Satanism’S Prime Mover
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©2007 Peter H. Gilmore ISBN 10: 0-9764035-7-9 (cloth) ISBN 13: 978-0-9764035-7-9 ISBN 10: 0-9764035-9-5 (paperback) ISBN 13: 978-0-9764035-9-3 All rights reserved 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Goat of Mendes Painting by Peter Gilmore Interior Illustrations by Timothy Patrick Butler Author Portrait by Chistopher R. Mealie Typesetting and Design by Keven I. Slaughter Baltimore, MD ScapegoatPublishing.com Printed in Singapore FOR PEGGY -=my beloved=- To: Anton Szandor LaVey, Satanism’s Prime Mover. Blanche Barton, whose strength is legendary. Those who have been with me from the beginning: Ruth & Coop—stalwart co-conspirators, the founding members of the Order of Fenris—Magister Diabolus Rex, Magister Nemo, Magistra Isabel, and Reverend Manning. Charles Addams, who rendered our kin and Arthur Fellig, a romantic realist. Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, and Christopher Lee, who gave eternal life to multifaceted monsters. Ayn Rand and Madalyn Murray O’Hair, women of monumental courage. Jim Knipfel and George Carlin, fellow misanthropes. Eiji Tsuburaya and Akira Ifukube, who gave form and voice to the classic Daikaiju. Joi Lansing and Mamie Van Doren, bountiful bombshells. Jackie Gleason, Oscar Levant, and Orson Welles, remarkable polymaths who unleashed their dark sides. John Kennedy Toole and Mel Brooks, who show us how deeply funny the human animal can be. Frank Herbert, who saw potential and Gene Roddenberry, who created an Is-To-Be. And To: The magnificent Magisters and Magistras, profound Priests and Priestesses, wondrous Witches and Warlocks, astounding Agents, and the ever-inspiring loyal cohort that makes up the Citizenry of our Infernal Empire— you are an aristocracy of achievers, many of whom are cherished friends, and cannot know how very much you each mean to me. Special thanks to the esteemed Reverends who gave form to my content in this volume: Keven I. Slaughter, Timothy Patrick Butler, Christopher Mealie, Steven J. Everitt, and Chris X. CONTENTS Prelude by Blanche Barton Overture The Essays Satanism: The Feared Religion We are Legion Alienation A primer for Fledgling Misanthropologists The Tide Turns Apocalypse Now I Am The Light and The Way On the First Anniversary of 9/11 Victors and Victims: From West Memphis to Columbine Pervasive Pantywaistism The Fascism Question Eugenics Iron Youth Founding Family: “Morality” versus Same-Sex Marriage Intellectual Black Holes Green-Eyed Hamster Satanic Aesthetics Diabolus in Musica Idol Pleasures Hell of a Town ANTON SZANDOR LaVEY: A Tribute Farewell, Dark Fane On Elaboration and Justice Natural Hierarchy: As Above, So Below Masterful Slaves The Myth of the “Satanic Community: Rebels Without Cause The Magic of Mastery Every man and Woman is a Star… Time Travel—Cheap and Easy What, the Devil? The Rituals Satanic Ritual A Satanic Wedding A Satanic Funeral Rite Rite of Ragnarök Nocturne: To The Devil Born by Peggy Nadramia Prelude FOR MANY YEARS, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the book you now hold in your hands. It is full of fire, conviction, depth and intellectual power—as well as some devilish winks. When people ask me, “What kind of man is Peter H. Gilmore? Why did you appoint him High Priest?” I’d wish there was one book I could give them that would effectively showcase this multi-faceted individualist. Yes, I could easily direct inquirers to our website where one can find many terrific edicts and essays written by our new High Priest, or to back issues of The Black Flame, where earlier versions of many of these essays were incarnated, or I could just be a dictatorial ass and respond (preferably with a thick, fake-Hungarian/Germanic accent), “Because I know what is in his soul and I appointed him to the role he had earned! How dare you question my judgment!” That last bit would be a tad out of character, and not very Satanic. We aren’t too keen on taking things “on faith” and, while we all enjoy wicked posturing once in awhile, members of the Church of Satan deserve more than that. What kind of man is Peter H. Gilmore? Dr. LaVey and I met Magus Gilmore, and his magically-adapt wife (now High Priestess) Peggy Nadramia, at Izzy’s chophouse one drizzly autumn night in San Francisco in 1986. They were poised, articulate, respectful. They both seemed to have a solid grasp of the dark evocations of Satanism, as well as the flashier, Coney Island aspects that blended so naturally in Anton LaVey’s heart, and impressed themselves on his Church. Dr. LaVey was intrigued enough to invite them back to the Black House after dinner for conversation and music until the wee hours…and that was just the first of many long