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{{N{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701104244/http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html |date=2012-07-01 }}, under Affiliation: The Grotto System Retrieved December 3, 2010</ref> The ], the founding place and headquarters of the Church of Satan from 1966 to 1997, was effectively the first grotto, and was for a time referred to as the "Central Grotto".{{sfn|Religious Requirements and Practices: A Handbook for Chaplains|U. S. Department of the Army|1978}}{{sfn|World Religions|Warren Matthews|2007|page=380}} Grottos existed for a time in various parts of the United States; these included the Babylon Grotto in ], the Stygian Grotto in ], and the Lilith Grotto in ].{{sfn|Baddeley|2010|p=74}} In 1975, LaVey disbanded all ''grottos'',{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2002|1p=7|2a1=Lap|2y=2013|2p=84}} then reinstated them in the 1980s.{{sfnm|Walter Martin, Jill Martin Rische, Van Gorden Kurt|The Kingdom of the Occult|2013|p=421}} The Church of Satan no longer formally recognizes or charters grottos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.churchofsatan.com/the-grotto-system.php|title=The Grotto System|author1=High Priest |author2=Magus Peter H. Gilmore |work=churchofsatan.com}}</ref> |
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{{Not confuse|The Satanic Temple}} |
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{{Infobox religion |
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|name = Church of Nothing |
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|image = ] |
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|imagewidth = |
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|abbreviation = CoS |
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|caption = Sigil of Baphomet, an official symbol of LaVeyan Satanism<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gilmore|first1=Magus Peter H.|title=F.A.Q. Symbols and Symbolism|url=http://www.churchofsatan.com/faq-symbols-and-symbolism.php|publisher=Church of Satan|accessdate=4 April 2017}}</ref> |
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|main_classification = ], ] |
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|orientation = |
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|type = ] (]) |
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|governance = ] |
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|associations = Non-ecumenical |
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|structure = ] |
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|theology = ] |
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|founder = ] |
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|founded_date = April 30, 1966 |
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|founded_place = ], ] |
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|separations = ] (1999), ] (1975) |
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|members = Not disclosed |
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|leader_title = High Priest |
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|leader_name = ] |
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|headquarters = ] |
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|area = International |
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|scripture = '']'' |
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|other_names = The Satanic Church |
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|publications = '']'', ''The Cloven Hoof'' |
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|website = {{URL|http://www.churchofsatan.com}} |
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|footnotes = |
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}} |
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{{LaVeyan Satanism box}} |
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The '''Church of Satan''' is a ]not dedicated to ] the death of satan later revivssed it in ot the cordination of death codified in '']''. The Church of Satan was established at the ] in ], ], on ], April 30, 1966, by ], who was the church's ] until his death in 1997. In 2001, ] was appointed to the position of high priest, and the church's headquarters were moved to ], ].{{sfn|Popular Witchcraft: Straight from the Witch's Mouth|Jack Fritscher|2004|page=27}} |
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The church does not believe in the Devil, nor a ] or ].<ref name="wikinews">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikinews.org/Satanism:_An_interview_with_Church_of_Satan_High_Priest_Peter_Gilmore |title=Satanism: An interview with Church of Satan High Priest Peter H. Gilmore|publisher=Wikinews|date= |accessdate=2013-09-09}}</ref> High priest Peter H. Gilmore describes its members as "] ]", embracing the Hebrew root of the word "Satan" as "adversary". The church views Satan as a positive ] who represents ], ], and ], and as a symbol of defiance against the ] which LaVey criticized for what he saw as the suppression of humanity's natural instincts. |
