[imagesource: SA Satanic Church / Facebook]

In February of this year, the South African Satanic Church became the first of its kind in the country, with the church opening its doors in Century City.

Getting to that point was a four-year-long journey for co-founders Adri Norton and Riaan Swiegelaar (pictured above), and they say interest is high, with more than 300 new applicants for membership in June alone.

Let’s start with the IOL report from a few weeks back:

The church is a registered non-profit company under the category of a religious organisation.

Co-founders Adri Norton and Riaan Swiegelaar said they would like to dispel some of the misconceptions people may have about Satanism.

“We are not a get-rich organisation but rather a religious organisation,” said Norton.

Swiegelaar said they did not sacrifice humans or animals, there were no initiation ceremonies, they did not worship a devil or even acknowledge a devil – Satan is an archetype.

Swiegelaar added that they were not after your children nor were they part of the “Illuminati” or a cult.

In fact, members who wish to join must be at least 18 years old, and be approved by the seven-member council.

According to the South African Satanic Church, there are nine central Satanic Statements, written by Anton LaVey in ‘The Satanic Bible’ (pictured above), the first of which is “Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence”.

Number five is “Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek”, and finishing with number nine, “Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he kept it in business all these years”.

The always entertaining Daily Voice also compiled a report on the Church, outlining their stance on the difference between Satanism and devil worship:

“The council comes together and we review the applications and we ask, is this person really a Satanist? Or they are devil worshippers,” Adri explains.

“A devil worshipper will use the words, ‘Satan the lord, I love Satan, I need to worship Satan’.

Image: Genevieve Serra / Daily Voice

“We see Satanism as an archetype, a force, it is not something that needs worshipping.

“A lot of people think we are going to convert you into Satanists. We don’t do that, we know that Satanists are born. You can’t be converted into a Satanist from another religion.”

Let’s hear from Adri and Riaan themselves.

This video, uploaded in May to the South African Satanic Church’s YouTube channel, covers many of the basics of the religion:

As you might have guessed, the response to saying you’re a Satanist isn’t always a positive one.

Observe:

Whilst religious gatherings of 50 or less are now allowed, the Satanic Church says they steer clear of their usual practice of gathering at an undisclosed location for service, and instead conduct things via Facebook:

“We do an interview via a video group and we do bible study,” says Riaan.

“It is a private group because only people over the age of 18 are allowed to view it.”

He says their rituals usually involve three things: psycho drama, where they empower people, rites of passage, for example weddings, or when someone wants their baptism to be reversed, “as a symbol to be more free”.

“As it clearly states in the Satanic bible, which is our doctrine, we do not practise or condone human or animal sacrifice.

“We also don’t partake in anything that is self-destructive like drinking or drug abuse.”

I can’t be the only one who would love to see a discussion between Riaan, Adri, and Angus Buchan.

You can read the rest of their interview with the Daily Voice here.

Finally, in case you missed out, here’s a recording from May 31, or Satan Sunday:

[sources:iol&dailyvoice&satanicsa]