceptance of human nature), and rejection of blind dogma. LaVeyan Satanism is codified in the Nine Satanic Statements and Eleven Rules of the Earth. The Satanic Temple follows Seven Fundamental Tenets emphasizing compassion, bodily autonomy, and scientific thinking.
What is the philosophy of Satanism?
Satanism's philosophy prioritizes the individual over the collective, rational self-interest over altruistic self-sacrifice, and critical thinking over blind faith. LaVeyan Satanism draws from Nietzsche and Ayn Rand. The Satanic Temple emphasizes Enlightenment values of compassion, reason, and justice. Theistic traditions incorporate various spiritual and metaphysical philosophies. All emphasize personal responsibility and self-determination.
What are Satanic practices?
Satanic practices depend on the tradition. In atheistic Satanism, rituals are psychodrama — theatrical performances for psychological effect rather than supernatural communication. Theistic Satanists practice genuine devotion: invocation, offerings, meditation, and pact-making. The Satanic Temple holds community rituals and public actions as expressions of shared identity and activism. Many Satanists practice independently without formal affiliation.
How did Satanism start? What is its history?
Organized modern Satanism began on April 30, 1966, when Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan in San Francisco. Cultural roots go deeper: medieval accusations of Satan-worship, 19th-century occultism, and literary Satanism (Milton's Paradise Lost, Byron's romanticism) all contributed. LaVey synthesized these influences into the first coherent Satanic religion. The Satanic Temple emerged in 2013 as the second major organized form.
What is LaVeyan Satanism?
LaVeyan Satanism is the philosophy founded by Anton Szandor LaVey in 1966. It is fully atheistic — Satan is a symbol, not a deity. Core teachings include rational self-interest, individualism, stratification based on merit, and rejection of conventional morality and herd conformity. Its foundational text is The Satanic Bible (1969). Ritual is psychodrama, not supernatural communication. The Church of Satan remains its primary institutional expression.
What is the Church of Satan?
The Church of Satan is the world's first organized Satanic institution, founded by Anton LaVey in San Francisco on April 30, 1966. It is atheistic — Satan is a symbol, not a worshipped deity. It emphasizes individualism and rational self-interest. Its current High Priest is Peter H. Gilmore. The foundational text is The Satanic Bible. It does not have local chapters. Website: churchofsatan.com.
Do Satanists sacrifice animals or humans?
No. Legitimate Satanic organizations explicitly prohibit and condemn any form of animal or human sacrifice. Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible specifically forbids harming animals or children. The Satanic Temple's tenets emphasize compassion toward all creatures. Claims of Satanic sacrifice are rooted in medieval mythology and the debunked Satanic Panic of the 1980s, not reality.
Is Satanism illegal?
No. Satanism is a legally recognized religion in the United States and many other countries. Both the Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple hold IRS tax-exempt status as religious organizations. The Satanic Temple has won religious freedom cases in U.S. courts. Religious freedom protections apply to Satanists as to any other faith.
What is the difference between the Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple?
Both are atheistic, but they differ significantly in philosophy and practice. The Church of Satan (1966) emphasizes individualism, social stratification, rational self-interest, and is apolitical. The Satanic Temple (2013) emphasizes compassion, egalitarianism, and political activism for religious equality. TST has local chapters worldwide; CoS has none. TST explicitly rejects LaVeyan Social Darwinism.
What is the Satanic Panic?
The Satanic Panic was a widespread moral panic primarily in the 1980s–early 1990s involving false accusations of Satanic ritual abuse in daycares. The McMartin preschool trial (1983–1990) — the longest, most expensive U.S. criminal trial — ended with zero convictions. Suggestive interviewing techniques were shown to have implanted false memories in children. The panic has been thoroughly debunked by investigators, scholars, and law enforcement.
What does Baphomet represent?
Baphomet as drawn by Éliphas Lévi in 1856 represents the union of opposites: male and female, mercy and justice, human and animal, spirit and matter. It was not intended as a devil figure but as a symbol of esoteric knowledge and cosmic balance. In modern Satanism it represents rebellion, individuality, and rejection of arbitrary authority. The Satanic Temple uses a version in their famous public monument campaigns.
