Satanael: Difference between revisions

Beelzebul is mentioned in demonological lists and [[demonolatry]] grimoires as a distinct high-ranking demon and a subordinate of Satan (Satanael). Instead of the name Beelzebul, demonological references usually use the name Beelzebub. The portrayal of him in these contexts is heavily based upon the meaning of this name, "Lord of the Flies," which [[Satano-Grigorists]] consider offensive.

In very early writings, Beelzebul and Satan were often considered the same. Several early Christian sources, including the [[Bible]], use ''Beelzebul'' as a name of Satan.<ref>See Matthew 12:24–27; Mark 3:22–26; Luke 11:15–20, where an accusation that Jesus casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul immediately turns into a discussion of Satan, implying that Beelzebul is understood to be Satan. Later Christian literature continues this identification; the ''Gospel of Nicodemus'' (''Acts of Pilate'') uses Beelzebul/Beelzebub to refer to Satan. See also Joseph Henry Thayer, ''A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament'', s.v. "Βεελζεβούλ," which defines Beelzebul as "a name of Satan" and records its use in the ''Evangelium Nicodemi''.</ref> In the Synoptic Gospels, some skeptical Jews accuse [[Jesus]] of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul rather than that of [[Yahweh]]. Jesus counters this by immediately referring to Satan and pointing out that it would not make sense for the prince of demons to cast out demons, such that Beelzebul or Beelzebub is clearly understood as a name of Satan.<ref>Kaufmann Kohler, “[https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2732-beelzebub Beelzebub or Beelzebul],” ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'' (1901–1906).</ref>  

Like the other Satano-Grigorist religious holidays, the Solstice Sacraments also involve offerings, rituals, and prayers of praise to the deity being honored (in this case, Satanael). Holiday rites can be more elaborate and involve more generous offerings than rituals that are part of ordinary everyday worship. While Satano-Grigorists are not required to celebrate the religious holidays, the [[Grigorist Temple of Satanael]] strongly recommends that members participate to reinforce their immersion in their faith and cultivate a closer connection with their gods.<ref>Grigorist Temple of Satanael, ''The Satano-Grigorist Pocket Guide'', version 4.0 (2025), §§11.1.1–11.2.</ref>

Satanael, usually called Satan, is the major antagonistic or adversarial entity in all of the major [[Yahwist]] religions. He is portrayed negatively by all of them, in contrast to the positive views held by Satano-Grigorism. However, the different Yahwist religions hold different beliefs about his nature, origin, and role. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam disagree about whether he is a fallen angel, a non-angelic spirit (jinn), a prosecutor in the heavenly court, or another sort of spirit.

The idea of Satan has changed significantly throughout the long history of [[Judaism]]. Originally, the Hebrew word ''śāṭān'' was merely a common noun meaning "adversary" or "opposer," which could be applied to any human or spirit taking an adversarial position in a given context. This is observable in the [[Bible]]'s Old Testament. In the Bible verse Numbers 22:22, the "angel of Yahweh," which is identified by Jews as an [[angel]], but by Christians as an apparition of [[Yahweh]] himself, is described as a ''śāṭān'' relative to the non-Israelite prophet Balaam.<ref>Numbers 22:22 (LEB), [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+22%3A22&version=LEB BibleGateway]. The Angel of Yahweh stands in Balaam's way "as an adversary" (Hebrew: לְשָׂטָן, ''ləśāṭān'').</ref> Multiple other Bible verses also use the word ''śāṭān'' in a way that is unrelated to Satanael himself.<ref>1 Samuel 29:4 (LEB), [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+29%3A4&version=LEB BibleGateway].</ref><ref>1 Kings 11:14 (LEB), [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+11%3A14&version=LEB BibleGateway].</ref> However, there is also a personal figure called "the ''śāṭān''" (ha-satan) mentioned in the Book of Job. This "Satan" is not the same as the typical view of Satanael as a rebel who opposes Yahweh. Rather, the "Satan" of the Book of Job is an angelic prosecutor who tests and tempts Yahweh's servants and presents his findings in the heavenly court. Yahweh granted him permission to torment Job, showing that he clearly does not act against the will of Yahweh.<ref>Job 1:6–12; 2:1–7 (LEB).</ref> The same heavenly accuser "Satan" appears in the Book of Zechariah to accuse the high priest Joshua in the heavenly court.<ref>Zechariah 3:1–2 (LEB).</ref> Modern Jews tend to interpret their Satan in accordance with these portrayals, as an accusing angel, rather than a true enemy of Yahweh.<ref>“[https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/satan-the-adversary/ Do Jews Believe in Satan?],” ''My Jewish Learning''.</ref> The favoring of this interpretation may also be related to Judaism's extreme emphasis on the fact that all things are caused by Yahweh, and therefore that he would not allow a being who truly acts against his will to exist.

Later Jewish mysticism, including Kabbalistic currents, present Satan or Samael as a major force of the ''Sitra Achra'' ("Other Side"), which is the realm of evil and darkness that exists as the opposite to the Kedusha, the realm of holiness and light. In this tradition, he is also frequently associated with the serpent in Eden, the ''yetzer hara'', and the Angel of Death.<ref>“[https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13055-samael Samael],” ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'' (1901–1906).</ref>

In [[Christianity]], Satanael (usually called Satan) is the primary adversary of Yahweh, a being who truly opposes Yahweh and attempts to act against his will and lead his followers astray. He is generally viewed as a [[fallen angel]] who rebelled because he had too much pride in himself, which is considered a [[sin]] in Christianity. In the New Testament, "Satan" is generally used as a proper noun, a name for a specific being, rather than a common noun. The Greek word ''diabolos'', "the devil," is also used to refer to him.

