What do you think?
Rate this book
The Satanic Bible: 50th Anniversary ReVision
NOTE: The Satanic Bible is available in four premium black & white paperback $18, hardcover black & white $30, premium full-color paperback $75, and full-color Kindle ebook $6.66. The paperbacks and Kindle are options here; for the hardcover is a Lulu publication.
When Anton Szandor LaVey published his original Satanic Bible fifty yers ago, it was an angry book - and it had plenty to be angry It confronted a humanity which for more than two thousand years had been taught to hate itself, fear God, and hide from a threatening, very un-Edenic universe around it. Even worse, humans were told they were not only originally-sinful and imperfect, but imperfectible - except, perhaps, through the intercession of an Islamic Mohammed or Christian Jesus, demanding absolute abasement and obedience.
With men and women reduced to naked, shamed animals, therefore, Anton saw and argued in his Bible that the only solution was to be the strongest, craftiest, and most hedonistic animal “in the valley”. It was a prescription of power and vengeance to delight an Ayn Rand or Orwellian O’Brien.
But then, in the 10-year exoteric crucible of the Church of Satan, followed by the 40-year esoteric one of the Temple of Set, we discovered that humans not only had nothing to be inherently ashamed or guilty about, but that indeed we are self-perfectible; and that Black Magic enables us not just to decipher and harmonize with the Objective Universe without, but to discover the Subjective Universe of divine immortality within.
So this is not an angry Satanic Bible<>. It is one of excitement, exuberance, the delight of virtue and nobility for their own sake. The cosmology it reveals and the Black Magic it teaches are not weapons to hurt but tools of divine enlightenment and transformation. Your eternity begins now.
When Anton Szandor LaVey published his original Satanic Bible fifty yers ago, it was an angry book - and it had plenty to be angry It confronted a humanity which for more than two thousand years had been taught to hate itself, fear God, and hide from a threatening, very un-Edenic universe around it. Even worse, humans were told they were not only originally-sinful and imperfect, but imperfectible - except, perhaps, through the intercession of an Islamic Mohammed or Christian Jesus, demanding absolute abasement and obedience.
With men and women reduced to naked, shamed animals, therefore, Anton saw and argued in his Bible that the only solution was to be the strongest, craftiest, and most hedonistic animal “in the valley”. It was a prescription of power and vengeance to delight an Ayn Rand or Orwellian O’Brien.
But then, in the 10-year exoteric crucible of the Church of Satan, followed by the 40-year esoteric one of the Temple of Set, we discovered that humans not only had nothing to be inherently ashamed or guilty about, but that indeed we are self-perfectible; and that Black Magic enables us not just to decipher and harmonize with the Objective Universe without, but to discover the Subjective Universe of divine immortality within.
So this is not an angry Satanic Bible<>. It is one of excitement, exuberance, the delight of virtue and nobility for their own sake. The cosmology it reveals and the Black Magic it teaches are not weapons to hurt but tools of divine enlightenment and transformation. Your eternity begins now.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2018
14 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 23, 2019
Firstly, this is not a replacement for Anton LaVey's original 'Satanic Bible'. Instead. it is a restatement of the fundamental principles and philosophy by the person who was LaVey's right hand man at the time when the Church of Satan was at its peak.
The original 'Satanic Bible' is a passionate and eloquent tearing down of the lies and restrictions of centuries of superstition, and the establishment of a powerful, Self-oriented creed and practice in their place, It offers keys to human nature and progression for those with the wit to grasp them.
This new ReVision is a calmer, more philosophical work intended to deepen the understanding of those same principles, making them more coherent and giving them a more far-sighted purpose.
Ultimately, each book complements the other: the passion and drive of the original being focused and refined and deepened by the precision and philosophical profundity of the ReVision.
The original 'Satanic Bible' is a passionate and eloquent tearing down of the lies and restrictions of centuries of superstition, and the establishment of a powerful, Self-oriented creed and practice in their place, It offers keys to human nature and progression for those with the wit to grasp them.