What is Luciferianism and how is it different from Satanism?
Luciferianism centers on Lucifer as a symbol or deity of enlightenment, wisdom, and liberation rather than darkness or transgression. It differs from Satanism by emphasizing light and spiritual ascent over carnality and rebellion. Modern Luciferianism was significantly developed by Michael W. Ford. It can be atheistic (Lucifer as symbol) or theistic (Lucifer as an actual deity). Some practitioners identify with both Luciferianism and Satanism.
How do I become a Satanist?
There is no single path. The Church of Satan accepts applications with a one-time fee; you can practice the philosophy without formal membership. The Satanic Temple offers free and paid membership with local chapters worldwide. Theistic traditions often involve self-dedication rituals. Many Satanists are solitary practitioners. Start by reading foundational texts like The Satanic Bible (LaVeyan) or exploring TST's Seven Tenets.
Is Satanism related to Wicca or Paganism?
They are distinct traditions. Wicca is a nature-based religion typically involving a God and Goddess; Wiccans explicitly do not worship Satan. Paganism is a broad umbrella for polytheistic and nature-based religions. While some forms of theistic Satanism overlap with Pagan frameworks (viewing Satan as a pre-Christian deity), most Pagans do not identify as Satanists, and vice versa.
Satanism Books, Documentaries & Official Resources
Recommended reading and further study for every level
Primary Satanic Texts
Anton Szandor LaVey — The Satanic Bible (1969) — Foundational text of modern atheistic Satanism
Anton Szandor LaVey — The Satanic Rituals (1972) — Ceremonial practices
Anton Szandor LaVey — The Satanic Witch (1971) — Lesser magic and psychology of influence
Peter H. Gilmore — The Satanic Scriptures (2007) — Essays by the current High Priest of the Church of Satan
Michael Aquino — The Church of Satan — History from a founding member's perspective
Michael W. Ford — The Bible of the Adversary — Modern Luciferianism
Michael W. Ford — Apotheosis: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Luciferianism
Academic Studies on Satanism
Asbjørn Dyrendal, James R. Lewis, Jesper Petersen — The Invention of Satanism (2015)
Massimo Introvigne — Satanism: A Social History (2016) — Comprehensive historical study
Jesper Petersen (ed.) — Contemporary Religious Satanism: A Critical Anthology (2009)
Ruben van Luijk — Children of Lucifer: The Origins of Modern Religious Satanism (2016)
Per Faxneld — Satanic Feminism: Lucifer as the Liberator of Woman in Nineteenth-Century Culture (2017)
Documentaries About Satanism
Hail Satan? (2019) — Documentary about The Satanic Temple and its activism
Satan Wants You (2023) — Documentary about the Satanic Panic
Satanist Community: How to Connect & Find Your Path
Finding connection and like-minded individuals
Joining a Satanic Organization
If you're interested in formal affiliation, major organizations offer different paths:
Church of Satan: Membership requires application and one-time fee. Active participation is not required; many members practice privately. No local chapters.
The Satanic Temple: Offers free basic membership and paid membership with additional benefits. Local congregations exist in many cities for those seeking in-person community.
Temple of Set: Selective membership requiring application, interview, and demonstrated interest. Formal initiation process with advancement through degrees.
Online Satanist Communities
For those preferring online engagement or exploring before committing:
Official forums and social media of major organizations
Discord servers for Satanism and specific organizations
Academic groups studying new religious movements
Solitary Satanic Practice
Many Satanists practice independently without organizational affiliation, which is entirely valid:
Study foundational texts of your chosen tradition
Develop personal ritual practice aligned with your philosophy
Engage with philosophy through reading and reflection
Connect online while maintaining independence
Safety Note: Exercise caution when joining any group. Legitimate organizations do not require illegal activity, sexual favors, large financial contributions, or isolation from family and friends. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts. Avoid the fringe groups mentioned in this guide (O9A, Joy of Satan).
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