The Satanic Bible is a book by Anton LaVey, first published in 1969. It brought together philosophical essays, ritual theory, and ceremonial texts associated with the early Church of Satan. The Church treats it as a foundational expression of LaVey's religion.[1]

Four books within one volume#

The volume is arranged in four parts named after Satan, Lucifer, Belial, and Leviathan. The Church's published history reproduces LaVey's early account of the intended structure: an opening challenge to conventional religion, a statement of Satanic philosophy, an explanation of magic, and a collection of invocations.[1]

The names and elemental associations organize the book's rhetoric. They do not mean that its author worshiped four supernatural beings. The Church's fundamental-beliefs FAQ explicitly gives an atheistic account of Satanism and describes Satan as a symbol of qualities valued by the religion.[2]

Reading the book in context#

The book's ritual language is forceful and theatrical. Its place within LaVeyan Satanism is best understood alongside the author's explanation of emotion, desire, and ceremony. An invocation can use the address and imagery of religious worship while belonging to a symbolic or psychodramatic practice.

Theistic readers have sometimes encountered the book before finding other Satanic traditions. Its prominence does not make it the scripture of every Satanist. The High Satanic Church and other theistic communities publish different accounts of Satan and religious experience. Their doctrines should be cited from their own materials, rather than attributed to this book.

See also#

References

  1. Peggy Nadramia, The History of The Satanic Bible · Institutional history drawing on the book’s development and LaVey’s correspondence. (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩
  2. Church of Satan, Fundamental Beliefs FAQ (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩
satanic biblelaveytextssatanism

This encyclopedia covers traditions beyond the High Satanic Church. Church doctrine is identified as such when it appears.