Writer: AmateurSatanologist
Subject: Humanism
Link: Tumblr / 14.02.2026
Humanism
I see the term Humanism come up occasionally in discussions around Satanism, and some people seem to think they’re similar, so I did some reading. …
I’m not sure I fully understand Humanism, but from what I do understand, there are a few points where Humanism and Satanism are quite different (and possibly not even compatible):
- Humanism isn’t a religion. Satanism is defined as having rituals, mythology, iconography, etc.
- Satanism is individualist, while Humanism is a collectivist philosophy that’s big on altruism and improving the community as a whole. Not that altruism is necessarily anti-Satanist, but Humanism expects altruism for the collective good while Satanism allows the individual to choose their own moral priorities.
- Humanism can coexist with other philosophies and even religions within an individual (e.g. a person could be a Humanist as well as some type of Christian).
- Satanism (at least some forms) includes magic, while I think Humanism would reject this as supernatural.
- Humanism is big on egalitarianism/equality, and Satanism is tied to a belief in natural hierarchies (or LaVeyan Satanism is at least).
- Humanism lays out a moral code (I think?), but Satanism holds that the individual should craft their own.
What the two do seem to have in common:
- Both are non-theistic,
- Both hold that individuals have dignity and worth,
- Both advocate for human autonomy and agency (meaning people engage in practical action to improve conditions),
- Both advocate for personal freedoms,
- Both emphasise a reliance on science and reason to understand the world instead of revelations from a divine source,
- Both hold that religion is not necessary for morality,
- Happiness and self-fulfilment are goals for adherents of both.