Sinfully Delicious Online Magazine

01. Please state your case. Who are you and what do you do?

Well, my name is Herbert Paulis and I live in Vienna, Austria. I have a degree in computer science and I work in the industry, leading a small group of researchers. Besides I also lecture several computer science related topics at a university of applied sciences.

02. How did you first come into contact with Satanism and The Church of Satan?

Many, many years ago, in the mid-nineties of the last century, I was a very discontented seeker in many respects. I can remember very well, it was a dark and foggy evening in November and I was aimlessly surfing the internet, by then still in its infancy and online time was precious then – in the full sense of the word. Rather by chance on a page long gone away now I stumbled over a link which said something like “The Entrance to Hell – not for the weak-minded.” Now, that of course caught my interest and so I entered one of the very first sites about the Church of Satan. (I still have a printout of that page, one of my most precious personal Satanic treasures.) What I got to see there did indeed cast a spell on me which has not expired since then.

I read the famous article of by then Magister Gilmore, “Satanism – The Feared Religion” and more. During the next couple of days I could hardly concentrate on my work and felt how new energies flew through my body, stirring me up and filling me with new motivations, unbeknown to me before. I wanted to learn more about this religion, philosophy, mindset, attitude towards life, which had such a bad reputation and in which I saw ever so much truth and realization. Useful information was even scarcer to find in the web than it is today; fortunately also the free-loaders were thin on the grounds. With a lot of trouble I was able to dig out little more information, among it a source for literature.

After reading into the subject it was clear that I had finally found my destination. Joining the Church of Satan was only the final logical step, one I have never regretted since then.

03. How did your friends and family take to this discovery?

Well, I neither deny nor promote my Satanism, so I’d guess many of them don’t even know. Those who know cover the full range from thinking that I am crazy to those who think that it is a most sensible thing to do. On the other hand, I don’t really care much what and how people think about me, with very few exceptions.

I even hold some sort of cover position in a welfare organization as social camouflage although I am not particularly careful about it. If somebody addresses me about that dichotomy, I laugh into his face. Never be too predictable, it keeps people uneasy when dealing with you.

04. What is your favorite Sin and why?

Hmm, let me see, there are several of them. First, there is indulgence, then we have indulgence, and, oh yes, indulgence.

Seriously, I do have several favorites none of which are anyone else’s business. But I definitely do stick to Anton Szandor LaVey’s dictum that when sinning the most important thing is to stay in control.

05. What Devil, Demon, God or Goddess do you most closely identify with and why?

Huh? What a question! Me, of course.

06. Explain a result you’ve seen of Lesser Magic.

I work Lesser Magic on a daily basis but I would neither discuss the methods nor the results in public.

07. Explain a result you’ve seen of Greater Magic.

See the previous question. While I don’t of course work this on a daily basis, the conclusions are the same.

08. How has the ‘Law of Attraction’ worked in your life?

Hmm, I don’t really know. Coming to think of it, I can name at least as many arguments against it as in favor of it. So, from a scientific point of view when does it cease to be a law and become pure chance?

09. Do you have any Satanic projects either online or offline? If so, please list them.

Together with L. Kronlob from the German magazine “Schwarz & Magisch” I work on a project called “Pearls of Satanic Wisdom” where we want to preserve excellent articles from old Satanic publications so interested readers can profit from them once more these days.

10. Name 5 books you’ve read that have made a significant dent in your life and how.

The Satanic Bible
it showed me who I am

Atlas shrugged
it shows the importance of the right mindset: whatever you do, do it in excellence

The Lord of the Rings
I just love fantasy

Faust
an example of how complete humans can err

Starship Troopers
although the movie was ridiculous, the novel is phantasmagoric, it gives you the creeps, the perfect book about military attitude and duty

11. Name 3 of your favorite movies and tell me what makes them soo good.

Fahrenheit 451
V for Vendetta
as they both show what could happen if we don’t stay alert

Dune
because I just love Sci Fi and fantasy films for relaxation

Rosemary’s Baby
guess why?

12. If you were president for a day what would you first make happen?

Fire all the idiots and get some people in place who know how to do the job.

13. What punishment would you give for would be child molesters, murderers and rapists?

Death, provided they are proven guilty without any doubts. Lex Talionis, that is what it stands for.

14. If there was another ‘Satanic Panic’ how would you react? What action would you take?

Well, how would I react if I were in war and someone would aim his gun at me? I can well fantasize about what I would do but how would I really truly react? Would I be a hero? Would I wet my pants and run away? Who could tell ahead? Fortunately we (at least here where I live) are far from such a Satanic panic scenario and as much as I love Science Fiction I also hate to speculate.

15. Have you met Anton LaVey or Peter Gilmore in person and if so what was your overall impression?

Sadly I could never meet Anton LaVey but I have met Peter H. Gilmore and Peggy Nadramia in NYC a couple of years ago and they gave me the impression that my decision to join the Church of Satan was the right thing to do from the start. We have been friends ever since.

16. Have you read Michael A. Aquino’s ‘The Church of Satan’ and if so, what are your opinions on it?

I neither have nor do I care.

17. Have you ever visited the black house or drove past it. What are your thoughts on the matter of being taken away. Do you see this as a vital Satanic landmark or something that could be termed as disposable?

I was very sorry when it could not be saved as it would most certainly have been of strong symbolic value but as time has proven the Church of Satan was and still is strong enough to get over this sad loss. And maybe it is better to have fond and proud memories than possibly having to endure its degradation into some disrespectable misuse…

18. What was the most important thing, anyone, dead or alive, has told you?

My wife, that she loves me.

19. What are your hobbies? Why do they interest you?

For a pastime I fly small aircraft which gives me a chance to free my mind from every-day ballast. It allows me to look down at magnificent earth and to pity humanity reduced to ant’s size and its meager problems. I can take my wife and friends on enjoyable rides and nice trips without having to side with the herd.

I do have a lot of other interests but way too little time to pursue them all satisfactorily. Especially I do not get to spare enough time for writing which I love best next to flying, as writing down one’s thoughts makes them permanent and gives a chance to profit and improve from them, for oneself and for others.

Besides, I love to cook, an activity which furthers a very special form of creativity as it allows family and friends to benefit it from almost immediately.

20. What is the biggest threat facing Satanism/Satanists today?

Being ignored and swept away by today’s all too liberal and ignorant “everything goes” fun-society. It is very difficult to provoke and stir up when provocation has become so ordinary and trivial. While this of course also has good sides as Satanists are free to pursue their own lives and interests it does also contain some inherent dangers like an ever-increasing absence of education and values, especially what is called common sense. Nobody recognizes a slow but steady gain of control by all dominant media companies or a permanent degradation of science by forces like creationists or ignorant masses with no ample education.

21. If you could have anything in the world with exclusion to money what would it be?

Enough time to pursue all my interests and goals.

