My introduction into Satanism began with Anton LaVey who promoted the idea of Atheism in his Satanic Bible (for starters, Book of Satan 4:2, as well as Hell The Devil and How to Sell Your soul). Yet I recently came across a copy of the grotto masters handbook which gives a section on Spirituality that talks as if Satan is a real individual. Needless to say I was confused by this point. There are a couple points that I am wondering (1) I downloaded the copy of the Grotto Master's Handbook. Since, from my understanding, the grotto system of the Church of Satan has been mostly dismantled, I didn't consider that to be an issue. But maybe the file is a corrupted copy? (2) That it is actually a contradiction of beliefs within the Laveyan belief structure; or (3) That the emphasis of belief is placed upon a frame work of rationality rather than blind faith such as the Judeo/xian worldview promotes. I would place my bets on 3, but throughout both the Satanic Bible and Satanic Scriptures, it is very clearly evident that Satan is more of a concept or set of ideas rather than an anthropomorphic deity (as the Christians would claim).
Perhaps someone with knowledgeable insights could help me understand the issue of Atheism and Satanism more clearly to me in light of the above points?
The Wall