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Satanism

Satanism is an umbrella term which refers to various beliefs and religions centered around Satan. It includes both "atheistic Satanists", who doesn't believe Satan is real and instead use him as an inspirational symbolic character, and "theistic Satanists", who believe he is a real entity. During the Middle Ages, "heretics" prosecuted by the Catholic Church were accused of performing secret Satanic rituals. Modern Satanism emerged in 1966, when an American Anton LaVey founded Church of Satan, which embraced individuality and indulgence. With time, other Satanic organizations were founded as well. Satanism had its largest support among Americans, but it started to reach Central and Eastern Europe during the 1990s, noticeably in Poland and Lithuania.

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