Thoughts on Peter Gilmore? | Forum

When Anton LaVey died in 1997 the Church should have been led by it's then High Priestess Karla LaVey (who'd been High Priestess since 1985, when Diane LaVey/Hegarty divorced Anton) BUT . . . owing to there being 2 wills (Blanche Barton aka sharon Densley produced a new one) a wife, 2 daughters, a son and grandson the estate was dealt with in court and Blanche Barton took ownership of the Church as an organisation. Somewhere down the road it was legally transferred to Peter Gilmore. So while he may have legal ownership he hasn't really been passed the baton as Anton himself had Karla as his second in command. Basically a court decided who the Church went to, not the LaVey family. Much as Gilmore likes to pontificate about how he's the top dog he only became so by buying the rights off Blanche Barton. He wasn't  made leader, voted in or anything in the way of naturally acceding to the role, he just bought some legal papers pertaining to the organisation, it's name and a few bits and pieces. Aside from running the website, cashing checks and mailing out cards he seems to spend the majority of his time trying to assert why the Church of Satan is the only real Satanic organisation and everyone else is just a rube. I hardly pay him much heed as I find him a rather weak character who's only personality trait is smugness. He's a terrible leader as lacks any edge or charisma, it's a tough act to follow LaVey and Gilmore fails miserably with his weedy effete voice and inability to project emotion or meaning into anything he says. It's not a Church, it's an Anton LaVey memorial fanclub for people who arrived too late and really want that little red card to impress their really dumb friends with. As far as I know the First Church of Satan run by Karla in San Francisco is the only true 'LaVeyan' organisation as she's the true heir to the church.  

I have no problem with peter Gilmore, but cos in general isn't what it used to be, it's all about money now, a few years ago I was going to join, and they told me I needed 300$ for a red card, I was like really ? you expect me to pay 300$ for something that I already have ?? good luck with that one

Well I'm looking forward to The Satanic Warlock

My interest is peaked, and we'll see if he has something worthwhile to actually contribute to Satanism.

Oh wait, I just remembered. He's only doing the introduction to the book. 

*Sigh*

Doesn't warlock mean "Oath-breaker"? Someone who betrays their coven to the christian church during the witch hunt? It is an insult to be called a warlock. I would rather be called a male witch or a wizard (wise man).

I think Peter Gilmore is very politically astute as one trying to run an organization such as the COS would need to be. He also seems to have a very good grasp on the concept “Might is Right” since he doesn't seem to assume to always know the answer to a given power struggle as so many mistakenly do.

One day his contradictions will put him in a sticky end.

Thoughts on Gilmore... who is that? Is he still alive?

Quote from Ludwik Doesn't warlock mean "Oath-breaker"? Someone who betrays their coven to the christian church during the witch hunt? It is an insult to be called a warlock. I would rather be called a male witch or a wizard (wise man).

"Oath breaker" is one of those paintbrushes they tend to save for those of us on the Other Side. A shaman, by contrast, is a naturally sinister operator. By necessity, such a path-worker must bear a mark separating him from the tribe. Not unlike the trials put to a nascent Lama within various Buddhist traditions.