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The Church of Satan describes its structural basis as a ] that is "an underground cell-system of individuals who share the basis of philosophy".{{sfn|Handbook of Religion and the Authority of Science|James R. Lewis, Olav Hammer|2010|p=86}} Membership in the Church of Satan is available on two levels: registered membership and active membership. Registered members are those who choose to affiliate on a formal level by filing out the required information and sending a one time registration fee. Active membership is available for those who wish to take a more active role in the organization, and is subject to the completion of a more comprehensive application.{{sfn|Investigating Religious Terrorism and Ritualistic Crimes|Dawn Perlmutter|2004|page=128}} The organization does not disclose official membership numbers. The church provides ], ], and baptismal services to members. Such ceremonies are performed by a member of the church's priesthood. |
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The Church maintains a ] approach to Satanism as expounded by LaVey,{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=5}} rejecting the legitimacy of any other organizations who claim to be Satanists.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ohlheiser|first=Abby|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2014/11/07/the-church-of-satan-wants-you-to-stop-calling-these-devil-worshipping-alleged-murderers-satanists/ |title=The Church of Satan wants you to stop calling these ‘devil worshiping’ alleged murderers Satanists |publisher=The Washington Post |date=2014-11-07 |accessdate=2015-11-19}}</ref><ref>]</ref> Scholars agree that there is no reliably documented case of Satanic continuity prior to the founding of the Church of Satan.{{sfn|Contemporary Esotericism|Asprem|Granholm|2014|p=75}} It was the first organized church in modern times to be devoted to the figure of Satan,{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=5}} and according to Faxneld and Petersen, the Church represented "the first public, highly visible, and long-lasting organization which propounded a coherent satanic discourse".{{sfn|Faxneld|Petersen|2013|p=81}} |
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==Beliefs== |
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{{main|LaVeyan Satanism}} |
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] |
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The Church does not espouse a belief in ] as an entity who literally exists,{{sfn|Harvey|1995|p=290}} and LaVey did not encourage the worship of Satan as a deity.{{sfn|La Fontaine|1999|p=97}} In an interview with ], High Priest Peter H. Gilmore stated "My real feeling is that anybody who believes in supernatural entities on some level is insane. Whether they believe in the Devil or God, they are abdicating reason".<ref name="gilmoreinterview"/> Gilmore defines the word "Satan" as "a model or a mode of behavior", noting that in Hebrew the word means "adversary" or "opposer", which can be regarded as "one who questions".<ref name="gilmoreinterview"/> Gilmore describes Satanism as beginning with atheism, and taking the view that the universe is indifferent: "There’s no God, there’s no Devil. No one cares!"<ref name="gilmoreinterview">], David Shankbone, '']'', November 5, 2007.</ref> LaVey sought to cement his belief system within the ] world-view that derived from ], thus providing him with an atheistic basis with which to criticize ] and other supernaturalist beliefs.{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2002|1p=4|2a1=Petersen|2y=2005|2p=434}} He legitimized his religion by highlighting what he claimed was its rational nature, contrasting this with what he saw as the supernaturalist irrationality of established religions.{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=4}} |
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Church members may also participate in a system of magic which LaVey defined as ].{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=2003|1p=289|2a1=Petersen|2y=2012|2pp=95–96|3a1=Lap|3y=2013|3p=97}} Greater magic is a form of ] practice and is meant as ] ] to focus one's emotional energy for a specific purpose; lesser magic is the practice of ] by means of ] and ] (or ]) to bend an individual or situation to one's will.{{sfn|The Command to Look: A Master Photographer's Method for Controlling the Human Gaze|George Dunham|2014|page=203}} Although many of LaVey's ideas are shaped around a secular and scientific world-view, others express the belief that there are various magical forces in existence; rather than characterising these as ], LaVey expressed the view that they were part of the natural world yet thus far undiscovered by science.{{sfn|Lewis|2002|pp=3–4}} He believed that the successful use of magic involved the magician manipulating these natural forces using the force of their own willpower,{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=4}} a trait of the religion that has been compared with ] and ].{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=4}} Outlined in ''The Satanic Bible'', LaVey defined magic as "the change in situations or events in accordance with one's will, which would, using normally accepted methods, be unchangeable."{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=2003|1pp=288–289|2a1=Petersen|2y=2012|2p=95|3a1=Lap|3y=2013|3p=96}} |
