The man who turned Satanism into a modern, highly visible religion
He was called the Black Pope and walked a pet black leopard through San Francisco. Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan not as a worship of evil, but as a philosophy of ethical egoism, using showmanship to transform occultism into a public, enduring movement.
Anton Szandor LaVey, born Howard Stanton Levey in 1930, was a master of persona. While he claimed a colorful past—including working as a circus cage boy and having an affair with Marilyn Monroe—investigative journalists like Lawrence Wright found little evidence to support these tales. Whether true or not, LaVey’s ability to command attention was undeniable. He was a musician, a photographer, and a self-described showman who famously walked a black leopard named Zoltan through the streets of San Francisco.
In 1966, LaVey officially established the Church of Satan, declaring it 'Year One' of the Age of Satan. Unlike the apocalyptic cults of the 20th century, LaVey’s organization offered members significant autonomy. His ideology was a complex blend of social Darwinism and the works of thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche and Ayn Rand. He utilized ritual to express these ideas, often drawing on the 'Enochian Keys' of John Dee, though scholars suggest he used these historical references with a degree of irony.
LaVey's influence extended far beyond his small circle of followers. Through books like The Satanic Bible, his ideas reached global audiences, appearing in major news outlets and even talk shows. Despite the intense media scrutiny and labels like 'the evilest man in the world,' his religious framework was presented as a form of ethical egoism rather than the worship of a literal Antichrist. He remained a polarizing, iconic figure until his death in 1997, leaving behind a legacy that fundamentally shaped modern Satanic discourse.
Source: Anton LaVey