22. Who do you hate (or despise) the most out of all the humans on this planet?

Quite a long list with a lot of hustle and bustle at the front. Take a look at today’s news report (whenever that today might actually be) and you will find many of my favorites in there. And then there are some candidates from my private sphere, yet they shall remain private.

23. If you could tell your children (if you had any) one thing, what would it be?

Question everything, believe nothing.

24. Artificial Environments. A term invented by LaVey. How much of a role does this play a role in your personal life? Do you have any suggestions on how to create these environments for other Satanists?

I have successfully created mine and I fully enjoy them. I can only suggest to other Satanists to so too, but it is very well their own bloody thing to figure out what fits them best and how to do it.

25. Where do you think our present myspace/youtube generation is headed?

Wherever one can be headed at who is disoriented right from the start.

26. What magical/occult orders have you been a part of besides Satanism if any? What drew you to those orders?

None, because nothing they ever showed or said convinced me in any way.

27. Do you have any tips or tricks for the would be Satanic Magician? Anything you’ve personally noticed that helps the advancement of magic in one’s life?

Read up, think up, and learn. Then experiment with the new knowledge and after that go back to the start.

28. This question is not a question. You can say anything you want here. Please feel free to do so!

“If everybody minded their own business,” said the Duchess in a hoarse growl, “the world would go round a deal faster than it does.” — Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”

Reprinted with Permission of the Author

Erohraz Obsidian – EGO-STROKERS

Satanism is a religion which champions a healthy and strong ego. Through the ego an individual manipulates reality and makes his will manifest. Is it not surprising that so many Satanists are creators in some sense or another. Creation, after all, is the highest form of ego expression, when the sorcerer takes his essence and transforms it into something tangible or communicable. A healthy ego radiates confidence, sufficiency and undeniable self-worth. Those who possess such attributes are most likely to see their life’s desires fulfilled.

On the opposite side of the spectrum lie those who suffer from weak egos. Their flaws and insecurities are often betrayed by their behavior, which is typically infectious. These people are the Ego Strokers. Once identified, such types should be dealt with as circumstance dictates, perhaps even avoided or ignored entirely. Listed below are nine of the most common types, with descriptions of each.

1. The Braggart – This type of person may be an actual achiever or an insignificant nothing, but in either case he must feed his starving ego through overbearing, vocalized, and flagrant self-praise. For the braggart, it is never enough to let his achievement speak for itself, he must constantly remind you of how superior he is, whether you wish to hear it or not. This behavior is both a compulsion which he cannot control, and at the same time a method of reinforcement. While he is consistently telling you of his worth, he is desperately trying to validate acknowledgement in himself through vain and hopeless repitition.

2. The Incorrigible Know-it-all – More accurately knowing very little, this type is the worst kind of dabbler. The Know-it-all will pick up on small bits of information, enough to just graze the surface of a subject, and then immediately proclaim himself an expert. Worse yet, this type usually jumps head-first into a debate with others who clearly understand more than he does. The Know-it-all is incorrigible, because he will not heed to reason nor bend to compromise, and certainly he will never humble himself to the role of misinformed novice. Instead, he stands firm on his unstable ground and insists on asserting his “facts,” regardless of how inept he may reveal himself to be. His ego is so weak that he cannot help but cling to his fantasy — that his truth, despite how laudable, is absolute.

3. The Humorless Sod – This type is quite easy to spot. He never or rarely laughs, and certainly never at himself. His insecurity is worn on his sleeve, and his presence descends upon a room like a thick smoke, exstinguishing others’ joy as it spreads. This type of person is often compulsive to the extreme, constantly monitoring his fears (in his mind) and weighing them against his imagined perceptions of other people, who he knows can surely see his anxiety and self-loathing laid bare. The Humorless Sod fits perfectly with Dr. LaVey’s observation that He who takes himself too seriously leaves no room for others to do so.

4. The Argument Seeker – This type requires external validation from others, will seek it out, and will not stop until he has acquired such. Argument alone does not assuage this seeker. He needs to know he is right by coercing you to agree with him. He will keep you trapped in an argument indefinitely, until he can force you to concede. The argument seeker is very similar to the Know-it-all, but his chosen battles set him apart. While the Know-it-all wishes to be seen as an expert or authority, the Argument Seeker merely wishes to win agreement, and most typically his verbal wars are based on petty or trite matters. Useless trivia, abstractions, gossip and similar subjects of debate are this seeker’s proving grounds. It doesn’t matter what he is arguing, it only matters that you see things his way, thereby lending necessary justification to his impoverished ego.

5. The Bully – Your average schoolyard brute, the Bully is always a person with some (usually limited) power or prowess, which he uses to inflict suffering or humiliation on a weaker person. The Bully’s target is not chosen out of a need for survival, or for revenge, but for an illogical or arbitrary reason. The punishment doled out by the Bully is misdirected, and is actually a reflection of his own wretched self-loathing. The 11th Satanic Rule of the Earth (When in open territory, bother no one) is unknown to the Bully. Not only will he go out of his way to bother someone, but he will invariably pick out the weakest (and therefore “safest”) target to pursue. This tendency stems from the Bully’s buried fear that others can see his fragile ego. By exerting his dominance over the weak, he believes he can somehow exhalt his weak ego above his own self-determined and lowly evalutaion.

6. The Psychic Vampire – As per the good Doktor’s description in The Satanic Bible. This form of Ego Stroker is incapable of fair exchange, attempting to extort passion, emotion, love, whilst paying off in cheap goods. Their vampiric egos will literally drain your energy and slow your life to a staggering, lethargic crawl.

7. The Lost Soul – Of all types listed, the Lost Soul is the most trendy and also the most chaotic. He is a person without an identity of his own, an “identity hopper” whose form and appearance change as quickly as the masses’ whims. He is your average Hot-Topic, GAP, or Old Navy posterboy, so long as the brand is “in.” Additionally, the Lost Soul may be compulsive about shifting his look. He may dye his hair a different color every few weeks, or bounce from one genre to another. Today he is a goth, tomorrow a ghetto rat. He is unable and fearful to carve his own identity, so he chooses to be a slave to trendy fashion and sub-culture expressions.

8. The Mimic – Like the Lost Soul, the Mimic’s flaw lies in his identity. Unlike the Lost Soul, the Mimic’s needs are not sated by mere fashion patterns and directed consumerism. The Mimic has a desperate wish to create, but cannot. He lacks a muse, is uninspired, lazy or talentless, or is simply unable to express his ego like other creators. To fill his void, he copies from others. The lowest form of the Mimic is the plagiarist, who steals outright another’s work and decieves others into believing his thievery is actually his own expression. Other Mimics will simply copy a style or emulate a creator to the best of their abilities, but will never surpass the skill of a mere copycat. The laziest type of Mimic simply parrots phrases or actions, and is basically more of a conduit than a person, transmitting someone else’s life vicariously through himself, whether that someone is real or a fictional character. This type’s fear and desire revolve wholly around his need to assimilate another’s identity.

