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Satansplain #120 – 1970 Church of Satan article from McCall’s magazine

No, Anton LaVey did not refer to Satanism as a “new conservative movement” in a 1970 issue of McCall’s magazine, as some liars claim. But we’ll take a full look at that long lost article anyway, showcasing one of many journalist’s entertaining reports from the early years of the Church of Satan.

McCall’s article (subscribers only): https://satansplain.locals.com/post/8015531/mccalls-1970-article-san-franciscos-church-of-satan

00:00 – Intro
00:57 – Where is episode 119?
02:03 – Questions about Judith Rascoe’s “San Francisco’s Church of Satan”, 1970 McCall’s article
04:18 – Politics redux
10:47 – About that article
14:45 – Does anyone know? Apparently not.
17:19 – What to expect
25:58 – McCall’s Article
29:12 – Anton LaVey
34:29 – The Satanic Bible
38:31 – Would you like to see the rest of the house?
41:50 – Satanic ritual
48:53 – After ritual

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Subscribe to Satansplain on Locals.com

Many have asked how they can support Satansplain. Well, here’s how! Create an account on Locals.com and join the Satansplain channel at satansplain.locals.com. It’s free. If you’d additionally like to show your support, become a subscriber for $5 a month. You can get the first month free if you use the promo code mentioned in the latest Satansplain episode.

So what the heck is Locals? Locals is a special website for content creators and their audiences. What will you see when you sign up and go to the Satansplain channel? Right now, I have written transcriptions of the first 30 or 40 episodes, but I’m planning on adding more soon: unreleased essays, photos from Satanism events, live streams, and who knows what else. Let’s take this one step at a time.

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Satansplain #119 – Reverend Jared Mammon interview commentary

Recently, Reverend Jared Mammon of the Church of Satan was interviewed on a podcast whose host tried to sneak in some post-production rebuttals. Satansplain invites Jared to share a listen and his responses.

01:00:00 – Intro
01:02:08 – “Once again, that isn’t Satanism” (Facebook)
01:03:40 – Interviewer’s intro
01:05:04 – Interview start
01:07:50 – Connecting to Satanism
01:11:15 – Satanic Bible “Interpretations”?
01:13:01 – Hunting for contradictions / “can pseudos infiltrate the COS?”
01:17:58 – Seeing oneself in TSB
01:19:36 – More on “interpretations” / percentage arguments
[23:49 – PHG
01:23:58 – Oh no, not the “pLAgiARiZed rEDbEArd” argument again
01:35:57 – “Can we quote every single thing you say as being official?” and other lame “Gotcha!” games
01:38:35 – Oh no, not the “dogma” argument again
01:56:03 – Next false dichotomy: “can Satanism evolve (in which case, I’m free to be a pseudo) or is it unchangeable (in which case, you’re a conformist and I win again)”.
01:00:50 – “Can I take everything from the COS website as canonical?”
01:06:00 – Oh no, not the “community” argument again.
01:22:35 – No, Satanic ritual is not “anything goes”.
01:36:00 – Oh no, not the “gatekeeping!” complaint again.
01:40:33 – Oh no, not the “Aren’t you giving your opinion without being asked” argument again.
01:49:19 – “Denominations”? Ugh, here we go.
01:56:45 – Being new to Satanism
01:58:18 – Awesomeism, Schrodinger’s Moron
02:08:53 – Echo chambers / could’ve been worse
02:15:05 – Closing
02:23:43 – Final thoughts

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Satansplain #118 – Reflecting on 6/6/06 (Church of Satan High Mass)

A look back at infamous Church of Satan High Mass, held on 6/6/06. Hear shared memories of that night, related events, and the more general nature of actual Satanic gatherings.

00:00 – Intro
01:24 – Reminder: Satanism is not a congregational religion
03:22 – But Satanists do sometimes get together, by choice!
07:22 – 6/6/06 and why
10:33 – A message from Church of Satan High Priest, Magus Peter H. Gilmore
19:21 – A week in L.A.: Remembering Shawn
23:59 – 2016 reflections on 2006

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Satansplain #117 – “Satanic Prayer” Lunacy

Are actual Satanists giving prayers to the Devil in government meetings?!? Are certain voters possessed by literal demons?!? The answer to both questions is of course is no. Hear about one lunatic who thinks otherwise, along with equally delusional trolls who help confirm his paranoia, and some political third side observations.

Gateway Pundit article: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/05/wayne-root-proof-las-vegas-that-democrats-are/

0:00 – Intro
3:58 – Start of Wayne Root’s article
7:52 – Third Side Rant
15:14 – Back to the Article
17:16 – Dumb arguments, from both christards and Solingists
25:06 – Satanic Prayer?
32:48 – Article, continued
39:05 – CombatKimmy
42:09 – More with CombatKimmy
45:58 – Steve Sebelius is a moron

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Satansplain #116 – “No, You’re Not Entitled to Your Opinion”

A look at the modern sacred cow of opinion entitlement and its poor justification for faulty thinking and solipsism. Also, the surprising Satanic merits of the classic comedy film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, plus some anecdotes from fellow Satanists on when their Satanism being detected or undetected worked in their favor.

