Text from William H. Kennedy, Satanic Crime, pag 13, 2006
To this end, a provisional definition of Satanism is necessary. Satanism may be
defined as a belief system which seeks to venerate the Fallen Angel Lucifer, either as
a metaphysical being or as a metaphor. That some Satanists see the Devil purely as a
symbol while others as a genuine spiritual entity turns out to be irrelevant when
considering the underlying theology and long-term goals of this movement.
Although many factors contributed to the growth of this diabolical belief system
over the centuries, the contemporary movement can be traced to the activities of
one individual who gave shape to the modern world of Satanism.