This new ReVision is a calmer, more philosophical work intended to deepen the understanding of those same principles, making them more coherent and giving them a more far-sighted purpose.
Ultimately, each book complements the other: the passion and drive of the original being focused and refined and deepened by the precision and philosophical profundity of the ReVision.
March 29, 2022
Just read Black Magic by the same author as it is much better. There you'll find the same concepts, better explained.
This is not the Satanic Bible. First it has an imitation of Paradise Lost, then summaries of essays. History of the Church of Satan (Aquino has another more extensive book about this topic if you are interested). Finally, more summaries of the content on the Satanic Bible.
This is not the Satanic Bible. First it has an imitation of Paradise Lost, then summaries of essays. History of the Church of Satan (Aquino has another more extensive book about this topic if you are interested). Finally, more summaries of the content on the Satanic Bible.
January 21, 2023
I like your funny words magic man
May 23, 2021
This revision of the Satanic Bible by Michael Aquino is better written than Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible in the sense that it actually credits its sources. I appreciate that, more than anything. It also goes into more depth when explaining the philosophy of the Left-Hand Path and the theory of Greater Black Magic and Lesser Black Magic. At times, the theories and philosophy don't appear to align with what is written in the original Satanic Bible - but I don't mind. The idea of subjective universes and objective universes, and how either can be influenced and how the five dimensions play a part in all of this - the theory fascinates me - even when I find myself needing to reread it a few times in order to understand what he's talking about.
At times, it seemed like I was reading a bible for the Temple of Set. Although Set, the Mindstar, and Xepher are all very interesting and even quite relevant to the LHP, I would have rather stuck to terminology found in the original Satanic Bible.
I'm not convinced that Aquino's interpretation of the Enochian Keys (or The Word of Set) is any better than LaVey's (okay, no, it is better than LaVey's), but I'm not sure how it's any better than Crowley's. It just seems like one more interpretation.
I also appreciated that it was organized into four sections just like the original - the Book of Satan, the Book of Lucifer, the Book of Belial, and the Book of Leviathan. The extras at the end of the book were fascinating, although I do not know how they were relevant to the book as a whole. All the same, I really enjoyed reading Aquino's recollection of how LaVey showed him a hole in the basement, leading to a tunnel, which could likely collapse at any minute. The skeptic in me doubted parts of the story, but hey, I'm a skeptic. I do not doubt that there are tunnels beneath the ground because that's quite common. Seattle has an underground city, and anyone can tour it. I simply doubt that LaVey believed there was anything mystical about it. He was a showman, and I'm more willing to believe that he was putting on a show for Aquino. But who am I to judge? I was not there. All I can have are my doubts.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. Even if you disagree with the theory and philosophy, if you want to know anything about the topic, this is the book to read.
At times, it seemed like I was reading a bible for the Temple of Set. Although Set, the Mindstar, and Xepher are all very interesting and even quite relevant to the LHP, I would have rather stuck to terminology found in the original Satanic Bible.
I'm not convinced that Aquino's interpretation of the Enochian Keys (or The Word of Set) is any better than LaVey's (okay, no, it is better than LaVey's), but I'm not sure how it's any better than Crowley's. It just seems like one more interpretation.
I also appreciated that it was organized into four sections just like the original - the Book of Satan, the Book of Lucifer, the Book of Belial, and the Book of Leviathan. The extras at the end of the book were fascinating, although I do not know how they were relevant to the book as a whole. All the same, I really enjoyed reading Aquino's recollection of how LaVey showed him a hole in the basement, leading to a tunnel, which could likely collapse at any minute. The skeptic in me doubted parts of the story, but hey, I'm a skeptic. I do not doubt that there are tunnels beneath the ground because that's quite common. Seattle has an underground city, and anyone can tour it. I simply doubt that LaVey believed there was anything mystical about it. He was a showman, and I'm more willing to believe that he was putting on a show for Aquino. But who am I to judge? I was not there. All I can have are my doubts.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. Even if you disagree with the theory and philosophy, if you want to know anything about the topic, this is the book to read.
