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Introduction

Faxneld, Per and Nilsson, Johan LU (2023) p.1-23
Abstract
This introductory chapter provides an overview of the history of Satanism. As an open identity, Satanism only became possible in a time when Christianity’s hold on legal systems and social norms weakened. In that sense, Satanism is a direct product of secularization. As a religious practice or coherent system of thought, Satanism did not exist any earlier than around the year 1900, when pioneers like Stanislaw Przybyszewski and Ben Kadosh appeared. However, strands of Satanic thought can be found in a series of instances prior to this, and some of these early ideas remain influential today. The chapter also looks at the establishment of groups like the Church of Satan, the Process Church of the Final Judgement, the Temple of Set, and the... (More)
This introductory chapter provides an overview of the history of Satanism. As an open identity, Satanism only became possible in a time when Christianity’s hold on legal systems and social norms weakened. In that sense, Satanism is a direct product of secularization. As a religious practice or coherent system of thought, Satanism did not exist any earlier than around the year 1900, when pioneers like Stanislaw Przybyszewski and Ben Kadosh appeared. However, strands of Satanic thought can be found in a series of instances prior to this, and some of these early ideas remain influential today. The chapter also looks at the establishment of groups like the Church of Satan, the Process Church of the Final Judgement, the Temple of Set, and the Order of the Nine Angles. While never a numerically significant religion, Satanism’s controversial and confrontational character makes it an excellent case study for discussing broader methodological and theoretical issues. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Satanism, Satan, Christianity, Stanislaw Przybyszewski, Ben Kadosh, Satanic thought, Church of Satan
host publication
Satanism : A Reader - A Reader
editor
Faxneld, Per and Nilsson, Johan
pages
23 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
ISBN
9780197650394
9780197650400
9780199913558
9780199913534
DOI
10.1093/oso/9780199913534.001.0001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
691543d7-ba0a-482b-8918-b9238e90c4b5
date added to LUP
2023-11-21 14:27:28
date last changed
2023-11-22 13:00:22
@inbook{691543d7-ba0a-482b-8918-b9238e90c4b5,
  abstract     = {{This introductory chapter provides an overview of the history of Satanism. As an open identity, Satanism only became possible in a time when Christianity’s hold on legal systems and social norms weakened. In that sense, Satanism is a direct product of secularization. As a religious practice or coherent system of thought, Satanism did not exist any earlier than around the year 1900, when pioneers like Stanislaw Przybyszewski and Ben Kadosh appeared. However, strands of Satanic thought can be found in a series of instances prior to this, and some of these early ideas remain influential today. The chapter also looks at the establishment of groups like the Church of Satan, the Process Church of the Final Judgement, the Temple of Set, and the Order of the Nine Angles. While never a numerically significant religion, Satanism’s controversial and confrontational character makes it an excellent case study for discussing broader methodological and theoretical issues.}},
  author       = {{Faxneld, Per and Nilsson, Johan}},
  booktitle    = {{Satanism : A Reader}},
  editor       = {{Faxneld, Per and Nilsson, Johan}},
  isbn         = {{9780197650394}},
  keywords     = {{Satanism; Satan; Christianity; Stanislaw Przybyszewski; Ben Kadosh; Satanic thought; Church of Satan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1--23}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  title        = {{Introduction}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199913534.001.0001}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/oso/9780199913534.001.0001}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}