1. Hi Jeff how have things been during these difficult times
Greetings! Thank you for reaching out, and for asking. I have been well. Despite all the chaos in the world around us, I have been fortunate enough to not be impacted too terribly. There has even been several moments worthy of celebration, though I am still waiting on a refund for a few canceled shows I was planning on attending.
2. Let's start right at the beginning for yourself. What was your motivation to join the Church of Satan compared to joining a mainstream religion like Christianity?
I was raised in a Christian household, but the philosophy just never clicked with me. As I grew, I developed an interest in the occult and started studying everything I could get my hands on. I quickly learned that most of the so-called “alternative” religions out there suffered from the same delusions I saw in mainstream religion, so I started to put together my own, personal philosophy on life. Around the age of 14, I read The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor LaVey and was a bit taken aback. Right before my eyes, in black and white, was the very concept I had been building in my own mind. It was like looking into a mirror of my own thoughts and beliefs, though obviously more refined (I was a teenager, after all). From there I started tracking down everything about Satanism that I could. I ended up stumbling across the Church of Satan and realized it was the same organization that Anton LaVey himself had founded. Then it was merely a waiting game, as the Church of Satan does not accept members under the age of majority. I sent in my membership request on my 18th Birthday and have not looked back since.
3. Like myself you are an Army Veteran but for myself The British Army, what is it like being in the military and being a Satanist. For myself this was something which was not allowed so for me to be practitioner was a No No?
Satanism is a religion which places the individual at the forefront. There is no expectation for a Satanist to do anything that would come unnaturally to them. Satanism is not a cause to rally around, and the philosophy eschews martyrdom. There is no requirement to practice ritual or ceremony, unless doing so would be beneficial to your life. As such, there was no need for me to out myself when I joined the military. I eventually did change my religious preference from “No Religious Preference” to “Church of Satan” after I had been serving for a few years and the open secret was not so secret anymore, but that was my choice.
I find that most of the values of the military are shared by Satanism. Most importantly, the concept of personal responsibility. As you well know, life in the Army can simultaneously be the best and worst experience. During the best times, nothing helped remind me more about how precious life is and why I should live each moment to its fullest, than the experience of combat, and all that entails. During the worst times, the Satanic notion of personal responsibility reminded me that I chose this, and that I was obligated to see it through. What we Satanists call Lesser Magic (wile and guile, or applied psychology) came in handy with my Chain of Command, with locals on the battlefield, and in the bars and clubs after duty hours. I even ended up having the opportunity to advise my unit’s Chaplain on what Satanism is, how it fits with the military, what allowances Satanic soldiers might require, and dispel many myths about the philosophy.
Though I still carry scars (both physical and mental) from those days, I would not trade the experience for anything. I honestly feel that being a Satanist made me a better soldier, and being a soldier made me the man I am today.
4. I have read all the material Anton had released, he was a character before and during his time. How did the church react when he passed away and how do you Celebrate his life these days?
Anton Szandor LaVey certainly had a larger-than-life persona, which was necessary to build what he was building at the time he was building it. The Church of Satan is still around because the religion he codified and defined is so unique and revolutionary.
While I was not a member at the time he died, I know that Magistra Blanche Barton (Anton LaVey’s closest confidant and mother of his son) has written extensively about what she, and the Church of Satan, went through at that time in her books The Secret Life of a Satanist and The Church of Satan. There were of course rumors that the Church of Satan would not survive the death of its founder, but it is important to remember that we are not the Church of Anton LaVey, we are the Church of Satan. I never met the man but based on his writings, I think it is safe to say he felt the same. He even once referred to those who could not separate the Church of Satan from him as “the stuffing in the mattress.” Magistra Barton did an excellent job ensuring that the Church of Satan would not only survive but thrive after the death of Anton LaVey, eventually appointing Magus Peter H. Gilmore and Magistra Peggy Nadramia as the new High Priest and Priestess respectively. They do a massive amount of work to keep the organization running smoothly and preserve the history of the world’s most feared religion.
As far as celebrating Anton LaVey’s life is concerned, there is no organized get-together or ceremony. However, every year on his Birthday (11 April) many of the members who had the opportunity to meet and sit down with him will share photographs and stories of their adventures at The Black House, and the Church of Satan generally posts an article or piece of history to their website and social media pages. I think the best example of celebrating Anton LaVey’s life and legacy is the archival work that Magistra Nadramia is engaged in. She finds some of the most obscure letters and post cards between Anton LaVey and his large network of acquaintances from the early days of the Church of Satan, compiles them, and releases them on a host of media platforms. For example, the Church of Satan recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Satanic Bible and Magistra Nadramia wrote a fantastic piece detailing the ups and downs that Anton LaVey was experiencing at the time. Those interested can find it at: https://www.churchofsatan.com/the-history-of-the-satanic-bible/.
5. I have classed myself a Satanist since I was 13 years old although I'm not a practitioner my belief as always been live life as a beast in the sense of eye for an eye, hunt or be hunted and nature to me is a force. What beliefs do you in the Church live by and is there a strong belief as in you all believe the same?
I think it is important to understand that Satanists are atheists. We do not believe in gods or devils, or even the supernatural for that matter. Satan is an archetype that best embodies what the individual Satanist sees themselves as. Satanism is a purely carnal religion. Humans are animals and a part of nature, nothing we do, or experience is outside of nature. That does not mean that we know or have an explanation for everything. Part of the human experience is exploration and discovery. It also does not mean that everything is wonderful and perfect all the time. Nature is as cruel as it is beautiful.