9. The Follower – The ultimate lamb, and perhaps the worst type of all (although it may combine aspects of any other type), the Follower is the exemplification of the devoid ego. There are many variations of the Follower, from the Pious churchgoer who rigidly tailors his lifestyle to a preordained plan, to the gangland thug who serves as an errand boy for his drug-dealing boss. The one trait every Follower shares is the inability or refusal to question. He forever requires external authority and often thrives on it, preferring obedience over decision-making. The Follower’s ego is nearly non-existent, pushed so far from acknowledgement that it becomes insignificant. The Follower’s identity, self-worth, and ability to express are dictated solely by his authority, be it a “higher power,” dead icon, or fleshly master. The Follower is almost always a Follower for life, his weak ego being an integral part of his nature, and his lack of questioning providing him no options for change.

Ego Strokers are everwhere, especially online. They are looking to draw you in, to snag your self-sufficiency with their needy little tendrils and grind your progress to a halt.

Remember kids,

If you see an Ego Stroker and you’re not sure what to do, just act like a white boy in Compton: RUN LIKE HELL!

01. Please state your case. Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Les Hernandez; founder of the Satanic Punk band, The Quintessentials, in which I sing and play lead guitar. I’m also a member of the Church of Satan, in which I hold the title of Warlock, which is the second degree.

02. How did you first come into contact with Satanism and The Church of Satan?

I’ve always been an outsider and interested in darker subjects. Back in the very early 1980s a friend and I stumbled upon a copy of Anton LaVey’s The Satanic Bible. I bought a copy and immediately read it, identifying with it more strongly than with anything I’ve read before or since. I must’ve been barely thirteen years old at the time, but I knew at that moment that I was a Satanist.

That was a period of time when the big Satanic Panic was happening. Clips of Doktor LaVey and other representatives of the Church of Satan were on every talk-show, Evangelical program and Halloween special, so I was aware that the Church of Satan was alive and thriving, but it wasn’t until around 1989 or so that I stumbled upon a copy of The Black Flame, and in it, the address for the Church of Satan. Ten years later (1997) I would finally be holding my Crimson Card as a member.

03. How did your friends and family take to this discovery?

My friends always knew from the very beginning. They’ve never really had a problem with it. I’ve never had the need to discuss actual Satanism with most of my family. When it comes down to the brass tacks, it’s none of their business and they know it, though I love them dearly.

04. What is your favorite Sin and why?

“Sin” is a concept I can’t say I believe in. I don’t accept the concept of sin an a reality–it’s a matter of Christian dogma, not Satanic. Indulging in things like “sin” and “blasphemy” is only really fun when I feel like getting under the skin of a particularly irritating person who believes in those Christian concepts. Then it’s a hoot!

Of the so-called “Seven Deadly Sins”, I enjoy Greed, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth and Pride the most (not necessarilly in that order). Hmm…that’s almost all of them, I suppose!

05. What Devil, Demon, God or Goddess do you most closely identify with and why?

I’ve always held the image of Hekate in high regard, as she is the Greek goddess of Witchcraft/Magic (and not in the goody-two-shoes Wiccan sense!). In a sense, she seems to me like another face of Lilith or Kali. I always have a representation of Melek Ta’us (the prideful one) and Kanaloa (Hawaiian deity equivalent of Satan and Cthulhu) on my altar, as well as Anubis (representing the underworld/the hidden/occult) and Baphomet (which I view as being identical to Abraxas in what each represents).

06. Explain a result you’ve seen of Lesser Magic.

This can be seen almost anywhere there is human contact, if you know what to look for. Humans feed off one another, and many do so by using Lesser Magic without recognizing it as such. Though this is not to be confused with Psychic Vampirism, which is the hallmark of leeches and welfare cases.

Watch a pretty girl who knows she’s pretty when she wants something. Her smile, tone of voice, eyes, et cetera, will all work to ensure she is given what she wants. All the best strippers know this as fact. They know how to best manipulate and or accentuate their traits to make men their willing slaves. The same goes for certain authoritarian-resonating men who know which kinds of women need a “daddy figure” in their lives and become that, thus ensuring their own sexual and emotional gratification.

07. Explain a result you’ve seen of Greater Magic.

The problem with displaying magical results is that others will always shrug them off as coincidence–no matter how unlikely that particular coincidences chances of occurring might be.

Suffice it to say that I’m satisfied knowing that magic works. The last thing I’d want is the Law having proof that it does, and in the knowledge of magic’s reality begin legislating its use. People in Africa are killed regularly for practicing Witchcraft. Not all too long ago the same was happening in America. Let’s not forget that.

08. How has the ‘Law of Attraction’ worked in your life?

In that like attracts like, I’ve found that no mater where I go I somehow wind up around others with the same interests as myself or very similar outlooks, which shouldn’t be such a regular occurrence for someone who is such an outsider.

In the way of opposites attracting, or one being attracted to one’s Demonic, as Doktor LaVey put it in The Satanic Witch, I’ve found that most of the women I’ve dated were very near, if not dead-on, polar opposites of myself. The more we’re alike, the shorter the relationship would last and vice-versa. In relation to LaVey’s Synthesizer Clock, of course.

09. Do you have any Satanic projects either online or offline? If so, please list them.

My band, The Quintessentials, are working on a multimedia DVD called “Sarah Alice is DEAD!” to be released later this year, followed by our fourth full-length album next year and talk of a tour is getting a lot more serious not that we’re on the mainland and out of Hawaii.

I’m working on updates to my book, The Bloodfire Compendium, with the objective of eventually releasing a second, expanded and updated, edition in the next few years or so.

10. Name 5 books you’ve read that have made a significent dent in your life and how.

You mean aside from the five written by Anton LaVey?

The Devil’s Avenger, by Burton H. Wolf
The Church of Satan, by Blanche Barton
The Satanic Scriptures, by Peter H. Gilmore
The Fire Within, by Nemo
Essays in Satanism, by James D. Sass
Bearing the Devil’s Mark, by Matt Paradise
The Lucifer Principle, by Howard Bloom

Seven, I know, but the reasons should be obvious enough.

Other books were Demian, by Hermann Hesse (being a proud productive outsider–Alien Elite), and Candide, by Voltaire (humanity’s reprehensible foolishness in always
thinking everything happens for the best in this best of all worlds).

11. Name 3 of your favorite movies and tell me what makes them soo good.

Rosemary’s Baby, for its depiction of the versatility within Satanism. This movie and book (by Ira Levin) are and obsession of mine.

The Stepford Wives (also based on a Levin book of the same name) for its dealing with Artificial Human Companions and the underlying topic of what makes a woman a woman–to herself, other women and to men.

