Theoretically speaking, religion is an organized collection of belief systems, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Durkheim, E. (1980:95) adds that the word religion is sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief systems. He goes on to explain that many religions have organized behaviours, clergy, a definition that constitutes adherence or membership, holy places and scriptures. Taking into account Durkheim school of thought about religion, therefore, this scholarly piece of work is alive to the argument that Satanism qualifies to be a religion and not just a counterfeit faith.
To begin with, many religions in practicing their religions use rituals, sermons, commemorations or veneration of a deity, gods or goddesses, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trance, initiations, funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public, service or other aspects of human culture. Satanism on the one hand does not fall short of these crucial parts of any religious ceremonies.
Anton Szandor LaVey author of Satanic Bible and founder of Satanism explain that serious rituals and ceremonies are held when initiating new members as well as sustaining the old members. Petersen, J. A. (2000:105) explains that the rituals performed by Satanists do not in any way differ from those conducted by other religions. This particular aspect of Satanism makes it qualify to be a religion in its own context and not just a counterfeit faith.
Another factor which makes Satanism qualify as a religion is its use of a sacred satanic bible. Like many religions around the globe that are guided by written codes of conduct for instance the Holy bible for the Christians and the Quran for the Muslims, Satanism as a religion equally has a written down code of conduct handed from its founder and author Anton Szandor LaVey called the satanic bible. Accoirding to Muzzatti, S. L. (2005:200), The Satanic Bible is a collection of essays, observations, and rituals published by Anton Szandor LaVey in 1969. Like the holy bible is to the Christians, Satanic Bible contains the core principles of the religion of LaVeyan Satanism, and is considered the foundation of its philosophy and dogma. Though The Satanic Bible is not considered to be sacred scripture in the way the Christian Bible is to Christianity, LaVeyan Satanists regard it as an authoritative text as it is a contemporary text that has attained for them scriptural status. It extols the virtues of exploring one's own nature and instincts. Believers have been described as "atheistic Satanists" because they believe that God is not an external entity, but rather something that each person creates as a projection of his or her own personality—a benevolent and stabilizing force in his or her life.
The Satanic Bible is composed of four books: The Book of Satan, The Book of Lucifer, The Book of Belial, and The Book of Leviathan. Metzger, R. (2008: 215) explains that The Book of Satan challenges the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, and promotes pleasure-seeking. The Book of Lucifer holds most of the philosophy in The Satanic Bible, with twelve chapters discoursing topics such as indulgence, love, hate, and sex.
Anton Szandor LaVey in defence of the religion he founded also uses the Satanic Bible to dismiss rumors surrounding this particularly interesting religion. In The Book of Belial, Anton Szandor LaVey details rituals and magic that the religion carries out day to day. He discusses the required mindset and focus for performing a ritual, and provides instructions for three rituals: those for sex, compassion, or destruction. In the Book of Leviathan, LaVey provides four invocations for Satan, lust, compassion, and destruction. It’s still in this same book that LaVey lists the nineteen Enochian Keys (adapted from John Dee's Enochian keys), provided in both Enochian and translated to English.
Satanism is in no way a new religion as it has been in existence many years now. It is appreciated greatly by its members though most Christians have never approved of it as a religion. Whatever our beliefs are, Satanism is a religion that has come to stay and to win souls of many through its solemn ceremonies and rituals. Schleiermacher, F. (1980:202) explains that Satanism dates back to ancient times before the birth of Jesus Christ and any of the Gods that people worship today. Satanism is spreading and is gaining popularity, not just as devil worshippers, but also as a religion. Many people are joining this religion anchored on its strong beliefs as propounded by its founder Anton Szandor LaVey.
One of the fundamentals of any religion is happiness. Religions emphasise on the need to be happy and accepting suffering as a passing phase in a person’s life. Satanism, too, acknowledges the need for its members to attain absolute happiness today rather than tomorrow. Domitian, J. (1970:59) explains that Satanism is the religion of the flesh. Happiness is the core value in Satanism and must be found here and now. No heaven exists to go to after death and no Hell of burning punishment awaits the sinner. Strongly attached to our family and close associations, we make excellent friends. Satanists do not believe that you can love everyone and treat every person the same. By failing to hate you make yourself unable to love. Feared by their enemies and loved by their friends,
Satanist's build their stronghold in the community. They believe that knowledge is gained beyond the five senses and as such it is acquired and received through the involvement of some supernatural being.
Different religions use different ways of initiating members. Christian and many other religions around the globe use instructions and baptism to recruit members to their religion. Satanists, use trickery and deceit to win members and among the many ways Satanists use to win members to their roll include the following as propounded by Campbell, J. (1980:95):
The first initial approach according to Campbell, J. (1980:95) is inviting a young person to a meeting on a certain topic, appealing to their curiosity. The goal of this is to psychologically manipulate the teen during the meeting. Another approach is to have a party which offers alcohol or drugs with the same goal as the meeting. This method seems to promise the unrestricted fulfilments and desires. Blackmail and the promising of supernatural powers could also be used to lure teens into Satanism.

Campbell, J. (1980:95) goes on to explain that every group uses a different method, but most of them seem to work. There are several factors that put teenagers at risk for Satanism. These include low self-esteem, alienation from peer groups, and curiosity about sex and drugs. Some people even think that poor parenting at an early age can cause the child as a teen to become involved in Satanism. The first problem is emotional withdrawal from parents. The second reason is being exposed to violence or being the victim of a violent act.

Since Satanism uses forms of violence, such teenagers do not find it repulsive. The third parent-child interaction that involves risk is the parents demanding strict religious observance while not following the rules themselves.
From, the discussion above, it’s right to deduce that Satanism is a religion and not just a counterfeit faith. This is true considering the strict adherence to the values of this religion by its members. Just like in Christianity, Satanists believe and accept Satan recognising him as either a deity or as a principle. In the Christian religion a number of churches exist and yet still belong to the same group all believing in one living God, Satanism also has three main denominations that exist and these are:
Church of Satan, the Temple of Set, and the Church of Satanic Liberation. Satanism is not about ritual sacrifices, digging up graves and worshiping the devil. The devil doesn't exist. Satanism is about worshiping yourself, because you are responsible for your own good and evil.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Campbell, J. (1980). Anthropology of Religion. London: Cambridge University Press.
Domitian, J. (1970). Theories of World Religions. New Brunswick, NJ, USA: Rutgers University Press.
Durkheim, E. (1980). The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Metzger, R. (2008). Book of Lies: The Disinformation Guide to Magic and the Occult. New York, NY: The Disinformation Company.
Muzzatti, S. L. (2005). Satanism. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Petersen, J. A. (2000). Contemporary Religious Satanism: a Critical Anthology. New York: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
Schleiermacher, F. (1980). Satanism in Contemporary America. Oxford: Oxford University Press.