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The term "Theistic Satanism" has been described as "]ic" by the church and its High Priest.<ref name="churchofsatan.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.churchofsatan.com/faq-fundamental-beliefs.php|title=F.A.Q. Fundamental Beliefs|author1=High Priest |author2=Magus Peter H. Gilmore |work=churchofsatan.com}}</ref> The Church of Satan rejects the legitimacy of any other organizations who claim to be Satanists, atheistic or otherwise,<ref name=Stop>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2014/11/07/the-church-of-satan-wants-you-to-stop-calling-these-devil-worshipping-alleged-murderers-satanists/|title=The Church of Satan wants you to stop calling these 'devil worshiping' alleged murderers Satanists |date=7 November 2014 |website=The Washington Post |last=Ohlheiser |first=Abby |accessdate=2015-11-19}}</ref> dubbing them reverse-Christians, pseudo-Satanists or Devil worshipers.<ref name=Stop/> |
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Prominent Church leader ] described Satanism as "an alignment, a lifestyle".{{sfn|La Fontaine|1999|p=99}} LaVey and the Church espoused the view that "Satanists are born, not made";{{sfn|Contemporary Religious Satanism: A Critical Anthology|Petersen|2009|p=9}} that they are outsiders by their nature, living as they see fit,{{sfn|The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity|Faxneld, Petersen|2013|p=129}} who are self-realized in a religion which appeals to the would-be Satanist's nature, leading them to realize they are Satanists through finding a belief system that is in line with their own perspective and lifestyle.{{sfn|Satanism Today|Lewis|2001|p=330}} Adherents to the philosophy have described Satanism as a ] religion of the ], or "...the world's first ] religion".{{sfn|Who's? Right: Mankind, Religions & The End Times|Warman-Stallings|2012||p=35}} The "central convictions" of the Church are formulated in the ], ], ], and ], which are regularly reproduced within the Church of Satan's written material.{{sfn|Petersen|2005|p=431}} |
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==History== |
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===Pre-establishment (1950s–1965)=== |
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In 1956, LaVey purchased a Victorian house in the Richmond District of San Francisco, which he painted black.{{sfn|Satanism Today|James R. Lewis|2016|p=145}} During the late 1950s, LaVey hosted Friday night lectures on occult subjects at his house. The process of writing his lectures lead him to distill his philosophy based on his earlier research into topics considered bizarre and arcane, and experiences as a psychic investigator and hypnotist, as well as work in the carnivals.{{sfn|Satanism Today|James R. Lewis|2016|p=146}} He gradually gathered regular visitors who became known as the “Magic Circle”.{{sfn|The Invention of Satanism|2016|p=52}} During this time, LaVey also held “witches workshops”, classes to instruct women on the art of seduction and manipulation through glamour and feminine wiles.{{sfn|Satanism Today|James R. Lewis|2001|p=146}} According to sociologist and early group affiliate, Randall Alfred, these “workshops” included “various aspects of Satanism” and were part of the Friday night lectures.{{sfn|The Invention of Satanism|2016|p=54}} Though actual numbers are unknown, it has been suggested that the group comprised around twenty people. Accounts suggest that the “circle” included authors, artists, doctors, policemen, and academics among other professions.{{sfn|The Invention of Satanism|2016|p=52}} |
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In the early 1960s ] formed a group called the Order of the Trapezoid, which later became the governing body of the Church of Satan. The group included: "The Baroness" Carin de Plessen, Dr. Cecil Nixon, ], City Assessor Russell Wolden, and Donald Werby.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lacey|first=Michael|title=Pieces of the Action: What's worse? A venture capitalist or a guy who smokes cunderage hookers?|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-06-20/news/pieces-of-the-action/|publisher=SF Weekly Jun 20 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title="Satan's Den in Great Disrepair" Lattin, Don (January 25, 1999) |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F1999%2F01%2F25%2FMN77329.DTL |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |deadurl=yes |date=January 25, 1999 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920172825/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F1999%2F01%2F25%2FMN77329.DTL |archivedate=September 20, 2011 |df= }}</ref> According to the Church of Satan historiography, other LaVey associates from this time include noted ] and ] writers ], ], Robert Barbour Johnson, ], ], ], ], ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/has-the-church-of-satan-gone-to-hell/Content?oid=2135375|title=Has the Church of Satan Gone to Hell?|first=Jack|last=Boulware|newspaper=SF Weekly|location=San Francisco|access-date=March 15, 2015|date=June 17, 1998}}</ref> and ] |
