Researchers have classified Anton LaVey's so-called “modern Satanism” as a self-spirituality (as defined by Paul Heelas) New Age group, and as a Human Potential Movement group. This paper analyzes LaVey's view of human nature and the human ego in his early works with respect to these classifications by identifying similarities and differences between the characteristics of these classifications and the early writings of LaVey. The analysis concludes that it is reasonable to categorize LaVey's Satanism as both a self-spirituality New Age group and as a Human Potential Movement group; however, this paper proposes that LaVey's modern Satanism is more accurately described as a member of the “prosperity wing” sub-classification of self-spirituality New Age.
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