06.15
I started this site a couple of months ago, soon after I finally mailed my check into the Church of Satan for membership. Soon after, I began to fill out my CoS Active Membership application, which triggered a time of self reflection, clarification, and analysis. I’ve known for years that I am a Satanist, and nothing or no one can make any difference here. Mailing a check into the CoS is nothing more then having enough money on hand, little more. To apply for Active Membership, however, it to go beyond oneself, to officially declare oneself as a Satanist, and to be judged by the CoS if one is deluding oneself or not. It is an act of Greater Magic, as it is a formal declaration of both What Is, and What Is To Be. In order to be right with my own sense of ethics and honor, I needed to make time to ensure not only that this was true, but most especially, is becoming an active member something I want to do.
After much reflection, I have concluded without reservation that becoming an Active Member in the CoS is what I want to do, and I want this for more then simple ego gratification reasons. This post explores some of this self analysis.
From the very beginning, I have been clear on two things: 1) That I was a Satanist, as described in the writings of Anton LeVay, and 2) At the very least, I needed to mail a check into the CoS for membership as a small thanks to him and his church. But Active Membership is more. To me, it demanded a detailed and methodical examination of many things. What does Active Membership mean to me? What are the risks involved? The benefits? What are my real motivations for pursuing this? Do I really agree wholeheartedly with all the tenets of the Church.
And the most important of all: While the Philosophy of Satanism describes me completely, am I willing to commit to the Religion as the CoS describes it? Don’t dismiss this question outright, as they are certainly different things. The Philosophy of Satanism is a very Atheistic, Humanistic one, which provides axioms for understanding oneself and the world. I’ve known hundreds of people in my life who act accordingly, unconsciously. This occurs because the tenets of LaVey’s writings are based on observational behaviors – it describes the natural state of the animal called man. The Religion of Satanism takes this one step further, and provides both a vehicle whereby ritualistic dogma can and must be applied to further ones desires and passions, and an absolute, unshakable resolution for the first outcome of all of the basic CoS tenets: If the tenets of the CoS are wholly true, and one accepts them as this, then one has accepted complete, full and total responsibility for one’s life. There is no one to blame for anything in one’s life but oneself. There are no longer any excuses.
This process was absolutely necessary for me – an unexamined life is the way of the sheep, particularly in a Working so important as this. I have concluded that, yes, this is where I belong, and this is truly who I am: a Satanist through and through, balls to bone. I want this, and I will have it.
So, this site has been brought back (such that it is, at the moment), and my Active Membership form has been complete. Over the next few posts, I will be sharing some of my answers to the questions on the application.\
Welcome back to the Boardroom.