Article: https://theconversation.com/no-youre-not-entitled-to-your-opinion-9978

00:00 – Intro
01:07 – About the article
02:52 – “No, You’re Not Entitled To Your Opinion”
05:52 – Dunning-Kruger and Solipsism
10:18 – Satanists falling for this?
18:05 – To the “bUt u beLiEvE iN mAgicK!” dorks
18:54 – Article, continued
25:47 – Satanecdote: Stone Cold Steve Anton?
33:15 – “No, dummy, that was Ghandi, not LaVey.”
35:12 – Satanecdote: The Car Boot

Other ways to listen:

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Satansplain #115 – Church of Satan’s 60th Anniversary

Happy 60th anniversary to the Church of Satan! Hear some Church of Satan history, how and when members get together, the anniversary celebrations, why we don’t use grottos, and some trivia about the hidden track on the Satanic Mass album.

00:00 – Intro
01:21 – History quotations
07:16 – More on the Church of Satan
10:29 – Satanists getting together
13:58 – Getting together: bigger numbers
19:13 – Thoughts on the 60th celebration
28:58 – Satanecdote: lesser magic at the pharmacy drive-thru
30:43 – Upcoming episode?
31:36 – Ghost track on “The Satanic Mass”
34:09 – Grottos vs. Internet

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Satansplain #114 – Satanism “evolution” demands from the unevolved

Satansplain gives answers to questions on the vague demands for Satanism to “evolve”. Also Satanic films, the mistake of equating structure with conformity, and some stories from fellow Satanists on putting personal desires above counterproductive pride.

COS film list: https://churchofsatan.com/sources-film-list/

00:00 – Intro
01:12 – Questions about “Satanists” in movies (Ready or Not)
04:55 – Ricky Behot’s weird post
10:22 – Ricky’s post, continued
14:01 – “Newest youtube video/podcast?”
18:59 – Satanism and Philosophical Praxis
24:27 – Structure vs. “evolution”
26:33 – More on “evolving” delusions / cafeteria religion people
31:06 – Satanic Anecdotes

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Satansplain #113 – Satanism and Atheism FAQ

The Church of Satan’s FAQ has been expanded with the frequently asked questions (and answers) concerning Satanism and atheism. A comprehensive essay is also now available.

00:00 – Intro
01:29 – Satansplain 101, and the 80-20 Rule
05:57 – “Hey, could you send us pamphlets to upset the fundies?”
06:45 – “How can you be an atheist and a Satanist?”
07:51 – “If you Satanists are atheists, then why not just call yourselves ‘atheists’?”
09:10 – “Is Satanism a religion? Is it a type of atheism? How can Satanism be a religion if Satanists don’t believe in any deities?”
11:18 – “What is the COS doing to fight for [insert favorite cause]?”
14:39 – “How can you be atheists if you believe in magick?”
16:12 – “Wasn’t Satanism INVENTED specifically to troll Christians?”
21:50 – Satanecdote: Priest burger
24:44 – Side rant: fast food workers
27:21 – “Is Satanism just Ayn Rand’s Objectivism, plus ritual? Didn’t LaVey say that?”
29:57 – “Different denominations?”
35:58 – “Was Anton LaVey really a deist or secret theist? And then did Peter H. Gilmore decidedly change Satanism to be atheistic instead?”
39:52 – “Isn’t it wrong to say you’re atheists if it’s possible to be agnostic/deist/apatheist? And how can you be both I-theist and atheist?”

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Atheism FAQ & Essay

There are two new pages on Churchofsatan.com:

  1. https://churchofsatan.com/faq-replies-for-atheists/
    The FAQ has been expanded to include FAQs for atheists and other people asking the same sorts of questions. This was written by Rev Jared Mammon and myself.
  2. https://churchofsatan.com/on-the-misconceptions-of-atheism-and-satanism/
    Way back in episode #16 of Satansplain, I did a full examination on these same types of questions and accusations. All of that has now been put in written form here. It’s admittedly quite long. Besides going over the same points in the first link, it also takes a look at the first 3 chapters of the Book of Lucifer from “The Satanic Bible”, answering how the notions of “God” and “Satan” actually fit into Satanism’s worldview. It’s more or less a transcription of Satansplain episode #16.

Some related links:

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Satansplain #112 – Spring, Sigils, Victims, and Solipsism

Happy spring. As the Church of Satan approaches its diamond year anniversary, a new stylized rendering of the Sigil of Baphomet is presented. Hear more about the sigil, equinoxes, the false notion of Satanic victims, and some odd listener mail.

00:00 – Intro
02:10 – Equinox 2026 essay / Satanic Holidays
06:50 – More on the origin of the sigil
13:35 – Rest of the equinox message
14:27 – Satanic Victims? (essay by Magister Michael Rose)
21:02 – The letter – the thoughtful part and The Satanic Bible
27:46 – Being solipsistic with screaming Satanism
33:52 – And now the P.S.