Without the fear of divine punishment in a nonexistent after life, we are free to define life on our own terms and live it to the fullest, here and now. As Satanists, we place ourselves at the center of our lives, becoming our own gods. We define what is right or wrong for ourselves, and we celebrate life by indulging in whatever desires come naturally to us without unnecessary guilt imposed by a man-made deity and enforced by institutions designed to control us for their benefit, rather than our own.
Since all the emphasis is on the individual in Satanism, the Church of Satan does not have any kind of unifying political ideology, dietary restrictions, dress code, or the like. It is almost impossible to find two Satanists who are exactly alike in any of those categories. What we do have is a vast canon of literature, including the various writings of Anton Szandor LaVey, and four main pieces of dogma:
The Nine Satanic Statements which define what Satan represents in Satanism, and the foundation of the philosophy.
The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth which are guidelines on how best to function in accordance with natural law.
The Nine Satanic Sins which define behaviors that are largely counterproductive to living the best life possible.
And, Pentagonal Revisionism which explains what a Satanic society would look like, and what Satanists are working towards in their own lives.
6. As a member do you stick to the same Grotto or have you travelled and to other Grottos?
The Grotto system was phased out several years ago, as the rise of social media made it unnecessary. It is far easier today to find other Satanists and make plans almost instantaneously, or to virtually converse on any number of private platforms. Since Satanism is not a congregational religion and the Church of Satan is not a community, there is no requirement to ever meet up with other Satanists, or even get along with other Satanists.
That said, I do travel and meet up with other Satanists that I enjoy the company of from time-to-time, and there are some official Church of Satan events (such as The Devil’s Reign art exhibit, or the 50th Anniversary celebration I mentioned earlier). Some events are public, some are members only, but most are organized by individual Satanists as they desire, and no one is expected to attend any function, official or otherwise.
7. Talking about the High Priest Peter H Gilmore and Magistra Blanche Barton, how does the top echelon tour, do they visit other Grottos, or do they conduct their Masses at their Grottos?
Members of the Hierarchy are almost always present at official Church of Satan functions, and occasionally extend invitations to select members to meet up with them elsewhere. Those of us who know them personally usually invite them to whatever events we might organize on our own, and they are free to attend or not as their schedules and desires align. There is no organized, in-person tour schedule or anything of the sort. The Church of Satan is a global organization, and as such, Magus Gilmore and Magistras Nadramia and Barton would never be home indulging in their own vital existence, or running the organization, if they were constantly traveling to meet every member. They are all quite easy to contact though, and quite personable.
8. I as a person get questioned a lot about my beliefs and I always state I hate mainstream religion as greed and abuse is rife and why would I want to be part of that. It's for me the same with Animal abuse. What are the beliefs within the Church about these two topics?
In The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth it states quite clearly that Satanists do not kill non-human animals unless we are attacked, or for food. How individual Satanists choose to apply that rule varies by individual. Some may go full vegetarian or vegan, others may decide to join an animal rights organization, still others run wildlife rehabilitation centers or work in veterinary medicine. Some Satanists do not invest that much energy in non-human animals, many being meat-eaters that may or may not have pets. Other Satanists are avid hunters or may live on farms with livestock. The only thing that is universal among us is that you will never catch a Satanist abusing, wasting, or sacrificing a non-human animal. Satanists view non-human animals and small children as the natural magicians of the world, living in accordance with natural law and instinct without concern or guilt. As such, they are special in the eyes of a Satanist and are to be cherished.
As far as mainstream religion is concerned, we Satanists are elitists. We recognize that not everyone can be a Satanist, that our philosophy will not resonate with all, and that is fine by us. For the billions of people around the world who find comfort in the outstretched arms of mainstream religions, they are welcome to them. Hopefully they are getting the most out of their lives, because we certainly are. However, we do believe that all churches should be taxed like any other business and are ardent supporters of the separation of church and state. This applies to us as well, which is why the Church of Satan pays taxes and leaves politics solely to the individual. We also believe in a strict Lex Talionis approach to law and order. Any abuses that occur within the confines of other religious organizations should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. No one should be able to escape justice by hiding behind the walls of the Vatican.
9. With several satanic organizations appearing, what was it that made you decide that The Church of Satan was right for you?
The Church of Satan was founded in 1966 by Anton Szandor LaVey. It was the first organization of its kind to publicly claim the title of Satanism, and to define what that meant. In the last 50+ years many other organizations have popped up, but they all attempt to redefine Satanism, turn Satanism into a political cause, or directly copy and repackage the work of Anton Szandor LaVey and the Church of Satan, without the substance. Almost without fail, these other organizations fall apart due to numerous reasons. The Church of Satan has stood strong this entire time, continuing to define and defend the religion and philosophy that Anton LaVey codified.
I do not consider these other organizations to be legitimate representations of what Satanism is, so I went to the source and found exactly what I was looking for. If others find value in the myriad of pretenders out there, more power to them. I do not know exactly what they are doing, but I know it is not Satanism, and they should not be surprised when they find themselves called out and exposed for what they are.
10. Finally for anyone who would love to join and become part of The Church of Satan, how would they go about?
All information about membership in the Church of Satan can be found on our website at www.churchofsatan.com. In addition to membership details, you can find an exhaustive FAQ about our philosophy, many unique writings from members, current news about what Satanists are doing in the real world, links to purchase the literature, and much more.
To be completely clear, the Church of Satan does not solicit membership, and we do not proselytize. One does not have to join the Church of Satan to be a Satanist, they simply need to read The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor LaVey and see themselves reflected on those pages. However, if you think you are one of us, then throw wide the Gates of Hell! You may just be surprised what, and who, you find on the other side.
Hail Satan!
Warlock Jeff Bowling
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