Luciferianism can be understood best as a belief system that venerates the essential characteristics that are affixed to Lucifer.
Luciferianism is often identified as an auxiliary of Satanism, due to the canonical identification of Lucifer with Satan. Some Luciferians accept this identification or consider Lucifer as the light bearer aspect of Satan, and thus could properly be called Satanists. Others reject it, arguing that Lucifer is a more positive ideal than Satan. They are inspired by the ancient myths of Egypt, Rome and Greece, Gnosticism and traditional Western occultism.
Lucifer
The name Lucifer is commonly tied to the biblical Satan. However, the name Lucifer does not appear in most translations of the Hebrew Bible. Lucifer does appear once in the King James version in Isaiah 14:12, in which the King of Babylon is referenced as "Son of the Morning" (translated from the Hebrew "Helel ben Shahar [Praise! Son of the Dawn"]), due to the original use of Lucifer as Latin for the planet Venus, also known as the morning star. The designation of Satan as Lucifer has its origins in the Book of Revelations. Christian tradition and Scripture assert that Lucifer was the most beautiful of the angels (hence his title of Light-bearer) but was condemned to Hell, along with the angels who supported him, as punishment for the attempted usurpation of God's throne.
There are several different viewpoints on how Luciferianism is defined. These include:
* Religious/Traditional Luciferianism
* Spiritual/Gnostic Luciferianism
* Philosophic Luciferianism
* Modern Luciferianism
Traditional Luciferianism
A pantheistic thirteenth-century German sect which held that Lucifer should be worshiped as the ruler of the material world. This concept of the material world as Lucifer's domain was, most likely, taken from Catholic doctrine.
Luciferian Orders
The Church of Lucifer, which views Lucifer as both a symbol of the never-ending quest for wisdom and a force of and behind particular aspects of nature, has been active for over twenty years with United States and international membership. Founded by the late Rev. Robert Stills and passed on to Frederick Nagash, the Church of Lucifer is currently administered by Rev. Frederick Nagash, Rev. Satrinah Nagash and Rev. Maskim Xul. The organization encourages the study of several ancient cultures to learn its wisdom and incorporate that into the Luciferian's own repertoire.[2]
The Children of the Black Rose are a long-time Luciferian order who view Lucifer as a Supreme being encompassing all; "everything and nothing."
External Links
* Church of Lucifer
* The Luciferian Order Luciferic Illumination
* The Gnostic Witchcraft - A Luciferian Path
* Brief intro to Luciferian Principles
* Voice of Lucifer
* The Neo-Luciferian Church Luciferianism and Gnosticism
* Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Lucifer
* The League of Independent Satanists
* Luciferian Witchcraft