Satanism

The term Satanism applies to a number of beliefs and ideologies. Some are considered religions, some are not, but all of them share an admiration for Satan or another similar entity. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, Satan is the common name given to the Devil, or the figure that opposes God. He is also referred to as Lucifer, which is the name first given to him in the Hebrew Bible. Throughout history, the notion of Satan has also been used to explain all notions of human tragedy and evil.

Satanism is often mistaken for devil worship, however, this does not fully encompass what Satanism actually is. There are actually two types of Satanism, Theistic Satanism and Atheistic Satanism, and both have multiple subgroups within them.

Theistic Satanism

This type of Satanism is closest to the notion of devil worship. Believers in Theistic Satanism hold that Satan is indeed a deity and they worship him as such. Another hallmark of Theistic Satanism is the belief in magic, thus leading to why so many Satanists are also thought to be witches, or at least wiccan. One of the more well-known arms of Theistic Satanism is Luciferianism.

Atheistic Satanism

Proponents of Atheistic Satanism, given that they don't believe in God or deities, instead see Satan as representative of certain human traits. Some of the most common types of Atheistic Satanism include:

1. LaVeyan Satanism — Founded by Anton LaVey in 1966, this form of Atheistic Satanism is also called The Church of Satan, and is characterized by its emphasis on doing unto others while also pushing individualism and self-indulgence.
2. Symbolic Satanism — Also known as Modern Satanism, this type of Atheistic Satanism holds all religions and spiritual practices should be combated, and they do so via rituals, customs and practice of Satanic religious beliefs.
3. Casual Satanism — Adolescent Satanism is another name for this form of Atheistic Satanism, which uses the shock value of satanic symbols, like a pentagram to make people think that its members are indeed Satanists. Often, those practicing Casual Satanism do not necessarily have Satanic beliefs, and they do not subscribe to the notion of Satanism as their religion.

A belief in Satanism, or devil worship, has been blamed for a variety of recent crimes and violent incidents, especially those perpetuated by teenagers. One notable incident is the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanism