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Throughout history, and especially in Antiquity and the Middle Ages, the definition of what is Satanism was the exclusive patrimony of the Catholic Church, which attributed the character of satanic to all non-Christian religious practice, to all forms of divergent thinking, and many phenomena for which there was no explanation, such as physical and mental illnesses. Satanism was, thus understood, everything different, abject and immoral, and those accused of Satanism were treated with great cruelty. In the Middle Age correspond the famous "witch hunts", which ended with the lives of many men, women, and even animals, at the stake.

It was not until 1966 that Satanism was born as an institutionalized religion, by the hand of Anton Szandor LaVey in 1966, with the founding of the Church of Satan in the United States. LaVey was inspired by various sources, including ancient Christian grimoires about magic and sorcery, the works of the mystic Aleister Crowley and even the then-successful television series "The Addams Family" (1964-66).

LaVey was born Laveyan Satanism, which understands Satan as a powerful symbol of individualism and freethinking. LaVey defined his philosophy as a combination of psychology and religion. Unlike traditional religions, Satanism does not imply prostrating before a supreme being, but proclaims self-deification. The rituals of Satanism are not destined to the adoration of a supernatural entity, but are psychodramas, tending to produce unconscious changes in the Satanist.

Since then, Satanism as a symbolic religion has spread internationally, and various organizations dedicated to continue their legacy, with different perspectives, have come to light. Among those that should be mentioned is The First Satanic Church, founded in San Francisco, California, in 1999 by Karla LaVey, daughter of Anton. Karla maintains that her organization is the only one that really gives continuity to her father's philosophy. More recently, the organization The Satanic Temple was created in the United States, which has an activist and political vision of Satanism. The Satanic Temple has obtained repercussion in the press due to its controversial campaigns, generally destined to counteract the activities of institutions and Christian pressure groups.