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Chaos Untold : The Use of Gnosticism in the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO)

Linjamaa, Paul LU orcid and Olsson, Johnny (2023) In Nova Religio 27(1). p.29-50
Abstract
This article analyzes the utilization of the concept “Gnosticism” in a form of Satanism that has come to be known as “Chaos Gnosticism,” or “Gnostic Satanism.” The topic of the study is the Swedish expression of this phenomenon attached to Current 218 and the Temple of Black Light, previously named the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO). The group is known as one of the more radical and violent forms of Satanism. The aim here is to show how MLO relates to ancient Gnostic myths and how the particular and at times sinister worldview of MLO is legitimized by the use of Gnosticism. We also argue that the way the concept “Gnosticism” is understood within the group is reminiscent of the way it is constructed in certain scholarly circles. This... (More)
This article analyzes the utilization of the concept “Gnosticism” in a form of Satanism that has come to be known as “Chaos Gnosticism,” or “Gnostic Satanism.” The topic of the study is the Swedish expression of this phenomenon attached to Current 218 and the Temple of Black Light, previously named the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO). The group is known as one of the more radical and violent forms of Satanism. The aim here is to show how MLO relates to ancient Gnostic myths and how the particular and at times sinister worldview of MLO is legitimized by the use of Gnosticism. We also argue that the way the concept “Gnosticism” is understood within the group is reminiscent of the way it is constructed in certain scholarly circles. This brings to attention the relationship between modern academic publications and the construction of new religious movements. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
This article analyzes the utilization of the concept “Gnosticism” in a form of Satanism that has come to be known as “Chaos Gnosticism,” or “Gnostic Satanism.” The topic of the study is the Swedish expressions of this phenomenon attached to Current 218 and the Temple of Black Light, previously named the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO). The group is known as one of the more radical and violent forms of Satanism. The aim here is to show how MLO relates to ancient Gnostic myths and how the particular and at times sinister worldview of MLO is legitimized by the use of Gnosticism. We also argue that the way the concept “Gnosticism” is understood within the group is reminiscent of the way it is constructed in certain scholarly circles. This... (More)
This article analyzes the utilization of the concept “Gnosticism” in a form of Satanism that has come to be known as “Chaos Gnosticism,” or “Gnostic Satanism.” The topic of the study is the Swedish expressions of this phenomenon attached to Current 218 and the Temple of Black Light, previously named the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO). The group is known as one of the more radical and violent forms of Satanism. The aim here is to show how MLO relates to ancient Gnostic myths and how the particular and at times sinister worldview of MLO is legitimized by the use of Gnosticism. We also argue that the way the concept “Gnosticism” is understood within the group is reminiscent of the way it is constructed in certain scholarly circles. This brings to attention the relationship between modern academic pub- lications and the construction of new religious movements. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Chaos Gnosticism, Gnosticism, Misanthropic Luciferian Order, modern academia, new religious movements, reception of Gnosticism, Satanism, Temple of the Black Light
in
Nova Religio
volume
27
issue
1
pages
22 pages
publisher
University of Pennsylvania Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85169331569
ISSN
1092-6690
DOI
10.1525/nr.2023.27.1.29
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f49e33dc-b5e9-40ed-be7b-132dab25662d
date added to LUP
2023-08-01 10:36:36
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:01:50
@article{f49e33dc-b5e9-40ed-be7b-132dab25662d,
  abstract     = {{This article analyzes the utilization of the concept “Gnosticism” in a form of Satanism that has come to be known as “Chaos Gnosticism,” or “Gnostic Satanism.” The topic of the study is the Swedish expression of this phenomenon attached to Current 218 and the Temple of Black Light, previously named the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO). The group is known as one of the more radical and violent forms of Satanism. The aim here is to show how MLO relates to ancient Gnostic myths and how the particular and at times sinister worldview of MLO is legitimized by the use of Gnosticism. We also argue that the way the concept “Gnosticism” is understood within the group is reminiscent of the way it is constructed in certain scholarly circles. This brings to attention the relationship between modern academic publications and the construction of new religious movements.}},
  author       = {{Linjamaa, Paul and Olsson, Johnny}},
  issn         = {{1092-6690}},
  keywords     = {{Chaos Gnosticism; Gnosticism; Misanthropic Luciferian Order; modern academia; new religious movements; reception of Gnosticism; Satanism; Temple of the Black Light}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{29--50}},
  publisher    = {{University of Pennsylvania Press}},
  series       = {{Nova Religio}},
  title        = {{Chaos Untold : The Use of Gnosticism in the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/nr.2023.27.1.29}},
  doi          = {{10.1525/nr.2023.27.1.29}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}