These women share their reasons for joining the church of Satan

These women claim Satanism has allowed them to become complete individuals. And they say Hollywood’s portrayal of demonic babies and upside-down crosses couldn’t be further from the truth.

“We are an atheist organization. We don’t believe in God, we don’t believe in the devil, we don’t believe in angels or demons. All we believe in is the here and now,” says Ruth Waytz, a 57-year-old Californian, who was friends with LaVey and has the high-ranking role of ‘magistra’ within the Church.

Waytz

“One of the interesting things about the Church is it’s never been unaccepting of women, gay people or any alternative lifestyle. It’s about a family of people of similar thinking; what gender or race you belong to is irrelevant,” she insists. 

Among the Church’s younger female members is 30-year-old Canadian Misty Tyers. She was drawn to the church after reading LaVey’s The Satanic Witch – a book that teaches women mental techniques to enchant and manipulate men. She says it "spoke to my soul".

“All these stories about babies being bred for sacrifice is a load of mumbo jumbo, it couldn’t be further from the truth. I have not seen a religion or philosophy that holds women or children in higher regard,” says Tyers.

“The philosophy we follow is about living in the moment and empowering people to be the best person they can possibly be.”

She says female members of the Church are drawn to the ‘fictional’ character of Satan because he embodies the role of the underdog: “I love the fact the devil is this outcast, who has this fire and lust for knowledge and life. He’s a powerful adversary that’s all about embracing the carnality of things. As a woman, in a society that’s still very sexist, these are very freeing concepts.”

Heather

Heather Height, 48, is married to a Satanist. She joined the Church after researching Satanism on the internet after her son asked what it was. A part-time fetish model (her stage name is Heidee Nytes) and full-time Satanist, Height has been a participant in naked altars, and this is something she calls an "honour".

“A nude female altar is the symbol of the Earth Mother – the embodiment of creation,” she explains. “It's only 'seedy' to those that are repressed enough to find the female body 'seedy'. Satanism is a carnal religion; a veritable celebration of what prudes and oppressed people consider 'seedy'. To be the physical representation of the human race's lustful desires in that moment is a powerful feeling.”

“The experience afforded me the opportunity to explore some doubts and insecurities about myself and my body that I might otherwise have never addressed, subsequently releasing them. That is the very definition of liberation.”

Tyers, meanwhile, believes these rituals should be considered “pure theatre. They are a mental and emotional decompression chamber.”

Tyers

“Without the links to Satan, you’d strip away all of the fun – I guess you could call me a secular humanist but that would be far too boring!” answers Cimminnee Holt, a 40-year-old practicing Satanist, who is researching the Church as part of her PhD. 

“Women’s sexuality has always been associated with the devil – whether it’s the seductress or the temptress, there’s always that Satanic connotation. However, the Church of Satan subverts all that."




*The devil really lives up to his name 'the father of lies'. Even his followers are in the dark about who he really is. He tells them he is a fictitious character, he is not real, that he is just a imaginary fallen angel who rebelled against the dictatorship of a controlling God to bring freedom to humanity, that satanists are god in themselves. Lies and more lies.

If only they'd know the truth and this truth will set them free... 

As much as we can let's pray for satanists. They have no idea what they are really up against.