Stanton Zaharoff LaVey, the grandson of the founder of the Church of Satan, Anton Szandor LaVey, died on December 12, 2022, at the age of 44. His death was confirmed by the funeral home that handled his cremation, but the cause of death was not disclosed. However, according to some sources, Stanton died of a drug overdose, a fate that many of his critics and detractors had predicted for him.
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Who was Stanton LaVey?
Stanton LaVey was the son of Zeena LaVey, the daughter of Anton LaVey and his second wife, Diane Hegarty. Zeena was a prominent figure in the Church of Satan, serving as its high priestess and spokesperson until she renounced Satanism and joined the Temple of Set in 1990. Stanton was born in 1978, when Zeena was still a teenager. His father was Nikolas Schreck, a musician and occultist who also became a member of the Temple of Set.
Stanton grew up in a turbulent and dysfunctional family. He claimed that he was abused and neglected by his parents, who were more interested in their own careers and interests than in raising him. He also claimed that he had a close relationship with his grandfather, Anton LaVey, who taught him about Satanism and magic. However, these claims were disputed by other members of the LaVey family and the Church of Satan, who accused Stanton of lying and exaggerating his connection to Anton LaVey.
Stanton followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and became a self-proclaimed Satanist, musician, and author. He founded his own organization, the Satanic Order of Nine Angles (SONA), which he claimed was the true successor of Anton LaVey’s legacy. He also wrote several books, such as The Satanic Scriptures and The Book of Satanic Rituals, which he claimed were based on his grandfather’s teachings. He also released several albums, such as The Devil’s Music and The Satanic Mass.
What was Stanton LaVey’s reputation?
Stanton LaVey was a controversial and divisive figure in the Satanic community and beyond. He was widely criticized and denounced by many Satanists, especially those affiliated with the Church of Satan, who regarded him as a fraud, a charlatan, and a parasite. They accused him of exploiting his grandfather’s name and reputation for his own fame and fortune, without having any genuine understanding or appreciation of Satanism. They also accused him of plagiarizing and distorting Anton LaVey’s writings and teachings, as well as spreading lies and misinformation about him.
Stanton LaVey was also notorious for his criminal record and scandalous behavior. He had several run-ins with the law, including charges of kidnapping, sexual assault, drug possession, theft, fraud, and vandalism. He was also known for his drug addiction, which he admitted to having since he was 14 years old. He used various substances, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, ecstasy, and ketamine. He also had a reputation for being violent, abusive, and manipulative towards his partners and associates.
Stanton LaVey had few supporters and admirers among Satanists and non-Satanists alike. Some of them praised him for being a rebel, a visionary, and a martyr for Satanism. They saw him as a misunderstood genius who challenged the status quo and exposed the hypocrisy and corruption of society. They also admired his artistic talent and charisma.
What is Stanton LaVey’s legacy?
Stanton LaVey’s death marked the end of a troubled and tragic life. His legacy is one of controversy, conflict, and controversy. His contribution to Satanism is questionable at best and harmful at worst. His influence on Satanism is minimal and marginal compared to that of his grandfather or other prominent Satanists. His memory is likely to fade away or be remembered with disdain by most Satanists.
However, Stanton LaVey’s death also raises some questions and reflections about Satanism in general. What does it mean to be a Satanist in the 21st century? How should Satanists relate to their history and heritage? How should Satanists deal with their personal demons and challenges? How should Satanists balance their individuality and their community? How should Satanists express their creativity and their criticism? These are some of the issues that Stanton LaVey’s life and death invite us to ponder.
According to britian, Anton LaVey presented Satanism not as the practice of evil or as the worship of an actual Antichrist but as a kind of ethical egoism. He advocated for self-reliance, self-indulgence, rationality, skepticism, hedonism, materialism, individualism, elitism, social Darwinism, etc. He also incorporated elements of occultism, magic, psychology, philosophy, and aesthetics into his Satanism. He influenced many people who identified as Satanists or were inspired by his ideas.
Stanton LaVey, on the other hand, seemed to embody the opposite of what his grandfather stood for. He was dependent, self-destructive, irrational, gullible, nihilistic, parasitic, conformist, inferior, and anti-social. He also distorted and corrupted his grandfather’s teachings and practices. He alienated many people who identified as Satanists or respected his grandfather.
Stanton LaVey’s cause of death may never be officially confirmed or revealed. But his cause of life was certainly a mystery and a paradox. He was a Satanist who failed to live up to Satanism. He was a LaVey who failed to live up to LaVey. He was a human who failed to live up to humanity.