The Ninth Gate, based on the book The Club Dumas, by Arturo Perez-Riverte, for its very Lovecraftian flavor (Delemonomicon/Necronomicon connection) and dealing with underlying topics such as a born Satanist v. pseudo-Satanists.

12. If you were president for a day what would you first make happen?

I’d ban using religion as an excuse for one’s illegal actions. “The Devil made me do it” would not be admissible in court and to attempt to claim such would incur stiff fines and secular community service.

13. What punishment would you give for would be child molestors, murderers and rapists?

I’d do to them what Vlad Tepes did to the Boyars with his invitation to a grand feast: once they are collected and comfortable, I’d lock them in and set them ablaze.

14. If there was another ‘Satanic Panic’ how would you react? What action would you take?

Forewarned is forearmed! I wouldn’t be shocked, but I’d ensure my own safety. I’m almost expecting another Satanic Panic. It seems like the public is dying for it. They need to be unified against a common enemy in order to feel right. Perhaps they need to be steered toward another enemy instead?

15. Have you met Anton LaVey or Peter Gilmore in person and if so what was your overall impression?

I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Doktor LaVey, though an acquaintance once played him a demo my old band did, to which he seemed enthused about–even if it wasn’t exactly hid kind of music. I take pride in that.

When I got my first issue of The Black Flame, I wrote Peter Gilmore and have corresponded with him off and on over the years ever since. I greatly respect the man and am proud to call him our High Priest, though we have yet to meet in the flesh.

16. Have you read Michael A. Aquino’s ‘The Church of Satan’ and if so, what are your opinions on it?

Aquino isn’t worth my time.

17. Have you ever visited the black house or drove past it. What is your thoughts on the matter of being taken away. Do you see this as a vital Satanic landmark or something that could be termed as disposable?

(no answer)

18. What was the most important thing, anyone, dead or alive, has told you?

Two things someone once told me a long time ago: “Man up, boy!” and “Ask not what the Church of Satan can do for you, but what you can do once you get off your ass!”.

Sadly, the person who offered me these very wise words way back when didn’t follow his own advice.

19. What are your hobbies? Why do they interest you?

I love making music. The recording process is where I feel I can be most creative. It’s akin to sonic sculpting. I like to make things–especially music. Writing is similar in that you create images in others’ heads and covey ideas.

I love to read and work with graphics as well. I drew a lot when I was younger.

20. What is the biggest threat facing Satanism/Satanists today?

The only thing a Satanist really has to fear is himself becoming to lax or complacent. Constant vigilance keeps the fire in our blood; keeps the Black Flame of Satan
burning.

21. If you could have anything in the world with exclusion to money what would it be?

The ability to read five books a day and retain everything–every last bit of knowledge, for practical use.

22. Who do you hate (or despise) the most out of all the humans on this planet?

The answer you’d get would depend and differ by which time of day you asked me.

23. If you could tell your children (if you had any) one thing, what would it be?

If I had any kids I’d want them to know just how extremely deadly recreational drug use can be.

24. Artificial Environments. A term invented by LaVey. How much of a role does this play a role in your personal life? Do you have any suggestions on how to create these environments for other Satanists?

My own Total Environment is a mish-mash of everything I loved so much as a child: vampires, witches, tikis, werewolves, 1950s greaser stuff, art reproduced from Rosemary’s Baby, etc. It’s a matter of personal taste and ability to make it manifest.

25. Where do you think our present myspace/youtube generation is headed?

Down the Information SuperToilet.

27. Do you have any tips or tricks for the would be Satanic Magician? Anything you’ve personally noticed that helps the advancement of magic in one’s life?

Membership does have its privilages!

28. This question is not a question. You can say anything you want here. Please feel free to do so!

Folks can keep track of what I’m doing at both www.thequintessentials.com and www.bloodfire9.com

01A. Let’s start out with your new book. What is it called and what is the subject matter?

“The Satanic Scriptures” (www.thesatanicscriptures.com) is a collection of essays and rituals which I’ve written over the past 20 years. Most of the essays were published in “The Black Flame” (the official magazine of the Church of Satan) and some are newly released. All have been polished for this edition. They range from social commentary of a distinctly misanthropic bent to characterizations of human types, as well as details about the inner workings and perspectives of the Church of Satan. The rituals include the Satanic Wedding and Funeral Rites, which have heretofore only been given to members of our Priesthood. Finally the Rite of Ragnarok, a militant exercise in norse-flavored exoticism, had been previously printed in the Swedish publication “The Fenris Wolf.”

01B. When can we buy it, where can we get it? Personally, I’m looking forward to reading it.

The hardcover is now available from Scapegoat Publishing (www.ScapegoatPublishing.com) and select specialty booksellers while the paperback will be broadly released in October (Amazon.com) and should appear in major book selling chains.

02. Explain to us what you represent. What are the basic tenets of Satanism?

I represent Satanism as codified by Anton Szandor LaVey and embodied in the Church of Satan. Most succinctly, we are atheistic, skeptical epicureans who embrace Satan as a symbol of liberty, pride, and individualism. The details are in our literature.

03. How exactly did you find yourself to be a Satanist? What exactly convinced you that Satanism was the right path for you?

I read “The Satanic Bible” at age 13, at the time considering myself to be an atheist. I saw deeper aspects of myself reflected in LaVey’s words so I knew “Satanist” was a more accurate label for my nature. I’ve never come across a reason to alter that decision. I am a Satanist by Dr. LaVey’s definition, and the philosophy works quite well as a tool to get the most out of my life.

04. Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan on April 30, 1966. He, himself, was the High Priest at that time. He unfortunately passed away in October of 1997. So the question is how did you get to become the successor of LaVey and take over his spot as High Priest?

Magistra Blanche Barton was the High Priestess at the time of LaVey’s passing, and so she became the head of the Church according to our articles of incorporation. Leading up to 2001 c.e., she felt it was magically appropriate for there to be a new High Priest, and she considered me to be the best man for the job. I was consecrated to that office on April 30 of 2001 c.e. Magistra Barton exchanged roles with my wife Magistra Peggy Nadramia a year later, so Peggy became the High Priestess and Blanche is now the chair of the Council of Nine.

05. What’s your relationship with Blanche Barton (Magistra Templi Rex of the Church of Satan) like? What is she like in real life?

We have been great friends for many years. She’s an all-around amazing lady – a deft communicator, and a woman who can blend suppleness with power to attain her goals. While Anton LaVey was alive, she was his “Girl Friday” and the most outstanding woman ever to be his mate. She has the brains and beauty to have been his ideal companion. Now she’s proven herself to be an excellent mother, raising Anton LaVey’s only son, Satan Xerxes Carnacki LaVey, into a very fine and unique young man. Blanche has a great sense of humor and completely embodies the archetype of the empowered gal of the 40s film noir along with judiciously employed contemporary sensibilities. She always wins my admiration.

