Laveyan Satanism in a nutshell

Note: I did not write this. The original is here:  http://dasatanists.deviantart.com/art/Lavey-Satanism-in-a-nutshell-35360723

Satanism is often mistaken as being a religion that encourages cruelty and irresponsible behaviour, but LaVey's brand is very different. There is a libertarian element; diversity is encouraged, everyone is expected to discover their own sexuality, chart their own personality, and decide their own ambitions in life. In this stress on individuality, Satanism is considered a "Left-Hand Path" religion.

The LaVeyan Satanist does not generally believe in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic idea of God; the function of God is performed and satisfied by the Satanist him/herself. That is, the needs of worship, ritual, and religious/spiritual focus are directed, effectively, inwards towards the Satanist, as opposed to outwards, towards God. A LaVeyan Satanist is likely to differ from other types of Satanist in this respect; in LaVey's philosophy, God is rarely mentioned, and never discussed directly. A LaVeyan Satanist is less likely to hold a belief in God than a Satanist who sees Satan as a rival to God.

Satan is not a real, living entity, conscious or a physical thing that can be interacted with. It is a symbol, something ethereal, something that basically doesn't exist except as an emotional attachment and personal dream. Just like Buddhists do not worship Buddha, Satanists hold up Satan as an ultimate principal rather than an object of literal worship. Satan inspires and provokes people, like all (honest) religions the ultimate point is self-help. God believers have a different opinion on what Satan is, but their opinion is a result of their religion. Satanism's Satan is much more eclectic and multicultural than to be defined by Christianity or Islam.

Many people have asked why we don't just call it Humanism, or Athiesm instead of Satanism?

It is not humanism because:

The starting point for understanding Satanic philosophy towards mankind and our place in the universe is the same as understanding the basics of the Humanistic world view. But Satanism is more than Humanism. Satanism is religious whereas Humanism is not due to the religious symbolism, ceremony, ritualistic and dogmatic aspects of Satanism. Humanism is thoroughly productive and down to Earth, an all-round force for goodness, intelligence, intelligent and non-mystical morality that is based on reason, not faith. As the basis of morality within Satanism, Humanism is very hard to fault aside from its lack of religious imagery and ritual. In the modern secular world, such things are not acknowledged as useful to all people. And indeed they're not. Satanism cannot be arrived at through pure logic, unlike Humanism, as Satanism requires religious imagery and therefore requires the knowledge of previous religions. Culturally, without the legacy of "demonic" Human instinct given to us by self-denying religious philosophy and asceticism

It is not Athiesm because:

Both of them are Atheistic in Nature...  But, here is where we are not the same... Satanists claim themselves to be their own god, Atheists do NOT.  (Most times) Satanists do NOT have a problem bearing the name Satanist, Atheists refuse to have any label what so ever.  Satanists live a lifestyle which is outlined in The Satanic Bible (they do not follow it word by word, nor find it is the only place to get answers and feel they should only follow everything that is written in it, ect.), Atheists do NOT. To put it bluntly (seeing as how this is supposed to be a summary, not a long long essay), mere atheism does not have the sharp edge of Satanism.

Satanism is Satanism because:

Satanism inspires. The word and title of Satanism is part of that. All Satanists' have personal reasons which are multiple and varied; Satanism thrives on individualism, personal reflection and non comformity. Everyone has their reasons. The concept of Satan is not the property of Christianity - modern monotheistic religions generally use the term Satan to describe their anti-God, but these concepts evolved from older pagan polytheistic concepts. Christianity overuses the term, but we do not accept their definition of Satan. The word Satan is not property of any Church! Least of all foreign ones! The word "Satan" originates from a transliteration of the Hebrew word "an opposer" or "an accuser": And therefore a Satanist is someone who follows this route - the opposition. Like the Shadow Government we do not endorse the status quo unless we can justify it for ourselves. The word Satan became to mean opposition to the Church, to the Holy Church, not through our own actions but through the actions of those who wished to rule over us in the name of a fictitious God. Linguistically we have always been Satanists. It is incredibly useful to us that the dumb, bigoted and ignorant will presume that a Satanist is an immature person who sneaks around graveyards at night time because it allows us to immediately filter out a whole set of people who are not ready (and may never be) to perceive us. Finally: It sounds good. It allows the rebel to rebel, and yet remain logical and factual. It allows those who become dissatisfied with their faith to defect and revel in truth rather than descend into petty faith crime, or self deluded "sin". It is a net to catch the elite who see past what they were presented with.

It is a common Christian misconception that Satanism and Paganism are the same.  I know this because I see Pagan's being called devil worshippers just the same.  It is a label that sheep use for what they don't understand, and refuse to open their eyes and see.  Paganism is more Deistic in nature, as opposed to Atheistic, in that they claim a "higher power".  Whether it is the god, or Goddess, or what ever they want, they believe in a higher power, and the Satanist does NOT.  Satanists claim to be their own god, and holding nothing and no ONE above them spiritually.  Pagan's try to be kind and hot harm people, where as a Satanist is polite by nature but if wronged can be the most deadly creature on the planet.

Satanism can be considered to be:

Not dualistic: souls and bodies are indivisible and there is no war between cosmic good and cosmic evil Autodeists - we worship ourselves. The only God we can ever perceive is in our own existential world. We are each a God.

Materialistic:  A "human potential" movement. Striving for longer life and a better education.

Science and technology are necessary. We who walk this dark path along with the same interests will pursue the elimination of Human limitation to the maximum Of the left hand path Opposition of religions, especially those that hold a belief in an afterlife. Satanism is an un-religion. Satanism adopts the adversaries of major religions as its standard bearers.

Lavey Satanists do not murder children, or kill animals as they are considered the purest form of life there is. Also they do not do weird things to virgins. Lavey Satanists do not burn down churches either. Why should they risk their necks just to burn down a handy place to put Christians?

There is no standard for what a Satanist is supposed to be like; the only requirement to be a Satanist is to live like one. This is a very open-minded and diverse religion and not all satanists follow what has been said here. The encouragement of diversity and individuality is what makes this such a fine religion.