First Page
28
Last Page
42
Abstract
The history of Satanism goes back to at least 2500 years. Yet, only in the seventeenth century, was the devil perceived in more sympathetic terms, in large part due to John Milton’s Paradise Lost.1 In the twentieth century, Aleister Crowley assumed the name of “The Beast 666,” as well as owning the title of “the wickedest man in the world.”2 But, it was during the second half of the twentieth century, when an openly Satanic movement arose and gained significant attention from mass media with the enigmatic and sensationalist Anton LaVey at its helm.3 In this article, I examine the charisma and life of Anton Lavey and explore how he drew on philosophy and literature to create a religious movement that challenged Christian morality and sytematic power.
