The Eleven Rules of Satanism

I still have issues with most of those, but they're much better than the 10 Commandments. I've noted a number of times that I much more agree with LaVeyan Satanism's ethics than any mainstream religion's ethics. The issues I have with LaVey's rules aren't as serious as the issues I have with, say, Christian ethics.

LaVey's "Nine Satanic Sins" are worth posting, too:


(1) Stupidity

The top of the list for Satanic Sins. The Cardinal Sin of Satanism. It’s too bad that stupidity isn’t painful. Ignorance is one thing, but our society thrives increasingly on stupidity. It depends on people going along with whatever they are told. The media promotes a cultivated stupidity as a posture that is not only acceptable but laudable. Satanists must learn to see through the tricks and cannot afford to be stupid.

(2) Pretentiousness

Empty posturing can be most irritating and isn’t applying the cardinal rules of Lesser Magic. On equal footing with stupidity for what keeps the money in circulation these days. Everyone’s made to feel like a big shot, whether they can come up with the goods or not.

(3) Solipsism

Can be very dangerous for Satanists. Projecting your reactions, responses and sensibilities onto someone who is probably far less attuned than you are. It is the mistake of expecting people to give you the same consideration, courtesy and respect that you naturally give them. They won’t. Instead, Satanists must strive to apply the dictum of “Do unto others as they do unto you.” It’s work for most of us and requires constant vigilance lest you slip into a comfortable illusion of everyone being like you. As has been said, certain utopias would be ideal in a nation of philosophers, but unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately, from a Machiavellian standpoint) we are far from that point.

(4) Self-deceit

It’s in the “Nine Satanic Statements” but deserves to be repeated here. Another cardinal sin. We must not pay homage to any of the sacred cows presented to us, including the roles we are expected to play ourselves. The only time self-deceit should be entered into is when it’s fun, and with awareness. But then, it’s not self-deceit!

(5) Herd Conformity

That’s obvious from a Satanic stance. It’s all right to conform to a person’s wishes, if it ultimately benefits you. But only fools follow along with the herd, letting an impersonal entity dictate to you. The key is to choose a master wisely instead of being enslaved by the whims of the many.

(6) Lack of Perspective

Again, this one can lead to a lot of pain for a Satanist. You must never lose sight of who and what you are, and what a threat you can be, by your very existence. We are making history right now, every day. Always keep the wider historical and social picture in mind. That is an important key to both Lesser and Greater Magic. See the patterns and fit things together as you want the pieces to fall into place. Do not be swayed by herd constraints—know that you are working on another level entirely from the rest of the world.

(7) Forgetfulness of Past Orthodoxies

Be aware that this is one of the keys to brainwashing people into accepting something new and different, when in reality it’s something that was once widely accepted but is now presented in a new package. We are expected to rave about the genius of the creator and forget the original. This makes for a disposable society.

(8) Counterproductive Pride

That first word is important. Pride is great up to the point you begin to throw out the baby with the bathwater. The rule of Satanism is: if it works for you, great. When it stops working for you, when you’ve painted yourself into a corner and the only way out is to say, I’m sorry, I made a mistake, I wish we could compromise somehow, then do it.

(9) Lack of Aesthetics

This is the physical application of the Balance Factor. Aesthetics is important in Lesser Magic and should be cultivated. It is obvious that no one can collect any money off classical standards of beauty and form most of the time so they are discouraged in a consumer society, but an eye for beauty, for balance, is an essential Satanic tool and must be applied for greatest magical effectiveness. It’s not what’s supposed to be pleasing—it’s what is. Aesthetics is a personal thing, reflective of one’s own nature, but there are universally pleasing and harmonious configurations that should not be denied.


And his 9 Satanic Statements:


(1) Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence!

(2) Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams!

(3) Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit!

(4) Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates!

(5) Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek!

(6) Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires!

(7) Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all!

(8) Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!

(9) Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!

The 10 Commandments are, of course, better. Because it forbids killing, stealing, lying about other people, & promotes family values.

Online, you can find it here:  www.churchofsatan.com/eleven-rules-of-earth.php

Otherwise, it's in Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible and some other books by and about LaVey.

Both sets of rules are arbitrary. I only agree with a few.

I'll list the rules of Satanism I agree with: 3, 6, 9.
The 10 commandments on this list: 6, 8, 9 (5, 7, 8 for Germans).

So 3 out of each. Not a significant difference.

Let's list those I disagree strongly with.
Satanism: 4, 11
10 commandments: 1, 5 (1, 4 for Germans).

Again, not a significant difference.
The others I am more or less indifferent too.

Weaknesses of Satanism: It fails to give definitions of mating signals and magic.
And since any mating signal can be interpreted as a sexual advance, it seems that rule #5 is a Catch-22.

However, Satanism seems to respect the Golden Rule, sort of. This is a plus in favor of Satanism.

The Golden Rule (do as you would be done by), or maybe more the Silver Rule (don't do unto others what you don't want to be done to you) are my guidelines.

The Golden Rule was formulated by Jews, 3000 years ago; and most advanced ethical systems, theistic or not, have a variation of it in their guidelines.
It's weird that Judaism and Christianity have not listed it in their 10 commandments. Some teachings of the New Testament are in accordance with the Golden Rule. But you have to look for them.

Bottom line: Both Christianity and Satanism are not for me.

So? Just goes to show that satanic "rules" are just a rip-off of the 10 Commandments, in end of the day.

So basically the same rules for being a libertarian?

People are so fascinated with Golden Rule origin.

Why can't we all just agree the Bible version says it best?