You know it's interesting how so many people these days like to bash LaVey, by calling him a charlatan, a no good father, you name it. Whether or not some individuals are considered Charlatan's, every point of view that some of these individuals write can have a bit of truth, hell LaVey even states it himself "From every set of principles (be it religious, political, or philosophical), some good can be extracted." I personally think that LaVey was a genius on what he wrote and how he developed Satanism. Every now and then I occasionally go back to reading the Satanic Bible. Their is one particular chapter I like in the Satanic Bible called "Some Evidence of a New Satanic Age." Coming from a half Russian formerly raised Russian Orthodox Christian background, I find it interesting of what I hear about from different Christian Institutions. Such as how Catholics aren't as religious and maybe go to Easter mass or whatever you call it, once a year and that's it. Or how Russian Orthodox Christians barely read the Bible or put it to practice if at all.
The thing I most identify in what LaVey mentions in Evidence of a New Satanic Age, is why continue to hold on to a faith that doesn't work for you, while you identify yourself in that faith? It would be like identifying yourself as a Satanist and not practice Satanic Philosophy, but instead wearing freely your Baphomet T shirts or Necklace without any meaning to it. The way I see it is this. If something works for you as an identity and you practice the beliefs within that identity that you have, I can understand that. What I do not understand, is giving yourself a label as an identity but not truly practicing it. I feel that LaVey's questioning on that, is definitely something that one should think about and look at. I think that LaVey was one of the few western thinkers that questioned on what use is conventional religion for man? The thing that I like the most on what LaVey had to say in Evidence of a New Satanic age is on "why continue to grasp on to a dying faith?" When that faith decides to constantly change viewpoints to a more liberal or Satanic viewpoint in order to keep the flock in. That is something that one should keep in mind.
The Wall