MARAIS 62138014 RST2603
ASSIGNMENT 2 – 26 JULY 2019
“OLD” New Religious movements
Church of Satan
History
The first Church of Satan was on Walpurgisnacht of 1966, the first year of the Age of Satan.
LaVey began performing weekly Satanic rituals and marriages. The church began attracting a
large amount of celebrities. In 1990s remaining members of the Church of Satan made media
appearances to refute allegations of criminal activity. The conspiracies against the church
became known as the "Satanic Panic". After LaVey's death in 1997, The Church of Satan
became increasingly doctrinally rigid and focused on maintaining the purity of LaVeyan
Satanism. The Chruch began to lose membership in the 2000s.
Leadership
The leadership of the church was making up the Nine, the ruling body of the Church of Satan.
The High Priest and Priestess would be the chief of administration and public representation and
would be held by a single individual at a time.
Beliefs
LaVey said that the Chruch did not worship Satan and that the word "Satan" can be translated to
mean "a model or a mode of behavior”. Satanism as the beginning of atheism or the start of the
atheist idea, that there is no God nor Devil. The Church a system of magic known as
psychodramatic catharsis. When one's emotional energy is manifested for a specific purpose and
plays a part of the natural world. LaVey believed that the successful use of magic involved
manipulation of natural forces using their own willpower. The Church of Satan rejects all other
organizations who claim to be Satanic. The "central convictions" documented by of The Church
of Satan are the Nine Satanic Statements, Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth, Nine Satanic Sins,
and Pentagonal Revisionism.
Social Impact
Church of Satan was mentioned in books, magazine and newspaper articles, documentaries and
mentioned in media reports where ex concerns of criminal conspiracies within the Church were
expressed causing the "Satanic Panic". LaVey's daughter Zeena appeared on behalf of LaVay,
he no longer had an interested in making media appearances. Zeena used media to educate the
public about the Church and debunk the mythology around Satanism. Satanism has since been
misrepresented in most media and many see Satanism as the most evil and barbaric religion and
is somewhat a taboo. Many people who are Satanist face discrimination from the social world.
Critical Assessment
The reason for Church of Satan as my Old NRM of choice, is because it is a highly misrepresent
and misunderstood religion.
I JAYDENE MARAIS declare that this is my own, original work and that where I used other information and resources, I
did so in a responsible manner. I did not plagiarise in any way and have referenced and acknowledged any resources that I
consulted and used to complete this portfolio according to the requirements of the Harvard style of referencing. I acknowledge
that I am aware of what plagiarism is, and the consequences thereof. Furthermore, I acknowledge that I am aware of UNISA’s
policy on plagiarism and understand that if there is evidence of plagiarism within this document, UNISA will take action.
ASSIGNMENT 2 – 26 JULY 2019
“OLD” New Religious movements
Church of Satan
History
The first Church of Satan was on Walpurgisnacht of 1966, the first year of the Age of Satan.
LaVey began performing weekly Satanic rituals and marriages. The church began attracting a
large amount of celebrities. In 1990s remaining members of the Church of Satan made media
appearances to refute allegations of criminal activity. The conspiracies against the church
became known as the "Satanic Panic". After LaVey's death in 1997, The Church of Satan
became increasingly doctrinally rigid and focused on maintaining the purity of LaVeyan
Satanism. The Chruch began to lose membership in the 2000s.
Leadership
The leadership of the church was making up the Nine, the ruling body of the Church of Satan.
The High Priest and Priestess would be the chief of administration and public representation and
would be held by a single individual at a time.
Beliefs
LaVey said that the Chruch did not worship Satan and that the word "Satan" can be translated to
mean "a model or a mode of behavior”. Satanism as the beginning of atheism or the start of the
atheist idea, that there is no God nor Devil. The Church a system of magic known as
psychodramatic catharsis. When one's emotional energy is manifested for a specific purpose and
plays a part of the natural world. LaVey believed that the successful use of magic involved
manipulation of natural forces using their own willpower. The Church of Satan rejects all other
organizations who claim to be Satanic. The "central convictions" documented by of The Church
of Satan are the Nine Satanic Statements, Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth, Nine Satanic Sins,
and Pentagonal Revisionism.
Social Impact
Church of Satan was mentioned in books, magazine and newspaper articles, documentaries and
mentioned in media reports where ex concerns of criminal conspiracies within the Church were
expressed causing the "Satanic Panic". LaVey's daughter Zeena appeared on behalf of LaVay,
he no longer had an interested in making media appearances. Zeena used media to educate the
public about the Church and debunk the mythology around Satanism. Satanism has since been
misrepresented in most media and many see Satanism as the most evil and barbaric religion and
is somewhat a taboo. Many people who are Satanist face discrimination from the social world.
Critical Assessment
The reason for Church of Satan as my Old NRM of choice, is because it is a highly misrepresent
and misunderstood religion.
I JAYDENE MARAIS declare that this is my own, original work and that where I used other information and resources, I
did so in a responsible manner. I did not plagiarise in any way and have referenced and acknowledged any resources that I
consulted and used to complete this portfolio according to the requirements of the Harvard style of referencing. I acknowledge
that I am aware of what plagiarism is, and the consequences thereof. Furthermore, I acknowledge that I am aware of UNISA’s
policy on plagiarism and understand that if there is evidence of plagiarism within this document, UNISA will take action.