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In the mid-60's, prior to the publishing of '']'', LaVey's writings were disseminated among his circle in the form of a series of papers known as the “rainbow sheets”, an assortment of essays describing the philosophy, presented as “an introduction to Satanism”. These essays were later featured in ''The Book of Lucifer''. In addition was a paper describing magic and containing instructions for the practice or ritual.{{sfn|Contemporary Religious Satanism: A Critical Anthology|Jesper Aagaard Petersen|2009|p=48}}{{sfn|Handbook of Religion and the Authority of Science|Lewis, Hammer|2010|p=78}} |
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===Formation, rituals and publicity (1966–1978)=== |
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LaVey founded the Church of Satan on ] of 1966, which he proclaimed to be "the Year One", ''Anno Satanas''—the first year of the "Age of Satan".{{sfn|The Invention of Satanism|2006|page=52}} LaVey began performing weekly Satanic rituals with followers at his house in ], which was known as "the ]".{{sfn|Baddeley|2010|pp=66, 71}} In February 1967, LaVey and the Church performed a much publicized Satanic marriage of Judith Case and journalist John Raymond. The ceremony was attended by ]. LaVey performed the first publicly recorded Satanic baptism in history for his youngest daughter ], which garnered worldwide publicity and was originally recorded on ''The Satanic Mass'' LP.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Satanic Mass/Zeena's Baptism Track A9 go to 3:42|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_M09vuLQAc&NR=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Satanic Mass, Track A9 (Zeena's Baptism)|url=http://www.discogs.com/Anton-LaVey-The-Satanic-Mass/release/1166426|publisher=Murgenstrumm, 1968 Vinly LP}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Satanist Anton LaVey Baptising Daughter|url=http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/U1556387/satanist-anton-lavey-baptising-daughter|publisher=Bettmann/CORBIS|location=San Francisco, California, USA|date=May 23, 1967|quote=LaVey said the mystic ceremony was the first such baptism in history.|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525095013/http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/U1556387/satanist-anton-lavey-baptising-daughter|archivedate=May 25, 2013|df=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=clippings of Zeena's baptism world wide|url=http://zeena.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109%3Apress-coverage-of-zeenas-baptism-1967-1968&catid=41&Itemid=57}}</ref> |
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LaVey attracted a number of celebrities to join his Church, most notably ] and ].{{sfn|Baddeley|2010|p=72}} LaVey also established branches of the Church, known as ''grottos'', in various parts of the United States; these included the Babylon Grotto in ], the Stygian Grotto in ], and the Lilith Grotto in ].{{sfn|Baddeley|2010|p=74}} The Church of Satan was the subject of a number of books, magazine and newspaper articles during the 1960s and 1970s. It is also the subject of a documentary, '']'' (1970). LaVey appeared in ]'s film '']'', acted as technical adviser on '']'', which starred ], ], and introduced ]. |
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LaVey ceased conducting group rituals and workshops in his home in 1972.{{sfn|Lap|2013|p=84}} In 1973, church leaders in Michigan, Ohio, and Florida split to form their own Church of Satanic Brotherhood, however this disbanded in 1974 when one of its founders publicly converted to ].{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=7}} Subsequently, members of the Church of Satan based in Kentucky and Indiana left to found the Ordo Templi Satanis.{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=7}} In 1975, LaVey phased out the Church's "Grotto" system and eliminated people he thought were using the Church as a substitute for accomplishment in the outside world. Thereafter, conventional achievement in society would be the criterion for advancement within the Church of Satan. |
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===1980s and early 1990s and "Satanic Panic"=== |
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In the 1980s the media reported concerns of criminal conspiracies within the Church of Satan. The FBI would later issue an official report refuting the criminal conspiracy theories of this time. This phenomenon became known as the "]". LaVey's daughter ] was the spokesperson and High Priestess in the Church of Satan during the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zeena Schreck Interview in Vice Magazine, Beelzebub's Daughter, by Annette Lamothe-Ramos|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/beelzebubs-daughter-0000175-v19n4}}</ref> During this period, she appeared on television and radio broadcasts, in part to educate about the Church, and in part to debunk the mythology surrounding the Satanic Panic — a period of time in the same era in which Satanism was blamed for the actions of ]. |
