Luciferianism

This is an article about veneration of the biblical Lucifer. For the 4th century sect, see Lucifer Calaritanus.

Luciferianism is a belief system that venerates the essential characteristics that are affixed to Lucifer, originally a name meaning the planet Venus when it rises ahead of the Sun.

Luciferianism is identified by some people as an auxiliary of Satanism, due to the popular identification in some novels of Lucifer with Satan. Some Luciferians accept this identification or consider Lucifer as the light bearer aspect of Satan. Others reject it, arguing that Lucifer is a more positive ideal than Satan. They are inspired by the ancient Egyptian mythology, Roman mythology, Greek mythology, Gnosticism, and Western occultism.

Historical Luciferianism

The Gesta Treverorum records that in 1231, heretics began to be persecuted throughout Germany. Among them Luciferians principally in the archdiocese of Trier, but also Mainz and Cologne. Over the following three years, several people were burned as a result. According to a papal letter from Gregory IX, dated 13 July 1233, one of the claims made by the Luciferians was that Lucifer had been cast out of Heaven unjustly. Women were implicated in the cult, and the Church accused those named as heretics of sexual perversities. The chronicler of the Gesta seems, however, to have confused Luciferians with the Cathars in some respects.^[1]

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, It 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 and Rev. Satrinah Nagash. The organization encourages the study of several ancient cultures to learn its wisdom and incorporate that into the Luciferian's own repertoire.

Gnostic Luciferianism

In Kosmology, by Jeremy Christner, the author describes a Luciferian worldview inspired heavily by Gnosticism and classical Greek philosophy, as well as harboring some influence from Hindu philosophy. The path described in Kosmology is further explained in the essay The Silhouettes of Twilight, from the publication Clavicula Nox II: Lucifer (Ixaxaar).^{[citation needed]}

Luciferian groups

The Order of Phosphorus is a non-profit Luciferian Magical Order founded by Michael W. Ford. The Order sanctifies core Luciferian traits of self-discipline, spiritual excellence and the predatory pursuit of knowledge. This initiatory magickal system fuses the complexities and rewards of traditional ceremonial magic with the efficacy of Chaos Magic. Progress is self-directed and anti-heterodox, evidenced in the Order's diverse cross-section of Initiates including Theistic, Traditional and Atheistic Satanists, Gnostic Luciferians and a newly-emergent class of Left Hand Path pantheism. [1]
The Church of Adversarial Light, an ecclesiastical affiliation of the Order of Phosphorus, augments the culture and wisdom of the Luciferian Current without the rigors and requirements of the Phosphoric initiatory system.[2]

The Ordo Luciferis, as distinct from the Ordo Luciferi mentioned below, was a spiritual Luciferian group consisting of high-grade Freemasons. As testament to the intact and thriving systems of initiation in the Order of Phosphorus, the Ordo Luciferis graciously dissolved its own organization to honor and best contribute to the emminence of this Luciferian Current.[3]
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, magic 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.

The Temple of the Dark Sun (TDS) also known as the Order of the Dark Sun (ODS) is a Luciferian Occult Organisation that believes you must harness both Light and Dark Energies (Earth, and Universal) to create the natural balance within. Bringing pure undiluted Spirituality, the essence of Order and Chaos. The Order is selective on who is permitted to enter. The TDS has a level/degree system, and with all levels and degrees there are certain requirements that have to be met. This includes a person's attitude to others, hard work and Occult knowledge. No matter what the degree or knowledge base a person has earned from another group, all who are selected to become members will begin at the lowest level. Only the Founder of the organization can authorize levels or degrees within the Order. The Order does not have any links to other religious organizations.[4]

The Neo-Luciferian Church is a Gnostic and Luciferian organisation with roots in western esoterism, Thelema and Magick. Though the word "Church" suggests religion, the nature of the church is something apart from that. The Neo-Luciferian Church belongs in the succession from a number of churches, some Gnostic and Magical in origin, others belonging to traditional Christianity. It carries on the magical current from the Danish Luciferian "Ben Kadosh" Carl William Hansen and his Naassenic Gnostic Synod. The Neo-Luciferian Church is an outer school, a preparation of the individual in his or her aspiration towards The Inner Sanctuary, that inner order which has no name among men.

References

^ Paul B. Pixton, The German Episcopacy and the Implementation of the Decrees of the Fourth Lateran Council, 1216-1245: Watchmen on the Tower (Brill, 1995), pp. 381–387 limited preview online.