In the book The Satanic Bible, its author, the renowned American Satanist and writer Anton Szandor LaVey, elucidates the philosophy of Satanism far more profoundly than any of his predecessors. He explains why Satanism does not preach false altruism, nor does it command one to love their neighbor when one primarily loves oneself. Satanism is a distinctly egocentric philosophy based on the belief that human beings are essentially selfish and often violent creatures who primarily care for their own benefit. Satanism has understood and is unashamed to publicly proclaim what happens around us day in and day out, but what we prefer not to see and instead remain in illusions: It is not the one who is right that wins, but the one who has power. We do not live in a fairy-tale sunny land ruled by an old kind king, overflowing with milk and honey, but in a world where atomic bombs have already exploded and where everyone must take care of themselves. While the teachings of all other churches are based on the worship of the spirit and the denial of the body (and often even the intellect in favor of 'feeling'), LaVey sensed that perhaps humanity has an even greater need for a different kind of church, one that would celebrate its thinking, its earthly desires, one that would support a rationally motivated interest in...
