Honor The Memory Of
Anton Szandor LaVey

Anton Szandor LaVey may or may have not lived the incredible life as chronicled in Blanche Barton's Biography, Secret Life of a Satanist, but the fact or fiction debate means very little to Me. I still feel that, regardless of the actualities of the life he had, his building (so to speak) of the Church of Satan and authoring of the Satanic Bible keeps a spot warm in My heart for the title of Hero.

The news of his death came to Me as I stopped in the library between classes at the community college I attended, checking out some of My more frequently read Satanism sites. Not being one to take everything I see, hear or read at face value, it was uncharacteristicly taken in as base fact and, sappy as it may sound, My day was ruined. I had hoped to one day meet this man for whom I'd had such great respect, and that unlikely opportunity was now unavailable to Me. Selfish, sure...but I'm a fuckin' Satanist.

I grew up reading his inflammatory books, and had a few months just prior to his death become a card carrying member of the Church of Satan. I won't say that I was sad...I didn't know the man...but I was highly disappointed. I was also somewhat afraid of what his death might mean as far as the future of the CoS. How many people would suddenly come to the fool conclusion that without LaVey the whole "institution" was moot? Of course the question was quickly answered in My Mind with a resounding, "who cares?!" That wasn't what the CoS was all about. LaVey wasn't what the CoS was all about. If people decided to move on just because he died, that was up to them. Doing so would only reveal that they didn't understand the whole philosphy in the first place. We are no more a collective of LaVey worshipers than a group of Devil worhipers!

I respected the man and even looked up to him for having had the cojones to stand with both feet in the murky waters of scandal and sensationalism. I took a lot from his ability to say "fuck you all" and live life as he felt was necessary. It is astounding how many people in the world do not have that strength. Hell, in more instances than I'd like to admit, I sometimes find that difficult to do. He was definitely one of My personal heroes, and despite his death he remains such.

I honor the life, death and memory of Anton LaVey with this little tribute. It's the least I can do for giving a name to who I've always been My entire life.