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From then until her renunciation of the Church of Satan in 1990, Zeena appeared in such nationally syndicated programs as '']'', ''] with ]'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. The appearances were made at the behest of the Church of Satan as its spokesperson. She did this on behalf of her father ], who was no longer interested in making media appearances, as she stated while being interviewed alongside her husband by televangelist ].<ref name="The First Family of Satanism">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WcKrdFHTds |
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| location = Denver Colorado |
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| airdate = 1989 |
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}}</ref> |
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In the 1980s and 1990s remaining members of the Church of Satan became active in media appearances to refute allegations of criminal activity. The Church of Satan and its members were very active in producing movies, music, films, and magazines devoted to Satanism. Most notably ]'s ] publishing, the music of ], musician ], and the films of ] (a.k.a. A. Wyatt Mann),<ref>{{cite web|title=Nick Bougas, a.k.a. A Wyatt Mann|url=http://garrisongraphics.blogspot.de/2015/02/racist-and-anti-semtic-cartoonist-wyatt.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Buzzfeed article by Joseph Bernstein "History Of The Internet’s Favorite Anti-Semitic Image"|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/the-surprisingly-mainstream-history-of-the-internets-favorit#.xfzZKwrNG}}</ref> including his documentary '']''.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} The Church of Satan and Anton LaVey were also the subject of numerous magazine and news articles during this time.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} |
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===After LaVey=== |
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].]] |
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{{Wikinews|Satanism: An interview with Church of Satan High Priest Peter Gilmore}} |
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After LaVey's death in 1997, leadership of the Church was turned over to his partner, ].{{sfn|Lewis|2001b|p=51}} On November 7, 1997 ] made a press release about continuing the church with fellow high priestess ]. Barton eventually received ownership of the organization, which she held for 4 years. Karla LaVey ultimately left the Church of Satan and founded ].<ref> Copyright (c) 1997 Reuters SAN FRANCISCO (November 7, 1997 7:47 p.m. EST) By Andrew Quinn</ref> That year, the Church established an official website.{{sfn|Petersen|2013|p=140}} In 2001, Blanche ceded her position to longtime members ] and ], the current High Priest and High Priestess and publishers of ''The Black Flame'', the official magazine of The Church of Satan.{{sfn|Lewis|2001b|p=51}} The Central Office of the Church of Satan has also moved from ] to ]'s ] neighborhood. |
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After LaVey's death, conflict over the nature of Satanism intensified within the Satanic community.{{sfn|Petersen|2013|p=139}} The Church of Satan became increasingly doctrinally-rigid and focused on maintaining the purity of LaVeyan Satanism.{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=5}} The Church's increased emphasis on their role as the bearer of his legacy was partly a response to the growth in non-LaVeyan Satanists.{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=5}} Some Church members – including Gilmore{{sfn|Petersen|2013|p=140}} – claimed that only they were the "real" Satanists and that those belonging to different Satanic traditions were "pseudo" Satanists.{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=5}} After examining many of these claims on the Church's website, Lewis concluded that it was "''obsessed'' with shoring up its own legitimacy by attacking the heretics, especially those who criticize LaVey".{{sfn|Lewis|2002|p=7}} Meanwhile, the Church experienced an exodus of its membership in the 2000s, with many of these individuals establishing new groups online.{{sfn|Petersen|2013|p=139}} |
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In October 2004 the ] officially recognised its first registered Satanist, 24-year-old Chris Cranmer, as a technician on the '']''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3948329.stm |title=UK | Navy approves first ever Satanist |publisher=BBC News |date=2004-10-24 |accessdate=2009-06-07}}</ref> |
