Luciferianism: Difference between revisions

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 that 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.

Spiritual/Gnostic Luciferianism

Spiritual Luciferianism has its roots in the esoteric teachings of Western Occultism and Hermeticism. This view holds that, while Satan represents the manifestation of the Material Realm, Lucifer represents the highest spiritual ideal, one's true Will, the Holy Guardian Angel, etc. As all “material” things are energy or light, Lucifer is seen as the creating force of the universe, ever present. Spiritual Luciferianism is more of a branch of Hermeticism than Satanism, having little or nothing to do with the latter. Magical practices are mostly influenced by Roger Williamson and Aleister Crowley.

Various Gnostic Luciferian sects which emphasize the dualism of the universe have also been associated with the image of Lucifer, in the root sense of the "bringer of light". The orthodox view has associated Lucifer with "Satan before the fall", though, as Bishop Lucifer Calaritanus's name attests, Lucifer was not yet associated with "Satan" in the 4th century. Some classically-educated Freemasons used "luciferian" in the scholarly sense of "bringing enlightenment," invoking Prometheus who stole fire from the gods to bring to man. Pro-Catholic polemicists linked such Masonic usage with sects worshiping Lucifer, which have had persistent groups of followers since the Middle Ages.

Philosophical Luciferianism

Luciferianism is the embodiment of knowledge that acknowledges the Principles of Lucifer as the "Light of Conscious Evolution". As a god or as a principle, Lucifer is the "Light Bearer". The Light which illuminates the consciousness of sapient beings and heightens the senses and awareness to experience Higher Levels of Being. Luciferianism is the path of Self-Attainment, the Higher Self. It is the Centered Path, neither Left nor Right, for Lucfier is the Star that shines in the morning and evening, that point of light between opposing forces.

Modern Luciferianism

Main article: Satanism

Modern Luciferianism and Modern Satanism share many primary aspects. In both, practitioners self-identify with a super-personal essence that they view as embodying desirable characteristics. Both work towards employing these characteristics as a means of bettering the Self. However, these two groups differ in that Modern Satanists, particularly younger ones, are believed to actively engage in the sinister or diabolical aspects traditionally associated with the biblical Satan due to criticism received by people who do not know a great deal about Satanism. It is therefore incorrect that crimes, such as child kidnapping, human sacrifices, vandalism, and so forth, are committed by true Satanists. Contrary to popular belief, many Luciferians and Satanists alike do not worship the devil, but rather worship nothing except the divinity within themselves.

Followers of Lucifer Calaritanus

"Luciferians" described a schismatic group named after Lucifer Calaritanus, Bishop of Cagliari, Sardinia in the late 4th century. The movement was linked to the complex political machinations involving the emperor Constantius II and Pope Liberius. Lucifer was a staunch ultra-orthodox opponent of Arius, declared a heretic. The movement died out early in the following century. All that we know of Bishop Lucifer's views derive from the anti-Luciferian polemic of Jerome in the form of a dialogue, Altercatio Luciferiani et orthodoxi ("Altercation of the Luciferian and the orthodox").

Luciferian orders

Structured systems that are fundamentally Luciferian are exceedingly rare. Most public and semi-public internet-based organizations resemble the Dot-Com bubble of the 1990's, not lasting far past the start-up phase.

The Church of Lucifer, (Official Website) 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.

The Children of the Black Rose are a long-time Luciferian order who view Lucifer as a Supreme being encompassing all; "everything and nothing." This can be compared to the Gnostic deity Abraxas, which is thought to contain both Absolute Good and Evil. A more modern structure inspired by Gnosticism, French occultism, Thelema and the works of Danish Luciferian author Carl William Hansen (Ben Kadosh) and Bishop Michael Bertiaux is the Neo-Luciferian Church. It works within a seven grade church system.

The Ordo Luciferi (Luciferian Order), is an up and coming Order that was originally developed by Lucian Black in 2005. The philosophy of the Luciferian Order is based on that of Intellectual Light, wherein, light is knowledge (consciousness). And through the acquisition of such light may the individual intelligence work to advance his/her own conscious evolution. Luciferians work to evolve their own consciousness to higher states, the Opus Magnum. To ascend from our current Homo-Sapiens state to a higher ideal state of Homo-Divinus. The Ordo Luciferi implements a SIX degree non-religious system of recognition for its members. The O:L in no way interferes with ones religious or political opinions, be they what they may. The O:L was designed to serve as a hub for Luciferic Illumination, not for dogmatic discipline. For each conscious point of light within humanity is unique and each sol (sun) must find their own way to the Light that is within them, the O:L offers tools and fraternity with like minded people who seek the god within, the Higher Self.

See also

• Lucifer
• Luciferians
• Satanism
• Hermeticism
• Gnosticism
• Thelema
• Theistic Satanism

Further reading

• "The Lucifer Gospel", Paul Christopher. Onyx.
• "A Revolução Luciferiana", Adriano Camargo Monteiro. Madras Editora.
• "Lucifer Rising", Gavin Baddeley. Plexus Publishings.
• "The Lucifer Light", Michael Salazar. Bantam.

External links

• LUCIFERIAN GALLERIA is a luciferian themed art gallery
• 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 - inspired by Hansen-Kadosh, old European Luciferianism/Gnosticism and the teachings of Michael Bertiaux and other occult authors.
• Catholic Encyclopedia entry on Lucifer
• The League of Independent Satanists
• Luciferian Witchcraft