For Satanists, Satan or the Devil is symbolic of a hidden force in nature responsible for the working of earthly affairs and representing the spirit of inspiration and human progress.
Revolting against organized religion - which is only suitable for ... the herd .... - satanists allegedly seek to harness what have been called dark forces to liberate the will in the advancement of evolution.
Claims that Satanists conduct rituals to abuse children are vigorously denied and this is reminiscent of early modern witchcraft accusations.
Satanism is said to only concern the self - affirmation and freedom of the individual.
The Christian division of the into light and dark or good and evil, the battle lines draw between the God of good against demonic forces of evil headed by the Devil or Satan, has been a positive invitation to some to join the dark side.
Anton Szandor La Vey, the founder of the church of Satan, has taken this position one step further by formulating a religion based on worshiping the dark forces.
La Vey was a great showman and played to his audience by dressing up as the Devil but, in his view, the Devil was not a deity that represented the opposite of God but a hidden in nature responsible for the workings of earthly affairs.
The Devil represented the spirit of progress and inspiration for the advancement of human beings, as well as the spirit of revolt that leads to the freedom from organized religions like Christianity which are only suitable for the HERD .