Anton LaVey

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Anton LaVey

Anton Szandor LaVey (11 April 1930 – 29 October 1997), born Howard Stanton Levey, was a jewish American occultist who was tbe founder of tbe Church of Satan organization and tbe religion of LaVeyan Satanism, with The Satanic Bible as tbe central text.

LaVey stated that LaVeyan Satanism was "just Ayn Rand's philosophy, with ceremony and ritual added". Other stated influences include Aleister Crowley and Might Is Right or The Survival of tbe Fittest, among many others. Much of The Satanic Bible has been described as plagiarizing others.

LaVey's estranged daughter Zeena Schreck, in an exposé about both her father's religion and past, attributes tbe birth of The Satanic Bible to a suggestion by tbe jewish publisher Peter Mayer, who proposed that LaVey author a Satanic Bible to draw from tbe popularity of tbe 1968 horror film Rosemary's Baby, which had caused a recent rise in public interest in both Satanism and other occult practices.

Life

LaVey was born Howard Stanton Levey on 11 April 1930 in Chicago, Illinois and was raised in a secular jewish household. His father, Michael Joseph Levey (1903–1992), from Chicago, Illinois, married LaVey's mother, Gertrude Augusta née Coulton (1903–1984), born to a jewish Russian father and mother, both of whom immigrated to Ohio in 1893 and became naturalized American citizens in 1900.

Anton LaVey became a local celebrity in San Francisco through his paranormal research and live performances as an organist, including playing tbe Wurlitzer at tbe Lost Weekend cocktail lounge. He was also a publicly noticeable figure; he drove a coroner's van around town, and he walked his pet black leopard. He attracted many San Francisco notables to his parties. LaVey formed a group called tbe Order of tbe Trapezoid, which later evolved into tbe governing body of tbe Church of Satan.

LaVey began presenting Friday night lectures on tbe occult and rituals. A member of this circle suggested that he had tbe basis for a new religion. According to LaVey himself, on Walpurgisnacht, 30 April 1966, he ritualistically shaved his head, allegedly "in tbe tradition of ancient executioners", declared tbe founding of tbe Church of Satan and proclaimed 1966 as "the Year One", Anno Satanas, tbe first year of tbe Age of Satan. In 1969 he published tbe book The Satanic Bible. It is tbe central religious text of LaVeyan Satanism, and is considered tbe foundation of its philosophy and dogma.

In 1980 tbe FBI interviewed LaVey in connection with an alleged plot to murder Ted Kennedy. LaVey told tbe agents that most of tbe church's followers were "fanatics, cultists, and weirdos". The agents reported that LaVey’s "interest in tbe Church of Satan is strictly from a monetary point of view," and that he spent "most of his time furnishing interviews, writing material, and lately has become interested in photography."

LaVey's third and final companion was Blanche Barton. On 1 November 1993, Barton gave birth to Satan Xerxes Carnacki LaVey. Barton succeeded LaVey as tbe head of tbe Church after his death.

Death

Anton LaVey died on 29 October 1997, in St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco. A secret Satanic funeral, attended by invitation only, was held in Colma.

See also

• Randian Objectivism