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On June 6, 2006 the Church of Satan held the first public ritual Satanic Mass in 40 years at the ] in the ] in ] to mark the Church's fortieth birthday.{{sfn|Petersen|2012|pp=115–116}} The ritual, based on the rites outlined in '']'' and '']'', was conducted by Reverend Bryan Moore and Priestess Heather Saenz.<ref name="Lacitybeat.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=3916&IssueNum=158 |title=Los Angeles CityBeat — The Devil's Advocates |publisher=Lacitybeat.com |date= |accessdate=2009-06-07 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118083610/http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=3916&IssueNum=158 |archivedate=November 18, 2007 }}</ref> |
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In December 2007 the ] reported on a story concerning the Church of Satan, in which a teenager had sent an email to High Priest Gilmore stating he wanted to "kill in the name of our unholy lord ]". Gilmore then reported the message to the ], who informed local police, who arrested the teenager.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316967,00.html |title=Teen Held After E-Mailing Satanic Group Threat to Kill Grandparents|publisher=FoxNews.com |date=2007-12-15 |accessdate=2009-06-07}}</ref> |
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==Membership== |
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Membership to the Church is gained by paying $225 and filling out a registration statement,{{sfn|Petersen|2005|p=430}} and thus initiates are bestowed with lifetime memberships and not charged annual fees.{{sfn|Gardell|2003|p=287}} The church emphasizes that one does not have to join the organization to consider oneself a Satanist, and that one only needs to recognize himself in The Satanic Bible and live according to the tenets outlined therein. The Church states they do not solicit memberships nor proselytize. |
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As the Church does not publicly release membership information, it is not publicly known how many members belong to the Church.{{sfn|Controversial New Religions|Lewis|2014||p=407}} The 1973 US Army Chaplain's Handbook written by Cecil D Lewis stated that once memberships reached ten thousand the figures were no longer made public.<ref name="The Church Of Satan – Lewis">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/churchofsatan00lewi|title=The Church Of Satan|author=Cecil D Lewis}}</ref> The 2000 edition of the Chaplain's handbook edited by J. Gordon Melton, removed this observation and simply stated the Church does not publish membership information.<ref></ref> According to the Church of Satan web page, memberships are for a lifetime and membership has "always grown as the years pass".<ref name="CoSFAQ">{{cite web|url=http://www.churchofsatan.com/faq-about-the-organization.php|title=The Church Of Satan FAQ}}</ref> Despite no official published membership number, the issue of membership size continues to be debated. According to Maxwell Davies, estimates have placed membership from 300 to 20,000.<ref name="crsi">{{cite book |title= Contemporary Religious Satanism: A Critical Anthology |year= 2009 |publisher= Ashgate Publishing |isbn= 978-0-7546-5286-1 |author= Maxwell Davies |chapter= Self-Conscious Routinization and the Post-Charismatic Fate of the Church Satan from 1997 to the Present|quote=}}</ref> Sociologist ] placed membership at 1,000 in 1997, and in his 2016 book ''Satanism: A Social History'' stated that Church membership probably "never exceeded one or two thousand".<ref name="crsi"/><ref name="Introvigne2016">{{cite book|author=Massimo Introvigne|title=Satanism: A Social History|url=|year=2016|publisher=Brill|isbn=9004244964|page=320|quote=Probably the members of the Church of Satan, even in the period of its greatest expansion, never exceeded one or two thousand.}}</ref> In a 1988 TV appearance, then Church of Satan spokesperson ] answered ]'s question about membership numbers by stating "hundreds of thousands? I can't say, thousands easily." <ref name="GeraldoZeena">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE0p_IZ6jNw|title=Geraldo special. Devil Worship: Exposing Satan's Underground, 1988}}</ref> According to scholar of religion and ordained minister in the United Methodist Church ], Church of Satan "always counted its active membership in the hundreds"<ref name="Melton2014">{{cite book|author=J. Gordon Melton|title=Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OtihAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA320|date=22 May 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-53998-6|pages=113}}</ref>."Active membership" is an application dependent subset of the total membership.<ref name="active">{{cite web|url=http://www.churchofsatan.com/active-membership.php|title=Active Membership}}</ref> According to an interview with the Church of Satan, "interest in the Church of Satan and Satanism is growing all the time if our mailboxes, answering and fax machines, and e-mail is any indication."<ref name="The Church Of Satan – Interview">{{cite web|url=http://wormgearzine.com/2009/01/04/the-church-of-satan-interview/|title=The Church Of Satan – Interview - Worm Gear|work=Worm Gear}}</ref> While not indicative of active membership, the organization's social media accounts have hundreds of thousands of followers.<ref name="Twitter">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/churchofsatan/|title=The Church Of Satan on Twitter}}</ref><ref name="Facebook">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ChurchOfSatanOfficial|title=The Church Of Satan on Facebook}}</ref><ref name="Tumblr">{{cite web|url=http://news.churchofsatan.com/|title=The Church Of Satan on Tumblr}}</ref> |
