Religious Satanism includes traditions that give Satan a central place in religious identity, philosophy, ritual, or devotion. Some understand Satan as a real divine being. Others use the figure symbolically within an atheistic or nontheistic religion. The term describes a field of traditions, rather than one shared creed.
Organizations with different commitments#
The Church of Satan describes an atheistic religion shaped by Anton LaVey. Its public account treats Satan as a positive symbol of individual freedom and pride.[1] The High Satanic Church instead explicitly affirms Satan as real and develops its theology through the language of the Acausal.[2]
The Global Order of Satan offers another nontheistic account, organized around its own published ethical principles.[3] The Satanic Temple likewise has its own institutions and statements. Their use of the same religious name does not make one organization the representative of all the others.
Worship, ritual, and religious identity#
A theistic prayer may address Satan as an independent presence. A nontheistic ritual can employ a similar address for its symbolic or emotional effect. The wording alone may therefore leave the participant's belief unclear. The community's explanation and the practitioner's own account supply the relevant context.
Satanism also differs from accusations of devil worship made against people who never accepted the name. Historical accusations and modern self-identification are different forms of evidence. A useful definition of religious Satanism follows what people profess and practice, while allowing disagreement over what the religion ought to mean.
See also#
References
- Church of Satan, Online Press Kit (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩
- The High Satanic Church, Beliefs (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩
- Global Order of Satan, The Six Pillars (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