Anton LaVey

Anton Szandor LaVey (April 11, 1930 – October 29, 1997), born Howard Stanton Levey, was the founder of the Church of Satan. He created a religion called LaVeyan Satanism. He wrote several books describing his beliefs. His first book was called The Satanic Bible. He reported a dramatic life story, although some say he lied about his past.

Early life
Anton Szandor LaVey was born Howard Stanton Levey on April 11, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area of California soon after he was born. He was talented with musical instruments, particularly the pipe organ and calliope. He read a lot. His biography says that he stopped going to high school to join the circus. When the carnival was not active, he played organ in burlesque houses. He then worked as a police photographer in San Francisco, though this has been questioned.

Church of Satan
In the 1960s, LaVey began giving lectures at his house to a group of people he called his "Magic Circle." A member of this Circle told him that his ideas could become a religion. He agreed, and founded the Church of Satan in 1966. In 1969, he published The Satanic Bible. The Satanic Bible was a collection of writings he had published in the past years that outlined his philosophies and the basics of the religion. It was influenced by Ayn Rand, Friedrich Nietzsche, H. L. Mencken, and other authors and philosophers. In 1971, LaVey published The Compleat Witch (later released as The Satanic Witch). The Satanic Witch was a manual of magic. In 1972, LaVey published The Satanic Rituals. This contained instructions for performing rituals. In the 1990s, LaVey published two books of essays, The Devil's Notebook and Satan Speaks.

Death
LaVey died on October 29, 1997. His death was caused by pulmonary edema (fluid in his lungs). This was brought on by his heart disease.

References

 Other websites 
 Official website of the Church of Satan
 The Anton Szandor LaVey Memorial

Category:1930 births
Category:1997 deaths
Category:American esotericists
Category:Deaths from pulmonary edema
Category:Satanists
Category:Writers from Chicago
Category:Writers from San Francisco
Category:Musicians from Chicago
Category:Musicians from San Francisco