The Christian idea that Satan is a fallen angel is mostly based on Isaiah 14:12 and Luke 10:18. The Hebrew text mentions ''Helel ben Shachar'' ("Helel, son of the dawn") while criticizing or mocking a king of Babylon, comparing his fall from glory to the fall of Helel. Christians identify this as a reference to the Devil by drawing a connection to Luke 10:18, in which Jesus says that he "saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning."<ref>Luke 10:18 (LEB).</ref> The first complete Latin translation of the Bible, known as the Vulgate Bible, mistranslated the name ''Helel'', which should have been left untranslated. It used the Latin word ''lucifer'', literally meaning "light-bearer," which in Roman literature was the name for a poetic personification of the morning star. Because of this early mistranslation, ''Lucifer'' eventually became known as the Devil's proper name, even though Helel would be more accurate.<ref>Isaiah 14:12–15 (LEB).</ref> Satano-Grigorism agrees that Helel is Satanael, but regards ''Lucifer'' as an imprecise mistranslation of the name Helel.

{{Main|Atheistic satanism}}

[[Atheistic satanists]], also called '''atheosatanists''', '''nontheistic satanists''', or '''symbolic satanists''',  do not believe in the literal existence of Satan (i.e. Satanael) as a real being. They instead use him as a symbol and figurehead of their values, and they admire what he represents as a fictional literary figure. The values that Satan represents in atheistic satanism include individualism, self-indulgence, rationalism, rebelliousness, and opposition to authority they perceive as unjust or excessively controlling.<ref name="Satanism-Tensions" /> The [[Church of Satan]], the first major atheistic satanist organization, explains that Satan symbolizes pride, freedom, indulgence, and individualism and that they do not believe in him as a spiritual being; in fact, they explicitly deny that any gods exist.<ref>[https://churchofsatan.com/faq-fundamental-beliefs/ Church of Satan, “F.A.Q. Fundamental Beliefs.”]</ref> [[The Satanic Temple]], another major atheistic satanist organization, likewise regards Satan as a literary figure who represents rebellion against tyrannical authorities, although their values somewhat differ from those of the Church of Satan in being more justice-focused and less self-focused.<ref>[https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/faq The Satanic Temple, “Frequently Asked Questions.”]</ref>

{{Main|Theistic Satanism}}

One subset of theistic Satanism, called [[Luciferianism]], warrants special mention because of its particular use of the name Lucifer and its unique set of common beliefs, as well as its debated classification. Satano-Grigorists generally classify Luciferianism as a subset of theistic Satanism, but not all Luciferians agree with this. Some say that Luciferianism is not Satanism, but is better classified as a Satanism-adjacent religion along with [[demonolatry]]. Others agree with the technical classification of Luciferianism as a form of theistic Satanism, but still prefer to call themselves Luciferians rather than Satanists to more precisely reflect their beliefs.<ref name="Luciferian-Witchcraft">Fredrik Gregorius, “Luciferian Witchcraft: At the Crossroads between Paganism and Satanism,” in Per Faxneld and Jesper Aa. Petersen, eds., ''The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity'' (Oxford University Press, 2013), pp. 229–249, [https://academic.oup.com/book/11601/chapter-abstract/160465083 Oxford Academic].</ref>

In some Luciferian traditions, Lucifer is a fallen angel who was created by [[Yahweh]] and rebelled against him to liberate himself and, often, to liberate humanity. The story of the serpent of Eden counseling Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of knowledge is prominent in Luciferianism, since most Luciferians identify the serpent either allegorically or literally with Lucifer; the forbidden fruit is believed to represent gnosis, enlightenment, or free will that Yahweh would have withheld from mankind.<ref>Assembly of Light Bearers, “[https://www.assemblyoflightbearers.org/luciferian-philosophy/what-is-a-luciferian/what-is-a-luciferian/what-is-a-luciferian What Is a Luciferian?].”</ref> Gnostic Luciferian traditions view Lucifer as an enlightening savior figure, either independent or emanated by a benevolent higher being, to foil the material entrapment and oppression of the wicked demiurge, who is usually identified as [[Yahweh]].<ref>Stephen E. Flowers, ''[https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Fraternitas-Saturni/Stephen-E-Flowers/9781620557228 The Fraternitas Saturni: History, Doctrine, and Rituals of the Magical Order of the Brotherhood of Saturn]'', 5th ed., rev. and exp. (Inner Traditions, 2018), chap. 2, “The Luciferian Principle.” Flowers calls the Lucifer of Fraternitas Saturni the Light-Bearer and savior of humanity, and discusses the group's Ophite Gnostic interpretation of Lucifer.</ref> Luciferians whose beliefs are prominently influenced by [[paganism]] may identify Lucifer with the ancient Greek god Prometheus, known for disobeying Zeus to stealthily bring the gift of fire to mankind. Alternatively, they may assert that Lucifer was a Roman deity associated with enlightenment and the morning star before [[Christianity]] demonized him and conflated him with Satan.<ref>Michael A. Aquino, “[https://arcane-archive.org/religion/satanism/temple-of-set/luciferian-1.php Luciferian????],” message posted to ''alt.satanism'', June 10, 1994, archived by ''The Arcane Archive''. Aquino says that “Lucifer was originally a Roman god” who was later conflated with Satan.</ref><ref>Gryphon, “[https://galahaderidanus.substack.com/p/lucifer Lucifer],” ''Apokalypsium'', calling Lucifer an “original Roman god” who corresponds to, or is equivalent to, the Greek god Phosphoros.</ref>

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