Interview: Magister Herbert Paulis
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”
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