Luciferianism
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This is an article about people who revere the biblical Lucifer. For the Luciferians, fourth century followers of a Catholic breakaway sect led by Saint Lucifer, see Lucifer Calaritanus.
Luciferianism can be understood best as a belief system that venerates the essential characteristics that are affixed to Lucifer.
Luciferianism is identified by some people as an auxiliary of Satanism, due to the popular 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.
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[edit] Lucifer
The name "Lucifer" is commonly tied to the biblical Satan. The name appears in the King James Version of Isaiah 14:12, in which the King of Babylon is referenced as "Morning Star, Son of the Dawn" (in Hebrew, "Helel ben Shahar"), due to the original meaning of the word "Lucifer" in Latin to denote the planet Venus in its appearance as the Morning Star. This passage was later applied, especially in Christian tradition, to Satan, pictured as having been the most beautiful of the angels (hence his title of Morning Star, in Latin Lucifer, a word whose literal meaning is Light-Bringer) but as having been condemned to Hell, along with the angels who supported him, as punishment for his attempted usurpation of God's throne.
[edit] Gnostic Luciferianism
While "Gnostic Luciferian" can sometimes be found mentioned in older works (such as Eliphas Levi's Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie, first published in 1855) the term did not enter more popular usage until the early 2000s. Modern groups and individuals identifying themselves as "Gnostic Luciferian" often emphasize their understanding of the entity or Archetype titled "Lucifer" (from the Latin for "Light-Bearer") as being separate from the usually synonymous entity titled "Satan" (from the Hebrew for "Adversary".) As the fourth-century Saint Lucifer's name attests, the name was at that time not yet associated exclusively with "Satan before the Fall". Some classically-educated Free Masons and those inspired by their work used "luciferian" in the scholarly sense of "bringing enlightenment", invoking Prometheus who stole fire from the gods to bring to man. Polemicists linked such Masonic usage with sects worshiping Lucifer, which have had persistent groups of followers since the Middle Ages.
[edit] 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 [1] and his titles in the Bible as 'the god of this world' in 2 Corinthians 4:4 and 'lord of this world' in the Book of John 12:31.
[edit] Modern Luciferianism
The Church of Lucifer is a Modern Luciferian organization, which views Lucifer as a symbol of the never-ending quest for wisdom and a force of and behind particular aspects of nature, and 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]
[edit] Luciferian groups
The Order of Phosphorus is a Luciferian Magickal Order by Michael W. Ford, based on individual initiatory development based on the concepts of Luciferianism.
The Ordo Luciferi is an international occult group that does not mandate any strict religious or dogmatic belief system. Otherwise known as "The Luciferian Order", the Ordo Luciferi exists to enable free discussion of philosophy, magick and lifestyle with like minded individuals. There is a series of six named degrees which are granted to members upon recognition by a Magus (third degree member) or above. There is also a "Working Group" designed for the co-ordination of practical workings. The Working Group is considered "The Official Think-Tank of The Luciferian Order" and is engaged in research and development of practical occult techniques. [3]
The Children of the Black Rose, formed by Nate Leved, are a long-time Luciferian order who view Lucifer as a Supreme being encompassing all; "everything and nothing." [4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Clifton, Chas. Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics. Barnes & Noble Books, 1992, p. 82-83. ISBN 0-7607-0823-1.
- ^ The Church of Lucifer website
- ^ http://www.ordo-luciferi.org
- ^ Scholl, Veleska. Satanic Denominations - Luciferianism
[edit] Further reading
- "The Bible of the Adversary", By Michael W. Ford
- "Luciferian Witchcraft", By Michael W. Ford
- "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.
[edit] External links
- Church of Lucifer
- The Luciferian Order Luciferic Illumination.
- The Gnostic Witchcraft - A Luciferian Path
- Brief introduction to Luciferian principles
- Lucifer Worship: Its beginnings in Serpent, Dragon, and Sun Worship.
- 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.
- Children of the Black Rose
- Luciferian Witchcraft\The Order of Phosphorus