06. Some may say your standings on religions is a very uneducated, stupid decision. That, one day God shall pass judgment on you and you might end up in a place, for eternity, well, in a very bad position… but you’re not a stupid man? With degrees in composition in NYU, a bachelors and masters as well as being a musician you certainly aren’t. How do you feel about those who might underestimate your logic or condemn you for your heretical beliefs?

I don’t care if the stupid can’t grasp my ideas. I don’t expect them to have that capacity. You can lead morons to facts but you can’t make them think. My choice of personal philosophy is based on my nature – and I am aware that there are people with other natures for whom Satanism would not be appropriate. I’m a carnal individual, while those types who feel the need to believe in something spiritual are driven to subjugate themselves to deities or dictators of some other form, as they cannot take control of or shoulder responsibility over their own lives. The Satanist is always his own savior, and our kind aims to keep the world secular and pluralistic so that the god-adorers can’t impinge on us. The opinions of the mini-minds count for nothing in my estimation.

07. If you could change this world in any way whatsoever what exactly would you change?

As each day goes by I find different things I might change depending upon what I’m attempting to accomplish. Being pragmatic, I don’t worry about things that I can’t change but put my efforts into making headway in ways I know are possible. I’m a “doer” not a “dreamer.”

08. Today I was browsing the official website of the Church of Satan and came across a section of the site that is offering participation with S.E.T.I. (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) through the Church. Care you elaborate on this?

Many of our members think it likely that there might be extraterrestrial civilizations that could be detected through assisting SETI. They contribute time on their computers to assist in that search and even work as a team.

09A. Are you familiar with the conspiracy theory that an alien race of reptiles came to Earth long ago and genetically engineered our race to use us as slaves for digging up gold in order that the reptiles would use that gold to help their atmosphere on their mother planet?

I’ve heard that some folks believe that. Several sci-fi films have played with that idea.

09B. How do you feel about the possibility that the world is being run by a bunch of reptiles?

I don’t see any evidence for this. I suppose that some folks who don’t have an integrated instinctual consciousness – who resist the impulses from the older, reptilian part of their brains – may have externalized this functional handicap into this “reptilian alien metaphor.”

Personally, I’ve always been attracted to reptiles, from extinct saurians to contemporary snakes and lizards – I’m quite enamored with the various crocodilians. If I’m “part of the conspiracy,” you might expect me to try to distract you from believing in it, and so you’ll have to decide for yourself whose side I’m representing as I present a toothy grin. I have written a screenplay which deals with ancient reptilian intelligence, but more cannot be said at present.

10. If Hell is real, who might you first try to contact when you arrive there?

My favorite deceased composers, particularly Gustav Mahler, so that I could find out how they would have completed the works left unfinished
at the times of their deaths.

11. Question number nine is all yours. If you wish to rant about something here feel free to do so. We would highly recommend it and enjoy it if you would.

I truly detest it when people run for election in the United States (and other republics) that they must project some form of religiosity in order to convince the dim and populous herd to vote them into office. It is needed, but revolting. I consider sincere beliefs in God, Jesus, Heaven, and Hell to be signs of limited intelligence and even dysfunctional delusion. Some politicians are non-believers but must act this sham. I would deeply prefer to see open non-believers running for office who are considered for the position because of their talents for handling that office. Are they rational, hard-working, intelligent, experienced? Are they flexible thinkers who can adapt to the needs of the position and serve their constituents?

The US was founded by free thinkers who wanted religion kept out of government, and today this childish and dangerous reliance on faith and belief in the supernatural is hindering our society from advancing technologically and causing the deaths of thousands (as it has in the past). Now is the time for enough to be enough. It is the 21st Century, time for damning God and relegating such concepts which require faith to a museum of barbaric superstition.

12. Why is the trapezoid so important to members of the Church of Satan? What is it’s significance?

The trapezoid is a form in symbols, art, and in architecture that has a potency for affecting those who experience it. It is disturbing and can evoke fear or at least unease because of its inherent sense of massiveness. Anyone interested in more details should read Anton LaVey’s essay “The Law of the Trapezoid” published in his book “The Devil’s Notebook.”

13. My favorite sin is Gluttony. What is Peter Gilmore’s favorite Sin?

Pride. I simply can’t help it.

14. Out of the 9 Satanic Sins coined by Anton LaVey which one of those irritate you the most?

Stupidity. In New York City I must unfortunately interact with so many stupendously moronic people. They waste my precious time.

15. If you have children or plan to have children what plans do you have to install fundamentals into them? What priorities as far as morals and behavior do you wish your children to have?

I am not interested in having children. My own creations will serve to remind those interested of me when I’m gone, and my dog Contessa Bella Lugosi, a beautiful black Chow, is a perfect canine-child for my wife and I.

When I consider the children of people around me, I encourage them to raise their offspring to question things and to employ reason to test everything to the best extent possible, being skeptical, and willing to learn as more data becomes available. Ethically I would encourage them to treat others as they wish to be treated themselves – with earned respect – but to not flinch from returning what is actually given to them.

16. Let’s talk about artificial companions. Please tell the readers what this is exactly… and how likely do you see this as becoming a reality in our lifetime. After all, there already is such a thing as a Real Doll that you can purchase online as well as virtual tours of hotels from hotels.com and lastly videogames are becoming more virtual everyday. How long might it take to see such development of this idea as in what we saw in the movie Westworld and recently I, Robot? And how much am I going to have to shell out to buy into the new generation of robot companions?

Artificial Human Companions are humanoid forms which can be as basic as the inanimate but relatively detailed Real Doll up to functional humanoid robots that pioneers continue to develop. The basic point is to create a personality embodied in human form that has no feelings and which can be owned and treated as needed to satisfy the lustful or anger-inspired needs of the common folk. Many people can only raise themselves up by denigrating others, and so to save undeserving actual people from having to put up with such behavior, an AHC can satisfy these needs. Virtual reality in its several forms is becoming more sophisticated, and so that may be a key for more passive folk who prefer to passively use only visual stimuli. The more selective may have to await the creation of actual “holo-deck” technologies which engage all the senses in a detailed simulated reality.

Naturally such things will be quite costly at first, as are all breakthrough technologies. However, as the benefits for pacifying the masses are grasped by governments, such things will be subsidized and offered up to the general populace at reasonable costs.

17. What’s your current view on the War on Terrorism and even earlier with what happened on 911?

Terrorism is a tactic, not an enemy, so this marketing phrase for the actual war against fundamentalist Islamic aggressors is just meant to obscure what is being undertaken. We are at a crossroad wherein human society must either restrict (or abandon) religions which insist on their truth and their duty to convert non-believers or ultimately be conquered by a fundamentalist religion which will dominate the globe. These religions detest the secularism embodied and “evangelized” by Western culture and that is the basis for the current conflict – aside from economic reasons which also fuel the situation.

I am for a worldwide secular and pluralistic society in which people are allowed their beliefs so long as they don’t attempt to enforce religious dogma or morality upon others either through force or legislated social regulations. To reach that, the “mad dogs” of fundamentalist religions must be either rendered impotent, imprisoned, or destroyed for the safety of all rational people, regardless of where they live.

18. Back to your love of music. I understand you contributed some music under the composer role in the second and third installments of ‘Death Scenes’ back in 1992 and 1993 (according to the information given by imdb.com )? What sort of music do you make?

My music is in the second and third installments of the “Death Scenes” series and I’d describe it as orchestral music that is bombastic, expressive, and I trust stimulating. I write it, perform it, and record it using synthesizers. Much of it has been released on the CD “Threnody for Humanity” released by Adversary which is a subsidiary of Reptilian Records (http://www.reptilianrecords.com/adversary/releases.html).

19. So you formed the very first satanic magazine back in 1989. The Black Flame. Is the Black Flame still under creation/distribution? How can we actually buy an issue of this magazine?

Right now we are gathering materials for the next phase of “The Black Flame” which will be a book format and will include new essays as well as beginning a retrospective of pieces of interest published from the earliest issues which have not been collected elsewhere. Visit this url for details as to which issues are currently available (http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/TBF.html)

20. Now the Church of Satan might be the first satanic church but there are other organizations that claim to be satanic in origin also. What are your feelings on other churches such as the Temple of Set and the First Church of Satan? Are they just copy-cats? Or do some of these organizations show a unique spin off of the original philosophy of Satanism LaVey created?

Most groups claiming to be organized and Satanic are neither, having no actual philosophy of note, or even if they have made efforts it is not something that we’d label as being Satanic in any way. Bastardizations of the integrated and rational philosophy of Satanism are useless garbage, fit only for fools and mystics. These clowns are not worth any attention. The Temple of Set does have a consistent philosophy, however it is theistic and seeks to embrace something they define as being non-natural, which is quite the antithesis of Satanism. See these essays for lengthy discussions of this subject: Pretenders to the Throne (http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/Pretenders.html) and A Map for the Misdirected (http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/Map.html)

21. Well, this is the last question. Thank you for your time and energy. Sinfully Delicious greatly appreciates your willingness and participation. But! Anything you’d like to add to this interview? Or shall we end here?

I task all Satanic individuals – and those fellow travelers who might not have come ’round to embracing the archetype of Satan for all its liberating qualities – to utilize your sense of discrimination with vigor, as the challenge of today is to sort through the mass of information being presented online and in the other media without any evidence to give proof to its validity. Question all things, for there are many who are simply offering falsehoods without being taken to the task. That is your greatest challenge – to sort what has some level of truth and accuracy from that which is just plain bullshit. Don’t let the stench of the latter prevent you from finding the rare gems which might be worth your effort. So it is done!

01. State your case. Who are you and what do you do. Please be specific.

Well, I’m not trying to win anyone over, so all I can say is that I like to write. People are welcome to take it or leave it.

02. I understand you have a musical project. Tell us about that.

“Music” is probably the last thing I would call it. It’s really just a personal hobby that generated more interest than I ever expected. I’m sitting on hours of audio material that I have not decided what I want to do with yet. I had been tinkering with it for awhile, in the background, but did not put anything together until I was working on these little videos and needed soundtracks to go with the images, and I did not want to get caught up in all the bullshit of using other peoples “music” so I started working out audio tracks to go with the videos. I never expected to put out audio material, but then people have expressed interest in it so I may as well do something with that, plus I enjoy making it. It is interesting working with completely non-musical sound, experimenting what comes out of an original sound processed through layers upon layers of
distortion and alterations of speed and pitch. It is also interesting experience emotional or psychological responses to completely non-musical frequencies. They say “music soothes the savage beast.” This does something else. It does a lot of other things. I have ideas on this that I’m working out on paper. As an aside, it is definitely intended to be an affront to conventional popular music, which I detest, and music-oriented subcultures that think they are somehow superior to more mainstream garbage just because they are smaller or “underground” (so called). I detest those scenes even more than the mainstream because they imagine they are somehow superior while engaging in exactly the same bullshit. I don’t call what I do music. Don’t get me wrong, thought goes into it, but I know classical musicians and composers – real, formally trained and
educated musicians and composers – Peter H. Gilmore for example – what Dr. LaVey called “No Bullshit Music.” My grandfather was a real, no bullshit musician, in the LaVeyan sense, and I grew up around music – there is a big difference. Then there are all the pretentious bullshit “rock stars” and “underground” artists who are invariably vapid ignorant pretentious clowns. Those people I detest and would not want to be identified with. The only thing lower than your garden-variety performing musician is their fans and their bullshit pretentious little scenes – they should all be shipped off to a death camp in some third world shithole.

03. You have a book concerning Satanism coming out this year around Halloween. What topics are you writing about and what inspired you to make a book?

I like to write. I was actually working on a more detailed full-length book (and still am) when several people within a month or so offered to publish the essays and articles I had already posted online over the last few years. I didn’t think it was worthwhile, but after going through my files and putting it all into a formatted document, I realized I already had couple hundred pages worth of material, so I changed my mind about publishing it. I like writing essays and short excursions, and it is an established genre of writing within Satanism, so I decided to go ahead with it. The book is called Essays in Satanism (First Series), that will be followed up by Essays in Satanism (Second Series)… etc. whenever I have enough material together that warrants putting out a book – at least 200 pages or so. I already have the beginnings of the Second Series put together. As with the first it will be a combination of material previously posted online, with longer unpublished essays on important subjects, so people aren’t just getting what they’ve already read in various places. You’ll probably see my internet writing getting shorter as I reserve the more involved pieces for book publication. Subjects in the First Series of Essays in Satanism include Satanic Magic, Sex Magic, Canonical Horror Films, uses of Memory and Imagination, Survivalism, Self Protection, articles on pseudo-satanism, Aleister Crowley vs. Satanism, Satanism vs. Drug Abuse, observations on history, comments on various idiotic subcultures, etc. The Second Series will be including a number of articles on the Invisible War, longer discussions of important books (the First Series has no book reviews!), and other subjects. The Essays in Satanism series will serve to occasionally publish collected shorter writings on various subjects. The full-length book I have in preparation, and partially done, is on the “Deep Satanism” concept, although it probably won’t be titled that. Once I get the first volume of Essays in the bag, I’m making a concerted effort to finish the Deep Satanism manuscript in time for it to be published in 2008. I have detailed outlines, notes, and extensive raw material for two other specific full-length books after that. There are other possibilities also.

04. What is your favorite sin and why?

Dante’s Luxuria (lust) is probably my favorite, because women are just, well, gosh, so darn pretty.

05. How did you first come to embrace Satanism as your belief system?

I was actually very familiar with different religions, general philosophy and psychology, and standard works on ceremonial magic before I ever read The Satanic Bible. I read a lot. By that time I was sorting through what was useless there, and philosophically aligned with Nietzsche, so when I really read LaVey closely with that background, I appreciated the work he had already done. I frequently read Dr. LaVey being criticized for being over-simplified in his approach to magic, what that really means is that his methods are more direct, with all the erroneous metaphysical assumptions and other bullshit baggage weeded out. Also, on another level, when you familiarize yourself with his writings as a whole, and taken in conjunction with a lot of other material he refers to and hints at, he really does have one of the most unique, subtle and complex systems of magic in history. It is generally unappreciated by the dull types who can’t recognize anything not bogged down in the same tired bullshit, because it would actually require them to think for themselves, and actually work. Also, and this is the most amazing things, is how many facets of Satanism I was already attuned to long before ever even hearing of the Church of Satan; for example I was always completely obsessed with classic horror films, Karloff, Lugosi, Hammer Films, etc. and loved to read classic horror fiction; Blackwood, Bierce, Poe, Machen, Lovecraft, Derleth, etc. and aesthetically anything with Waffen SS skulls and crossbones, but the most amazing thing was discovering, even after I knew about Dr. LaVey’s basic works for awhile, about the whole Artificial Human Companion thing. This was long before the internet and before anything like Fact Sheet Five, but I had collected mannequins and made life size dummies, it was a huge rush to find out that Dr. LaVey had worked out a whole line of thought surrounding this! So in those and other ways, finding the Church of Satan was like finding the perfect suit, tailored to fit. It is an amazing thing that has not disappointed since. You see these people out there, yea-sayers with no thoughts of their own agreeing with everything because its part of the program, but then there are those of us who are with the program because we were genuinely on the same page, really in agreement. It’s interesting to observe conversations with people in the Priesthood that may have never met before, there is a tacit understanding of a broad spectrum of things, so many things that don’t have to be explicitly said or agreed upon, so the exchange is immediately taking off from a whole other level. Satanists, real Satanists, are the Master Race, and I mean that in the same sense that one would say a “master craftsman,” real Satanists are at a whole different level of the game. Real Satanists are also scarcer than hen’s teeth!

06. I, like yourself, have a very ill-will towards Christianity. What exactly turns you off in regards to that particular religion.

I grew up in a very non-religious household, so I don’t really have much personal rancor against Christianity. In fact I can’t think of anything more boring than people who call themselves Satanists who are locked into the Anti-Christian gear – they obsess and talk about Christianity more than most Christians! Don’t get me wrong, Christianity is loathsome toxic bullshit that poisons the world, as are ALL otherworldly religions, but Christianity is the species of religious idiocy we encounter most frequently in the West. Fortunately Christianity has been castrated by the advent of mass-media, and most Christians have been secularized and pacified to the point that they are not as fanatical or dangerous as their more fanatical elements, which are closer to fundamentalist Muslims in temperament. Any belief in an immortal soul and an eternal afterlife determined by the judgment of an invisible god distorts every action of the believer. It is literally insane. Religion is a form of mass insanity, so pervasive that it is more expedient for the state to cater to it and exploit it than it is to remedy it, so it’s not going away any time soon. The best you can hope to do is curtail its intrusion into your personal life, and into the political and legal structure of society as much as possible. Religion should be undermined by secular influences as much as possible. Take something as banal as myspace.com for example, you have all these women in thongs posting photos of themselves in sexual positions, basically advertising to get fucked, obliviously next to photos of their parents and families, alongside photos of them getting drunk with their girlfriends, and then stating “I am a Christian.” Those are the kind of Christians you want to see more of; people who don’t really give a shit, or let it influence their life, but occasionally have to assert that they are a Christian once in awhile to make themselves feel better, to alleviate whatever little shred of guilt they might still feel over actually living life. They are one step away from recognizing religion is not necessary AT ALL and phasing it completely out of their life. That is mainstream society moving in the right direction. The masses are always going to be vapid – you want them to be vapid but non-invasive.

07. I understand Anton LaVey appointed you to priesthood in 1996. Has this changed your life any?

Well, I’m a very independent person, some would say pathologically independent, and there are very few people who I would acknowledge as having any “authority” or valid position that their endorsement or approval would matter to me one way or another. Dr. LaVey was one of those people. His appointing me to the priesthood was totally out of the blue and unexpected, so it was as much of a surprise as it was an honor. If anything, I would say it was confirmation and reinforcement of who I already was and what direction I was going. I would say it galvanized or reinforced my life rather than changed it. A truly strong ego, a Satanic ego, is not challenged or threatened by acknowledging others or aligning with others of like mind. That is why Dr. LaVey created the Church of Satan. I think, along with others involved with the Church of Satan, it also made us more interested in carrying on his legacy, out of true respect, unlike some of the worthless scumbags who bailed out after his death who showed their true colors, they weren’t really aligned with the philosophy to begin with, all they wanted was a personality cult to pilfer some “notoriety by association” from, because they had nothing worthwhile of their own to show. Good riddance to them. The Church of Satan, Anton LaVey’s legacy, is stronger without them.

08. What are some of your favorite musicians or bands?

None. I really don’t have any. I can’t think of anything more stupid and embarrassing than these asshole bands bobbing around on stage blasting their garbage like it means something. Most people don’t believe me, but I really don’t listen to music or watch television. I watch movies. Only recently I figured out how to download music to my computer, not that I couldn’t figure it out before, I just didn’t care. I probably have less than twenty mp3s on my computer and they are mostly odd things from my past that evoke memories, not even that I particularly liked the music but that I associate it with poignant episodes of my life, or it evokes some mood, and I rarely listen to them. Sometimes I just listen to the first minute or so of the track, I don’t have to listen to the whole thing, I remember what it sounds like. I understand traditional Chinese and Japanese music better now, but I rarely listen to it. An old friend of mine recently took up bluegrass, banjo and fiddle, and actually studies under some old time bluegrass players, people no one has ever heard of unless they were really into regional bluegrass over the last fifty years or so. These are people who only play at rural flea-markets, outside garages and barber shops in extremely rural areas of the real south. Fortunately he has a digital recorder and sends recordings to me – the musicianship is incredible – these people are masters of stringed instruments, the technical proficiency is incredible. He recently sent the most incredible version of Mule Skinner Blues performed at a Saturday night hoedown in an auto garage in West Virginia. Its one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever heard. Not something you are going to hear from your local bullshit hipster music scenes, at tower records, or on TV. This is from another world that does not care about that shit. Also, these old fashioned country people would probably kick your ass if you told them you were a Satanist!