August 16, 2022
Seriously lost interest at this point. I was hoping for a text similar to the christian bibe that had parables, Psalms, songs, a list of do's and don'ts. The closest we get is a list of 'indulgences' that are just the seven deadly sins of Christianity to be enjoyed but not committed compulsively.
The vast majority of this book is a history lesson on how satanism came to be and a bunch of esoteric references to ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian beliefs without any true substance beyond " hey these things existed".
One part I found particularly hilarious is the "explanation" of subjective and objective universes along with fifth dimensional beings and how Einstein's theory of general relativity is hogwash, despite it being measured in nature. Big waste of time
The vast majority of this book is a history lesson on how satanism came to be and a bunch of esoteric references to ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian beliefs without any true substance beyond " hey these things existed".
One part I found particularly hilarious is the "explanation" of subjective and objective universes along with fifth dimensional beings and how Einstein's theory of general relativity is hogwash, despite it being measured in nature. Big waste of time
August 19, 2022
It’s interesting what you find when you push through the fears adopted from others to unmask the monster only to find that there isn’t one. This was a good read that years ago I would have never dared to pick up based solely on the beliefs of others who only know what they’ve been told. I don’t know anyone who has dared to find out for themselves and make an authentic opinion based on their own perception. Thanks Michael and Anton.
October 3, 2022
This book is basically Michael Aquino's views, and has little to do with Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible. He most likely used the title for publicity value. Anton and Diane Lavey heatedly hated Aquino, and called him "Mikey." He was obssessed with titles and awards, even including Boy Scout awards on his resume. His ambitions and scheming broke up the original Church of Satan. Diane cursed Aquino, and she outlived him.
Read
October 12, 2024I had to give up on this book before the end of the Table of Contents, because it was so damn confusing. The Prefaces seemed to be a series of in-jokes, so I immediately opted out.
Real Satanists in America do not believe in God, Satan, or anything supernatural. They just call themselves Satanists to piss off the religious.
Anton LaVey was good for a laugh in his day. He was about as dangerous as a fart in a hurricane. No idea who Michael Aquino is, but apparently he's not as funny.
Real Satanists in America do not believe in God, Satan, or anything supernatural. They just call themselves Satanists to piss off the religious.
Anton LaVey was good for a laugh in his day. He was about as dangerous as a fart in a hurricane. No idea who Michael Aquino is, but apparently he's not as funny.
Read
September 14, 2021this is non fiction!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2022
He is the true god not that laying fake Christianity God fuck him with his 10 comments
December 18, 2023
Great book
I read LeVey's years back, and I've thoroughly enjoyed this book as well. I think that if you are serious about learning about Satanism, then read this book.
I read LeVey's years back, and I've thoroughly enjoyed this book as well. I think that if you are serious about learning about Satanism, then read this book.
March 29, 2022
Rieading again, it's a totally different book from the Lavey bible, and I really would like another name to avoid mistakes
Well, that said, I enjoying even more now that I have more knowledge about gnosticism, Hermeticism and Plato. It's all there. This is Philosophy book, very dense and well written.
What i liked the most: Good history references about Hebrew god El, the Objective-Subjetive Universe explanation, Low Black and High Black Magic, Plato References , Ritual ideas, Kepher
What I didn't like: Long introduction, Satanomicon invented to make a fake Mithology, the references to Egyptian Set which I just found aren't historic corrects.
Could be more concise and objective, but in think the book itself and Aquino biography are a realization of Low-High Magic as himself describe.
Well, that said, I enjoying even more now that I have more knowledge about gnosticism, Hermeticism and Plato. It's all there. This is Philosophy book, very dense and well written.
What i liked the most: Good history references about Hebrew god El, the Objective-Subjetive Universe explanation, Low Black and High Black Magic, Plato References , Ritual ideas, Kepher
What I didn't like: Long introduction, Satanomicon invented to make a fake Mithology, the references to Egyptian Set which I just found aren't historic corrects.
Could be more concise and objective, but in think the book itself and Aquino biography are a realization of Low-High Magic as himself describe.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews