The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor Lavey

DETAILS : 

• Author : Anton Szandor Lavey
  
• Publisher : Harpercollins Publishers
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• ISBN-10  : 0380015390 
  
• ISBN : 9780380015399
  
• Binding : Paperback
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 200 g 

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Satanic Bible, authored by the countercultural figure Anton Szandor LaVey and published in 1969 by Avon Books, is the foundational, canonical text of modern, institutionalized Satanism. The book serves as the ideological blueprint and liturgical manual for the Church of Satan, which LaVey founded in 1966. It fundamentally shifted the public perception of the word "Satanism" from a historical, supernatural bogeyman into a formalized, atheistic philosophy of individualism and egoism.

The primary objective of the book is to dismantle traditional Judeo-Christian morality, which LaVey viewed as hypocritical, repressive, and physically unnatural. Divided into four distinct, elementally themed books, the text outlines a philosophy deeply influenced by Machiavelli, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Ayn Rand:

• The Book of Satan (Fire): A fierce, poetic polemic that challenges the concepts of altruism, humility, and turning the other cheek, advocating instead for strength, self-assertion, and personal vital existence.
• The Book of Lucifer (Air): The philosophical heart of the volume, which outlines the core tenants of LaVeyan Satanism. Here, Satan is explicitly defined not as a literal, anthropomorphic deity or fallen angel, but as a psychological symbol of the untamed carnal self, intellectual enlightenment, and non-conformity. It introduces the Nine Satanic Statements, which promote indulgence over abstinence and vengeance over forgiveness.
• The Book of Belial (Earth): A pragmatic guide to "Satanic Magic" and psychodrama, exploring how rituals, emotional release, and aesthetic glamour can be used to manipulate one's psychological state and influence human behavior.
• The Book of Leviathan (Water): Contains the actual liturgical text, invocations, and instructions for Satanic rituals, prominently featuring the nineteen Enochian Keys—an occult language adapted from the 16th-century journals of John Dee and Edward Kelley.

Rather than advocating for literal devil worship or criminal malice, the text frames Satanism as a religion of the self. It champions rational self-interest, carnal indulgence within legal bounds, and the absolute sovereignty of the individual, challenging readers to become the "gods" of their own lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anton Szandor LaVey (born Howard Stanton Levey, 1930–1997) was an American author, occultist, musician, and cultural iconoclast who gained global notoriety as the High Priest of the Church of Satan. Over his colorful early life, he claimed to have worked as a carnival lion tamer, a burlesque calliope player, and a photographer for the San Francisco Police Department—experiences that deeply shaped his cynical view of human nature and conventional morality.

LaVey’s authorial style is highly theatrical, provocative, and unapologetically witty. He possessed a keen understanding of media manipulation, utilizing shock value, dark aesthetics, and black velvet robes to capture the imagination of the late-1960s counterculture movement. Through his various writings, including The Satanic Witch and The Satanic Rituals, LaVey established a lasting subculture that continues to influence contemporary discussions surrounding religious freedom, individualism, and secular philosophy.