09. Who are some of your favorite authors do you have a favorite book?

This is an impossible question, which book is my favorite. I’ve read voraciously since I was a child. My personal library is about 30,000 books on all subjects, so it is impossible to single out a favorite book, or even a short list. For some time now I’ve been enjoying “grand narrative” style history books, such as J.M. Roberts, William Langer, William H. McNeill, even H.G. Wells’s Outline of History, and other big cohesive overviews of various subjects such as Bryson’s Short History of Nearly Everything or Daniel Boorstin’s From Dawn to Decadence. Another book I’ve been reading recently is Bryan Magee’s Confessions of a Philosopher, which is turning out to be one of the best popular overviews of Western philosophy I’ve ever read. He’s very gifted at cogently summarizing complex ideas without oversimplifying them. He’s a very no-bullshit writer, which is the highest compliment I can think of. I’m very much a devotee of the “Great Books” concept. I think it is important to be familiar with the most important works in the history of civilization. Even if you think some of them are bullshit, you should be able to articulate or justify why you think so. I hate stuffed-shirts who are dismissive of something, yet when you press them it is immediately apparent they have NO idea what they are talking about. I’m also a big fan of good reference books. I love the “Oxford Companion” series, I spend hours perusing through those. My favorite books are those that deliver the most pertinent information in the most direct way possible. I want to know about everything, because I find everything interesting. Unfortunately I’ve developed a mental block when it comes to reading fiction. I lack the patience for it. I’ve read a lot of “classics” in literature, but I suspect eventually I’ll get back into reading literature again – there is a lot to be gained from it – it’s just a very different mindset.

10. What’s the most intelligent thing you’ve ever read? A favorite quote?

That’s a hard question, for the same reason it is difficult to single out one favorite book; there are too many of them. At the moment I might single out Daniel Boorstin’s From Dawn to Decadence because the author covers and deeply comprehends so much material over as vast an area as Western Civilization, plus it is the product of a long lifetime of study and contemplation, I think he was in his 80s when the book was written. I recall an interview with him discussing his writing process, he pointed out a huge file cabinet and said it was filled with nothing but outlines for this one book – he had devoted that much time and effort to finding the best way to systematically cover the vast amount of material he was working with. Another work that I think is outstanding in its scope is Will Durant’s 11 volume set The Story of Civilization. I won’t go so far as to say it is the best written work of history out there, but its scope and the work that went into it impresses me. Wherever possible he visited the most significant places discussed, as well as visiting the museums and collections where the artifacts and works of art discussed were housed to see them first hand. The work was criticized by many academic specialists, but they were not his intended audience, and for general use the work holds up. I also admire the conception and work that went into The Syntopicon of The Great Books of the Western World – outlining and indexing the key ideas and their subordinate ideas as they are discussed throughout the Great Books. I like things of that scope. If you ask me the same question at another time I would probably have a different set of replies just as worthy.

11. Do you have a favorite movie? What is it and why?

That is as hard to answer as my favorite book, for the same reasons, I love films and have seen probably thousands of them. It is difficult to single out one favorite film or even a short list. Apocalypse Now would be in the top list – I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this film, and all the various cuts of it. Just in it’s scope and execution it stands out in the history of film – all that Coppola went through to make it – and that it is based on Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, which is one of my favorite novels. Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch is without a doubt one of my favorite films, definitely my favorite western. It would be difficult to pick one favorite by Scorsese, but I don’t know how many times I’ve seen Taxi Driver. There are other films that I love, Coppola’s The Godfater, Gillo Pontecorvo’s The Battle of Algiers, any number of films by Josef von Sternberg, Carl Theodor Dryer, Lodge Kerrigan and a few others. I’m also a huge fan of classic Horror films, especially early Horror, and I’ve also watched nearly everything by John Waters and Herschell Gordon Lewis any number of times. Too many favorites to list.

12. Do you have plans to start a website? You’re a really interesting figure.

I don’t know that I’m interested in maintaining a full-scale website. I’ve had several people offer to host a website for me for free, but I have yet to take them up on it. I like tinkering with software, but I don’t want to get distracted by maintaining a full-scale website. I’m also ambivalent about self-advertisement. I’ve used a few free services, such as blogger, myspace, and a couple forums, but the advantage of that is you have no financial commitment to keep the show going, you can hit “delete” on the whole thing without having pissed away anything but the time you put in writing there. But I write anyway, so at least the material is saved to be used for some other project, such as a book.

13. I understand you corresponded with Charles Manson for several years. What was that like?

It was very interesting. I’ve always been fascinated with Manson without going so far as admiring him. His rhetoric is fantastic, and while I do think he is “deranged” he is also highly intelligent and extremely insightful. It always amused me to see him interviewed by idiots like Tom Snyder or Geraldo, who are both intellectually outgunned by a wide margin by Manson. I do think he got a bum rap, although I think he was accessory to a few of the crimes, I don’t think he warranted the scapegoat treatment he’s received. At this point he really doesn’t give a fuck. He is definitely byproduct and a casualty of the Invisible War, and some of the most interesting aspects of my communication with him bears directly on that subject, in specific terms. One of the most interesting things that came from being in communication with him was the number of people on the outside who contacted me at his direction. Very interesting stuff. The prison authorities cut off the correspondence.

14. What’s your opinion on aesthetics in facism?

Black and silver are a winning color combination. Hitler and Cocoa Cola understand the visual power of the black and white on red combination. Most of what is called “fascist aesthetics” are classical Greco-Roman standards so it is a misnomer, and usually a negative epithet to disparage traditional Western standards of beauty. National Socialist art only loses me when it verges into Norman Rockwell-esque kitsch, but who cannot feel moved by the power of Triumph of the Will, the huge symmetrical podiums, black leather jackets and jackboots, peaked caps, thousands sharply dressed killers aligned in perfect rows, eagles, wolves, runes and skulls? Whatever anyone may say against National Socialism or Fascism, historically, politically, or philosophically, they had outstanding aesthetic sensibilities.

15. What do you think about Aleister Crowley? Genius? Insane?

Crowley is only a slightly more interesting example of the Bullshit Factor at work. The reason I get suckered into discussing him so much is that people are constantly making the mistaken assertion that he was a Satanist or had something relevant to say about Satanism. He was not a Satanist and never claimed to be. No one with any real understanding of Satanism has ever held that he was. Crowley was almost systematically wrong about everything, and like any other “spiritual” philosophy, created a self-validating reinforcement matrix of systematic delusions and fallacies. Most people you encounter into Crowley, or most forms of religion or occultism for that matter, don’t really know about anything outside of their little area of interest. Or at least don’t maintain outside interests that would give them any real perspective. Even when you encounter someone from that field with a professed interest in philosophy or the history of ideas, they invariably distort it to reinforce their bias. They are “true believers” in Hoffer’s sense of the term, just as much as Christians or Scientologists.

16. Anything you’d like to share before I let you go?

These are “interesting times” for Satanists. There is a LOT going on, in the open and behind the scenes. High Priest Peter H. Gilmore’s book The Satanic Scriptures has just come out and is the most important book on Satanism to be published since the writings of Dr. LaVey. Several other members of the Church of Satan hierarchy are coming out with books in the near future. The Church of Satan is stronger than ever before. It is a good time to be alive!