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Memberships may be terminated on written request of the member, at the discretion of the ruling body of the Church of Satan consisting of the High Priest, the High Priestess, and the Council of Nine. |
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Church membership operates on a system of degrees, with ''active membership'' being the first degree. One must apply and be approved for an active membership, and this is subject to one's answers to a lengthy series of questions. Promotion to a higher degree is by invitation only, and the requirements for each degree are not open to the public. Members of the third through fifth degrees constitute the Priesthood.{{sfn|Controversial New Religions|Lewis|2014||p=407}} LaVey implemented a system of five initiatory levels that the Satanist could advance through by demonstrating knowledge of Satanic philosophy and personal accomplishments in life.{{sfn|Gardell|2003|p=287}} These were known as Apprentice (Satanist I°), Brother/Sister of the Cauldron (Witch or Warlock II°), Priest/ Priestess of Mendes (Wizard or Enchantress III°), Magister Cavemi/Magister Templi/Magister Magnus (Magister IV°), and Magister Satanas (Magus V°).{{sfn|Drury|2003|p=197}} |
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===Hierarchy=== |
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* Registered Member (no degree) |
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* Active Member (first degree) |
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* Witch/Warlock (second degree) |
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* Priestess/Priest (third degree) |
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* Magistra/Magister (fourth degree) |
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* Maga/Magus (fifth degree). |
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===Priesthood of Mendes & Council of Nine=== |
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Members of the Priesthood make up the ], which is the ruling body of the Church of Satan, of which Magistra Templi Rex ] is the chairmistress.{{sfn|Controversial New Religions|Lewis|2014||p=407}} Individuals who are part of the priesthood are those who act as spokespersons of the Church of Satan. The priesthood is exclusive to third, fourth, and fifth degree members. Members of the priesthood may be referred to as "reverend". The ] and Priestess act as administrative chiefs and primary public representatives; each position (High Priest and High Priestess) is held by a single individual at a time. The current High Priest is ], the current High Priestess is ]. |
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===The Grotto System=== |
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Within the Church, a '''Grotto''' (from Italian '']'', a type of cave) is a ] association or gathering of Satanists within geographical proximity for means of social, ritual, and special interest activities.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701104244/http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html |date=2012-07-01 }}, under Affiliation: The Grotto System Retrieved December 3, 2010</ref> The ], the founding place and headquarters of the Church of Satan from 1966 to 1997, was effectively the first grotto, and was for a time referred to as the "Central Grotto".{{sfn|Religious Requirements and Practices: A Handbook for Chaplains|U. S. Department of the Army|1978}}{{sfn|World Religions|Warren Matthews|2007|page=380}} Grottos existed for a time in various parts of the United States; these included the Babylon Grotto in ], the Stygian Grotto in ], and the Lilith Grotto in ].{{sfn|Baddeley|2010|p=74}} In 1975, LaVey disbanded all ''grottos'',{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2002|1p=7|2a1=Lap|2y=2013|2p=84}} then reinstated them in the 1980s.{{sfnm|Walter Martin, Jill Martin Rische, Van Gorden Kurt|The Kingdom of the Occult|2013|p=421}} The Church of Satan no longer formally recognizes or charters grottos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.churchofsatan.com/the-grotto-system.php|title=The Grotto System|author1=High Priest |author2=Magus Peter H. Gilmore |work=churchofsatan.com}}</ref> |
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==Formal gatherings== |
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==Formal gatherings== |
LaVey is thought to be directly responsible for the genesis of Satanism as a serious religious movement. Scholars agree that there is no reliably documented case of Satanic continuity prior to the founding of the Church of Satan. It was the first organized church in modern times to be devoted to the figure of Satan, and according to Faxneld and Petersen, the Church represented "the first public, highly visible, and long-lasting organization which propounded a coherent satanic discourse".
