Reddit Reddit reviews The Devil's Party: Satanism In Modernity

We found 4 Reddit comments about The Devil's Party: Satanism In Modernity. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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The Devil's Party: Satanism In Modernity
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4 Reddit comments about The Devil's Party: Satanism In Modernity:

u/smackababy · 2 pointsr/satanism

If you're more into LeVeyan Satanism, The Church of Satan and the Satanic Temple maintain suggested reading lists.

I personally have been reading The Devil's Party which approaches Satanism from an outside academic stance, and it's been rather interesting.

u/Dionysus_666 · 1 pointr/satanism

Regarding Stanisław Przybyszewski:

'Przybyszewski was indeed very close to exercising an lifestyle that could be symbolic of what some might see as religious. However, it was more so a worldview:
'In her doctoral dissertation, Justyna Drozdek (using Jan Cavanaugh for support) plainly states: 'Przybyszewski's interest in "Satanism" was not indicative of a religious doctrine' (Drozdek 2008:110).
'This is, however, an oversimplification based on a narrow definition of the term 'religion'. No he did not--to the best of our knowledge--celebrate black masses on Sundays or say prayers to the Devil before going to bed, nor did he found a satanic church. But he did have a fairly well-developed world view with metaphysical dimensions, where Satan was the most important symbolic figure.'
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'Stanislaw Przybyszewski formulated what is likely the first attempt ever to construct a more or less sstematic Satanism. Unlike that of other literary praisers of Satan, his love for the fallen angel was sustained through many works. It was also explicit and open; he publicly declared himself a Satanist. Above all, and this needs to be stressed as it is a major difference in comparison with other literary Satanists, it was well-developed enough to be called a system. In the history of Satanism, Przybyszewski must therefore be considered a pioneer, and perhaps, in a strict sense, even 'the first' Satanist'.'
From: 'The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity (https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Party-Satanism-Modernity/dp/0199779244/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480103092&sr=8-1&keywords=the+devil%27s+party)
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So what we have here is a man whose literary focus on Satanism was so profound that he took it upon himself to openly identify with this worldview.
While this can be said of many others in their artistic and expressive fields that, as scholars have stated in the quotes above, can definitely qualify as a system, but to the certainty of it being considered a religion in and of itself would be unclear.
Certainly he could have very well acted religiously on it. However, doubt is present where he considered his open declaration as 'Satanist' one attached to a religion that was put in place; with the name 'Satanism' and its members calling themselves 'Satanists'.
In my research of him, I haven't found a single ritual or ceremony that he practiced or put into a doctrine for others to practice.

So, we still have to go with LaVey as the first person to establish a religion called Satanism and set up a system inclusive of all the elements of a religion (both philosophy and ceremony/dogma), since the evidence for him here is so explicitly compelling and reference-reinforced.

When you say that LaVey wasn't the first one to use the term Satanism or call himself a Satanist, you're right. But the argument here isn't about the existence of the word Satanism or Satanist, it's whether or not there was an actual, codified religion called Satanism. And history and research shows that LaVey was the first to set up a religion by that name.
But others were damn close.

Also, if you are to reference someone like Przybyszewski with the implication of scholarly research, don't say something like 'no matter what Gilmore-asskissing, groveling worms who would do anything for attention from their masters say'. That's not relevant to Przybyszewski's words nor his position and just makes you look petty and immature.