I just had to pipe up here... I am a Satanist myself (since about 1995)

Fun facts about the Modern Satanist:
- We don't believe in god or Satan
- The only object in the universe we worship/revere is ourselves
- The single most important holiday for a Satanist is our own birthday
- Masses or rites are not done in praise of any deity, they are only done to focus one's will and psyche in an effort to produce a desired result (happiness, vengeance, love, power, success, etc...)
- The Book of Satan teaches that the "turning of the cheek" inspires weakness and self-hatred.
- "If a man slaps you on one cheek, smash him on his other"
- Rather than meek acquiescence and blind subservience to a "god", the Satanist OWNS and CONTROLS that which is his in the world. As no invisible god will be giving it to the "proper" folks later.
- No god and no Satan means there is no life beyond this one. Being kind and civil will spontaneously create a world of kind and civil people (a social contract of generalized self-preservation)
- With no god, Satan or life after this one, we are free to live our lives as the human animals that we truly are. Imagine, helping the elderly (not out of fear of retribution after death) but because our HUMAN conscience tells us that is simply the honorable and respectful thing to do.

We don't worship the Devil. The Black Mass (complete with hood and horns) is meant to ridicule and blaspheme the Catholic mass, which we see as part and parcel of most of the worlds woes.

And, of course, most Satanists, including Anton LaVey really, really enjoyed the theatrics of it all. Particularly how it infuriated Christians/Catholics at the time. His goal was to create an "anti-religion" that inspired people to THINK rather than pray.

It is a fascinating "religion" with such admirable goals as self-reliance, vengeance (righting the wrongs of the world), controlling people and the world (using the power of will, self-confidence, and sub-conscious manipulation to manifest your will.

Personally, I find Modern Satanism to be the most sane, just, realistic, and frankly, humanistic religion out there (and unlike Christianity, we actually don't drink blood during mass...lol. Sorry, cheap shot, but i had to).

Of course, being a true Satanist, I'm an Atheist anyhow, so what do I know :-)