Summary
"The Satanic Bible" by Anton LaVey is not a blasphemous attempt but a declaration of diabolical indignation, giving the Dark Prince a voice against the men of God. It discards the old rule-books of hypocrisy and relearns the Law of the Jungle, with each verse as an inferno and each word a tongue of fire.
LaVey challenges the wisdom of the world, questioning the laws of man and God, and bending before none of the printed idols. He boldly rejects conventions that hinder earthly success and happiness, breaks away from stifling dogmas, and dips his forefinger in the watery blood of the impotent redeemer to write: The TRUE prince of evil—the king of slaves!
The book dismisses the concept of 'love one another' as unnatural and questions the rational authority of the gospel of love. It emphasizes self-preservation, advocating hate for enemies and returning blow for blow, scorn for scorn, doom for doom. It promotes life as the great indulgence and death as the great abstinence, urging individuals to make the most of the present moment and reject false hope.
It praises the strong, powerful, and bold while cursing the weak, feeble, and humble. In this view, the destroyers of false hope are the true Messiahs, and the valiant obtain great treasure. The book challenges the traditional interpretations of God and the Devil, portraying Satan as the spirit of progress, inspirer of movements that advance mankind, and embodiment of heresies that liberate.
It presents Satanism as a religion that celebrates man’s mind and carnal desires, encouraging rational self-interest and championing a healthy ego. It favors positive forms of celebrations and purges over Christianity's self-debasing services. Satanic weddings consecrate the joys of the flesh, funerals are devoid of platitudes, lust rituals fulfill sexual desires, and destruction rituals triumph over enemies.
Ultimately, "The Satanic Bible" explains the philosophy of Satanism as a selfish, brutal philosophy grounded in the reality of a Darwinian struggle for survival, rather than mystical lands of milk and honey. It serves as a guide for those who seek to start Satanic groups and ritualize black magic, offering a message of challenge and inspiration.