WESTERN NEW YORK SATANISTS

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Most modern self-identified Satanists are atheists, meaning they don't believe in any devils, gods, or other supernatural beings.  Non-theistic Satanism doesn't recognize a literal Satan, rather it honors the personality traits of the literary Satan character often depicted in fictional works such as The Revolt of the Angels by Anatole France or Paradise Lost by John Milton.  This portrayal of Satan encourages humankind to question the word of God, defy his arbitrary rules, think for themselves, act with empathy and compassion for one another, and indulge in the physical and material pleasures of life rather than deny such vices for fear of not entering Heaven.

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We are not anti-Christian (or anti-any-other-religion), nor are we satirists, "edgy atheists", activists, the black t-shirt club, or whatever other dismissive labels one might ascribe to our religion.  We are a non-theistic religious group first and foremost.  We believe no arbitrary religious or "moral" authority has the right to dictate what a person does with their own body, nor do they have the right to dictate what two or more consenting adults do with each other.

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Modern Satanism was codified primarily by Anton LaVey in The Satanic Bible and was dominated by his organization, the Church of Satan (CoS), for decades.  During this time, many splinter groups broke off to start their own paths, and many members within CoS developed new efforts and interests around Satanism which extend beyond CoS and the philosophy defined by LaVey's books.  In the last 10-15 years, Satanism has experienced a new revival of growth and evolution with the rise of other prominent Satanic groups which have either modernized LaVey's movement or carved a new path for conventional Satanic thought.

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Many of the members of Western New York Satanists are also members of The Satanic Temple (TST) which is the most prominent and rapidly-growing Satanic movement today.  We are not affiliated with TST in any official capacity, but we agree with TST's mission and Seven Tenets.  Some of our members are also members of other atheistic Satanic organizations, including United Aspects of Satan and others.  While WNYS is not affiliated with any of these groups either, our activities are generally compatible with most other atheistic Satanic philosophies.


THE SEVEN TENETS
 

One should strive to act with compassion and empathy towards all creatures in accordance with reason.

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The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.

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One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.

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The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one's own.

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Beliefs should conform to our best scientific understanding of the world. We should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit our beliefs.

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People are fallible. If we make a mistake, we should do our best to rectify it and remediate any harm that may have been caused.

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Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.