Anton LaVey's Works -Opinions?

[Glanecia]

So -Anton LaVey- Do you like his books? Dislike?

I can't say that the Book of Satan in the Satanic Bible is all that great (anti-Christian propaganda has little significance to me--I don't hate Christians) --but I cherish the Book of Lucifer --it's a very basic and sound philosophy for living your life. The Book of Leviathan has become meaningful to me --though it's a very simple layout for ritual --but those simple layouts were my stepping stones for writing my own rituals --the Book of Belial though...meh! The words are nice, but I'm sure anyone who's looked closely enough would notice that he's borrowed from the Keys of Solomon, and changed the words in English to be more "Satanic" --I would've appreciated originality. *shrugs*

I like the way he differentiates between ritual and ceremony in the Satanic Rituals -and I like the Satanic Baptism quite a bit. The others are interesting to me --but I'd never want to use them. Who wants to see a Nun pee? *giggles* Sorry!

Devil's Notebook, Satan Speaks --I don't have a strong opinion either way. Although, I do appreciate that he admits to being a liar in one of his essays. :lol: ...for I'm convinced that he truly did lie about MANY things...and the media bought it all...

[Infinite Grey]

--the Book of Belial though...meh! The words are nice, but I'm sure anyone who's looked closely enough would notice that he's borrowed from the Keys of Solomon, and changed the words in English to be more "Satanic" --I would've appreciated originality. *shrugs*


That sounds interesting... he must have replaced a lot of it... I'm interested to have look at that.

I've never cared for Anton LaVey, but then again I've never cared for Satanism in general (Sorry guys), But I would love to see what he nicked from the Keys of Solomon.
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/Fool/hmm.gif

[Garm]

Anton Lavey may be well be the finest example of the tradition he represents, that of PT Barnum.

Once a carny, always a carny.

[RainInanna]

I find the principles of LaVeyan Satanism quite useful, but it's hard to focus on the usefulness of what he's saying while trying to ignore all the anti-religious crap. I realize there are many who just ignore that bit, though I find it hard to consider them LaVeyan Satanists if they do.

[Little Billy]

My opinion? He found a foolproof way to get laid in California.

Which, of course, is like finding a foolproof way to get coal in Newcastle.

[Theres]

Anton Lavey may be well be the finest example of the tradition he represents, that of PT Barnum.

Once a carny, always a carny.

yep, and even his daughter would agree.

what he created may have taken on a genuine life of it's own (for good or bad), but he was quite simply a huckster.

i met him once when i was about 13 or 14, but all i really remember thinking was "wow, my mom sure has found a weird friend".

[Vincent Verthaine]

Anton Lavey may be well be the finest example of the tradition he represents, that of PT Barnum.

Once a carny, always a carny.
Sorry,I disagre.PT had tons more class and originality then LaVey.
LeVey was a pimp,a child abuser,a wife abuser,a plaigerist,a bully,a thief, possible pedophile and an all around asshole.

A very fine example of the tradition he represents,and created.

[Theres]

Sorry,I disagre.PT had tons more class and originality then LaVey.
LeVey was a pimp,a child abuser,a wife abuser,a plaigerist,a bully,a thief, possible pedophile and an all around asshole.

A very fine example of the tradition he represents,and created.

you forgot animal abuser.

[Vincent Verthaine]

you forgot animal abuser.
Thank you,Theres.


And animal abuser.

[Amber Wynd]

My dad is a professional con artist and he used to hang out with LaVey. I didn't like Anton or his friends and associates. He was almost certainly a huckster and definitely an asshole. My personal opinion of the man is just what Verthaine and Theres said. It's kind of hard for me to seperate the man from his works because I can't be objective.

[Dead Eights]

It's kind of hard for me to seperate the man from his works because I can't be objective.