nights together over the next 11 years. The “Satanic Panic” was just beginning to rumble, and, after a short probation, we assigned our new cohorts in the East various administrative and publicity tasks to test their mettle. They rose to the occasion at every turn, facilitating but never intruding, following our High Priest’s lead, having the ego strength to never chafe under his direction. Together with other representatives around the globe, we weathered the panic. Dr. LaVey welcomed Peter and Peggy as valuable and unfaltering assets to his organization. Early on, Peggy Nadramia understood the power and potential of the Internet and created a presence for us there. Quite seamlessly over time, they became our Media Coordinators, designed our website and developed the Special Interest Groups, which with the reinvigoration of the Grotto system, allowed fellow Satanists the focused, productive contact we all find so enlivening. Already publishing the excellent horror fiction magazine Grue, they began publishing The Black Flame, which quickly developed into the premiere forum for Satanic thought. Through the years, Peter revealed himself to be anachronistic, almost courtly, betraying manners and sensibilities not of this era, yet very much suited to it. As you’ll see in his writings, he shares an element of genuine idealism many Satanists harbor, contrasting starkly with the various and vocal Goodguy- badge victimization cults rampant in our wider society. When the time came for fresh, invigorating blood five years ago, the choice for High Priest became obvious to me. Years ago, when some young Turk would come on the scene, claiming to be the great black hope of Satanism, Dr. LaVey used to say, “Can he come up with the goods?” Not ego. Ego is easy—we’re Satanists! But the man I needed had to have much more substance than that. He couldn’t just be another guy in a swirling black cape looking to get his face in front of the cameras. What goes on in front of the cameras is only a mere sliver of what actually has to get done to keep this organization going. The new High Priest has to be the Head Administrator, making sure all the jobs are getting done at the same time. He has no time for snoozing comfortably on his diabolical throne or preening in front of the glass. Questions have to be answered, attacks must be deftly parried. And the impetus to keep the organization going has to come from extraordinary conviction that what you are advocating is right. Peter H. Gilmore has fulfilled these requirements nine-fold. The strength and resonance you read in these essays doesn’t come from empty ego and posturing—it comes from deep understanding and hard-won wisdom. In a way, Peter has both the best and the worst job in the world. On the one hand, he has, through years of dedication, risen to the position of being the foremost representative of Satanic principles on Earth. He has the satisfaction of contributing substantially every day to a philosophy that he has held deep allegiance to since he was 13 years old. On the other hand, he is following in the footsteps of the found of our religion. He has precepts he is bound to adhere to, yet must also follow his own heart to guide us into virgin territory, forming new policies and exploring new attitudes as we move forward. World situations change. How does Satanism apply in these new circumstances? Anton LaVey gave us a philosophy that allows for evolution and constant change. We require a confident leader who can get past spewing party line rhetoric and dogma, who can take the themes and courageously refine as needed. He cannot be constrained by the past, but he should build constructively on our foundations. Inevitably, he must fend off criticism both from within and without. Few would dare question Anton LaVey’s judgment; he’s the founder, he must know what he’s doing. But those after him are fair game for armchair advice Magus Gilmore has risen to the task admirably, proving himself a steady and capable leader. As he himself brings out in his “Overture”, our High priest sees his role not as dictator but as Director, patiently recognizing and drawing forth the best in each of us (unless some upstart deserves a firm kick in the keister—he’s enthusiastically committed to that form of therapy, as well). One magical skill Anton LaVey possessed was a keen perception of people. As Peter has matured over the past twenty years I’ve known him, he’s grown quite worldly, as well—not that he was anyone’s fool to begin with. But being a Church of Satan administrator places one in an unequalled position to meet some vital, driven human beings, as well as some uniquely scabrous rogues. Sorting the wheat from the chaff is essential, and Peter Gilmore has become a master.