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and toward human potential institutions like the Church of Satan.

The philosophy of modern Satanism is most clearly articulated in Anton LaVey's tract, The Satanic Bible, and is condensed in the creed of the Nine Satanic Statements:

1. Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence!

2. Satan represents vital existence, instead of spiritual pipe dreams!

3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom, instead of hypocritical self-deceit!

4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates!

5. Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek!

6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible, instead of concern for psychic vampires!

7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his "divine spiritual and intellectual development", has become the most vicious animal of all!

8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!

9. Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years!

The Satanic Bible is divided into 4 chapters: The Book of Satan (FIRE), a succinct rejection of principles of the Christian Church in favour of self-determination and self-worship; The Book of Lucifer (AIR), a philosophical treatise on rational hedonism which further explains the Nine Satanic Statements; The Book of Belial (EARTH), a discussion of Satanic methods of ritual magic; and The Book of Leviathan (WATER), a compendium of magic rituals designed to invoke specific results.

The essential philosophy of Satanism is that, instead of abdicating your moral choice to imaginary Gods and institutions that promote the destruction of the self, it is better for individuals to rationally pursue their own interests. All Gods are invented by man; therefore, you can literally become a 'God' on Earth if you will it to be so, instead of being a slave to a God created by someone else who wants to control your thoughts and actions. The organization takes the form of a religion, rather than simply a philosophical organization, due to the reality of mystery in the universe and man's need for ritual, pageantry, and psychodrama to connect him with that mystery. LaVey recognized the existence of a 'dark force' in the universe which he felt was unexplained by either modern science or by ancient religion, which he chose to call Satan. Satan is the Universal Life Force, the

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