Well, at least you are honest about your objectivity. :)

[Ninjakitten]

I've only read the Satanic Bible myself, and I have to say that even though I'm a Christian (a very non-mainstream one as I am also a witch and a scientist), that I was a ninja first and the principles he laid out in the Satanic Bible make sense to my ninja self on a basic level (which I think is part of the point, to have principles based somewhat on basic instincts). Honestly, I think the main reason people are becoming more and more crappy to each other is because there is no way for decent people to dish out consequences for crappy behaviour without getting arrested, and the crappy people get away with crap all the time as a result. If only it were easier for a community to get rid of it's own trash and not have to rely so much on a central authority...

[sybba_leigh]

does anyone know where i can find any of anton's work online? i know it sounds silly, but i would feel SO strange looking for/buying books on satanism in barnes and nobles.

[Semjaza]

I own The Satanic Bible, and while it does have its moments, the rest is crap. I mean, his translations of the Keys are laughable, and really, why read LaVey when you can read Nietzsche, which is where he gets most of his philosophy anyway. The book makes fun of itself. That stupidity is the cardinal sin of Satanism is the joke. So, um, ha ha?

Cheers,

Semjaza
FFFF

[cheddarsox]

Thanks for sticking up for Barnum, the man is one of my heroes, and he was NOT a huckster. He brought entertainment to the masses at an affordable price. He did not lie, cheat or steal. He reinvested his money to bring talents, oddities etc from the ends of the earth, to people who would not have gotten a chance to see such. At his time, his truly was the greatest show on earth.

What I have seen of Levey and his writings have been unimpressive. He made a life out of creating an "anti-church" and in my experience, things that spring out of negativity...simply never get as far as things that spring out of positive momentum.

The interviews etc I have seen of him, he was rather a sad man. After awhile the anger wears thin, and there didn't seem to be much left. That is the danger of being deeply involved in a movement against something, when the fire dies out, you haven't really build anything lasting. If you start out building, then you end up with something at the end. If you start out tearing down, you end up in a hole, often with no ladder out.

cheddar

[RainInanna]

sybba leigh - You can find bits and pieces of LaVey's work in sites on the basics of his Satanism, such as http://www.satanism101.com/ which is my favourite. You should not be able to find his bible and other works in full though, as they are still under copyright. I imagine there are people that do share it in PDF format on file-sharing programs though.

[RainInanna]

I have a feeling Nietzsche's works would be a lot more work to read through though, no? I am sure they are worth it, but I get the impression LaVey codified and simplified a lot of ideas. I am interested to know because Nietzsche is still on my reading list sooner or later.

[Sage Rainsong]

Anton LaVey's Works -Opinions?

hmmm......Self Indulgent crap. To be fair all I have read was the satanic bible. I found it to be shallow and just plain rediculous.

[The High Queen of Faerie]

I don't really know enough about LaVey to contribute anything worthwhile to this discussion, but some people have mentioned the anger apparent in his works - any thoughts... ?

[RakliDipity]

I'm in rather two minds about it. Some of it seems quite interesting, but the rest of it really isn't worth my time.

[CleftOfLight]

I read the Satanic bible,and Satanic Witch.I just found it lacking any real authentic Satanic,Luciferian,Aiwass,material. He just made up a bunch of silly chapters that are more in tune with Catholic interpitation of satan.With inverted catholic rituals.

[Rudas Starblaze]

well, i just may have to write my own book eh!?:yayah:

[Stormbeard]

He was a very intelligent man, and put forth many good points in The Satanic Bible. However, it reads like an anti-christian doctrine and I feel this may be because of the society in which he lived. America has always been much more fiercely god-orientated than the majority of Western Europe and his book was an extreme response against that.

The thing you must remember about LeVayan Satanism is that it is very bombastic. It's overstated and excitable. Much like an opera. It is very dramatic. It's completely intentional in an almost pantomime way.

[Shadow Angel]

an amusing read I must say.

[aluokaloo]

I like his works, I think he had a lot to say, plus he dosed it with alot of healthy satyre, and good ol common sense. I would have loved to have met the man and talked to him