It could be that it's one of those things which changes with age. At 18 one's tastes are still in flux. Personal style is something that hasn't really developed yet. And while the world is full of arrogant teenagers it's short on self confident ones. At that point in their lives people model themselves on people whome they admire. Later on you develop your own personal style and gain a little more confidence in yourself. It's only when this natural process gets stuck in the early stages that it becomes pathological.

I don't disagree with the greatness. But he breathed his last several years ago. So did Mark Twain, Chaka Zulu and Galileo.

Read: Sychophants Unite.


Think about: Why, if one is secure in oneself, would one be worried or even give a shit about the feelings of others?


Self-awareness, kiddies. It may be a bitch, but it is the only thing that really matters.


Y~

Showing some interest in what Dr. LaVey was into does not constitute worship. I have long been fascinated by his life adventures pre and post CoS, especially the circus and carnival stuff. But I have no ambition to follow in his footsteps in this regard. In fact, the only thing I share with him is perhaps his taste in women, but that is a coincidence. As Magister Rose points out in Confessions of a LaVey Lackey , there is a big difference between respect and worship.

After reading your post, I took a deep breath, counted to five
and read other's responses to your post. Everything that
needs to be said about your post has already been very well
said.

Except "go piss up a rope". No one has suggested you do
that yet. I'd like to take this opportunity to invite you to do so
at your leisure.

You obviously misinterpret some posts fundamentally.

There are a number of points that you should not forget & on the danger of causing one or the other redundancy, I will explain those aspects that I consider of prior relevance to you:

The Doktor has encouraged to embrace one's own personal
& individual tastes & preferences. He himself has been
the most impressive living example.

Simply copying our Founder entirely would therefore mean
to completely dismiss this very basic concept. Besides,
I can't think about any individual that I personally know
who really attempts copying the Doktor.

It is not surprising that many Satanists share certain
aspects of his, since it is known that he used to have
a very exquisite taste, often favouring standards of
quality that had been forgotten by most, even in his times.

I have found a number of aspects that I personally feel
are appealing & see no reason why I should not adopt
certain elements. In fact, I have even enjoyed them before
I was familiar with Dr. LaVeys vita. At the same time,
there are of course a number of points, in which my tastes
differ from the Doktor's. While he had a certain dislike
for the Rock in general & extreme sub-genres in particular,
these make out an essential part of the music that I listen
to. And this is just one example.

My fascination with the Doktor results more from the brilliance in thought that he displays than from the cars that he drove & the pets he had. Nevertheless, you can't separate the 2 aspects.
His life is the perfect application of Satanic principles in the real world.

Hence, his achievements should be honoured, not to be confused with worshipped, as you put it, but about giving respect where respect is due.

Hail Daimon Szandor!

The only thing more wretched than wanting your hero to be a god -- is wanting him to be just a man. It shows all the resentment of a robust, larger-than-life personality you'd expect from someone who wasn't and couldn't be. We live in a society where people are made to think they deserve equal respect (which means: no one gets more than they do) just for being "a man". We don't subscribe to that view here.

Anton Szandor LaVey was an outstanding personality; that's what we're celebrating here.

>>I would dress the part to what entertained me. One of
>>my favorite bands was and still is DANZIG. It killed
>>me when I couldn't grow the "mutton chops" beard like
>>Glenn Danzig.

I think one's personal style will inevitably be influenced by some others. Nobody's 100% original. Even the most exotic or original sounding musicians, for example, still had their share of musical influences. Similarly a Satanist can incorporate different elements into his or her own personal aesthetic, perhaps with striking results if the sources seem very unconvential or forgotten in today's world. As LaVey said, "imitate, but never rip-off".

>>I see hero worship, healthy and inspirational.

While being one's own god is the Satanic way to go, I say that surely a sin like idolatry can't be all that unsatanic. Religions treat it as a sin because they can't otherwise compete with competition. I sure have my share of "idols", talented people who have created their own identity and mark in this world.

The real problem I see are those who get mixed up in the delusion that they own their idol ("This new album sucks! I hate him! He needs to write like this.") or take everything on a personal level ("I love Sting's music, therefore I have to help save the rainforest").

Perfect point. It sheds light onto something I pretty much overlooked and didn't think to discuss. But, you're right that there is also too much of a tendency to "equalize" everyone and to reduce the status of truly admirable and outstanding people. My intent is never to do that, because I do believe that outstanding people deserve praise and due respect for being elite.

What I find far more interesting is why this bothers you at all.

"Choose your masters wisely," was a very useful piece of advice I remember from the Doktor.

Imitating someone great is not only the sincerest form of flattery but, by doing so, sometimes you learn something you might have otherwised missed.

Imitation is also the manner in which we learn a great deal of what we truly come to understand.

The Doktor imitated many people - very openly - whom he admired. The Secret Life of a Satanist goes into great detail on his mentors and role models.

As a consequence he mastered many skills and then put them to good use in expressing his sense of aesthetics.

One of the results of this is what you see before you: a meeting place for followers of the religion he created!

It takes a great deal of personal confidence to rise above being concerned with whether others judge you as "worshipping" or "imitating" another person.

However it is the best way to really learn what life has to offer, in my humble opinion.

Very well put, Magister.

Imitating someone great is not only the sincerest form of flattery but, by doing so, sometimes you learn something you might have otherwised missed.

Indeed. For an analogy, this is exactly why every chess master has studied the games and every move of former masters.

Studying the "masters" who came before you is one of the key elements to becoming a master yourself.

The key is, we stratify ourselves everyday.

Are you smart enough to choose the best masters for you to study.¤

¤(A question for the board. Obviously, not directed at Magister Nemo.)

Thank you, Magister.

I think if someone actually finds they are all that different and disagreeable with our Founder, they are in the wrong place (and not more Satanic than the rest of us).

It never ceases to amaze me to see these people champion The Satanic Bible and The Church of Satan on one hand, then act as if its Author and Founder is of little consequence on the other.

Makes one wonder just what are they doing here or there.

On occasion, there are those who reveal themselves in this world, who truly are above and beyond the rest of their human counterparts. Usually the world cannot abide their greatness. Out of envy, jealousy, and a stubborness to realize there are actually those better than themselves, people either try to convince whomever that these outstanding individuals are in reality nothing, or will outrightly attack their character or person.

Magus LaVey will forever be loved and celebrated...and there will always be those of us who are deeply loyal to him. And for those worthy, I'm sure he'd say the feeling was mutual.