The Invention of Satanism

by Asbjorn Dyrendal, James R. Lewis, Jesper Aa. Petersen

Overview

Satanism is a complex phenomenon that has often been the source of controversy across social and rhetorical contexts. Some consider it the root of all evil. Others see it as a childish form of rebellion or as a misapplication of serious esoteric beliefs and practices. Still others consider it a specific religion or philosophy that serves as a form of personal and collective identity. In The Invention of Satanism, three experts explore Satanism as a contemporary movement that is in continuous dialogue with popular culture, and which provides a breeding ground for other new religious movements.

By shifting the focus from mythology to meaning-making, this book examines the invention of Satanism among self-declared religious Satanists. Like all ideologists and believers, Satanists incorporate, borrow, and modify elements from other traditions; the authors investigate how traditional folklore and prior strands of occultism were synthesized by Anton LaVey in his founding of the Church of Satan and creation of the Satanic Bible. Later chapters discuss contemporary Satanist subcultures, demonstrating how Satanism continues to reinvent itself despite its brief history as an organized phenomenon. There are now numerous forms of Satanism with distinctive interpretations of what being a Satanist entails, with some of these new versions deviating more from the historical "mainstream" than others. In this fascinating account of a seemingly arcane and often-feared movement, Dyrendal, Lewis, and Petersen demonstrate that the invention of Satanism is an ongoing, ever-evolving process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195181104
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/27/2015
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Asbjørn Dyrendal is Professor of Religious Studies at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.

James R. Lewis is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Tromsø in Tromsø, Norway.

Jesper A. Petersen is Associate Professor at the Programme for Teacher Education at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Preface: Introducing Satanism
Chapter 1 - Anthropology of Evil: The Folklore of Satanism
Chapter 2 - Satanic Precursors
Chapter 3 - The Age of Satanism: Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan
Chapter 4 - The Satanic Bible
Chapter 5 - Reading Satanism through Demonology: The Satanism Scare
Chapter 6 - Adopting Satanic Identities
Chapter 7 - Little Nicky Grows Up?
Chapter 8 - Satanic Attitudes
Chapter 9 - Children of the Black Goat
Epilogue: Satanism in Play
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The Invention of Satanism is a useful text for those wanting a detailed, if brief, history of the Church of Satan, its development, and the demographic of its believers. The text is straightforward and information rich, a credit to the detailed knowledge of the compilers." — Tara Blue Moon Smith, University of Sydney, The Journal of Religious History

"[W]ell worth a read, representing perhaps the best place for students to begin their exploration of this subject."-Ethan Doyle White, Correspondences

"The Invention of Satanism provides an accessible and highly informative introduction to contemporary Satanism as a religious movement. Succinctly covering a number of important themes in the history of Satanism, it will be especially useful to students and scholars interested in contemporary Western esotericism, Paganism, and New Religious Movements (NRMs). It also suggests many fruitful venues for future research."-Manon Hedenborg-White, Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism

"An important contribution to the field of Satanism studies . This volume functions as an excellent introduction to the subject in addition to establishing central research avenues in the field, supplemented by illuminating discussions of work that remains to be done. The Invention of Satanism will be a good first reference for both specialists and lay readers interested in Satanism, along with those investigating the various and overlapping fields of new religious movements, Paganism, occultism, the subjects of religious rhetoric, and other alternative religious currents and antinomian discourses."—Nova Religio

"Studies of the esoteric and the occult have matured into a strong research area within the history of religions, and Dyrendal, Lewis, and Petersen have been at the forefront all the way. Their new book offers a state-of-the-art discussion of Satanism and the occulture in which it thrives. Based on facts and primary sources rather than hearsay, Satanists are presented as people, and as makers of religion." —Mikael Rothstein, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Southern Denmark and Guest Professor at the Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas

"The Invention of Satanism is a groundbreaking book on two counts. It does not simply rehearse the story of a legendary Satan who symbolizes ultimate evil in Christianity. Rather, it focuses on real, contemporary satanic movements populated by individuals who openly identify as Satanists. Even more impressive and innovative, the authors ground their analysis in hard data from texts, interviews, surveys, and national censuses, bringing contemporary Satanism to life." —David G. Bromley, Professor of Religious Studies and Sociology at Virginia Commonwealth University and Founder and Director of the World Religions and Spirituality Project

"This valuable volume demonstrates that concern about Satanism has not dissipated; it will always be a part of the cultural background of modern Western societies, but is ever-changing. The three authors, all well-known scholars, document the modern history of Satanism and how it is evolving, adding to scholarly knowledge about this fascinating and important cultural phenomenon." —James T. Richardson, co-editor of The Satanism Scare

From the Publisher