Luciferian
Luciferianism is a belief system that venerates the essential characteristics that are affixed to Lucifer, the name of various mythological and religious figures associated with the planet Venus.
The tradition usually reveres Lucifer not as the devil, but as a destroyer, a guardian, liberator,[1] light bringer or guiding spirit to darkness,[2] or even the true god.[1]
Lucifer as a literary and religious character
The word Lucifer is taken from the Latin Vulgate,[3] which translates הֵילֵל as lucifer,[4][5] even though the Biblical Hebrew word הֵילֵל, which occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible,[6] has been transliterated as hêlêl,[6] or heylel.
The Septuagint renders הֵילֵל in Greek as ἑωσφόρος[7][8][9][10][11] (heōsphoros),[12][13][14] a name, literally "bringer of dawn", for the morning star.[15]
Later Christian tradition came to use the Latin word for "morning star", lucifer, as a proper name ("Lucifer") for the Devil; as he was before his fall.[16]
As a result, Lucifer has become a by-word for Satan or the Devil in the church and in popular literature",[3] as in Dante Alighieri's Inferno, Joost van den Vondel's Lucifer and John Milton's Paradise Lost.[14]
However, the Latin word never came to be used almost exclusively, as in English, in this way, and was applied to others also, including Jesus.[17]
The image of a morning star fallen from the sky is generally believed among scholars to have a parallel in Canaanite mythology.[18]
According to both Christian[19] and Jewish exegesis, in Chapter 14 of the Book of Isaiah, the King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar II), conqueror of Jerusalem, is condemned in a prophetic vision by the prophet Isaiah and is called the "Morning Star" (planet Venus).[20][21]
The Hebrew text in this chapter says, הֵילֵל בֶּן-שָׁחַר (Helel ben Shachar,).[21] Helel ben Shahar may refer to the Morning Star, but the text in Isaiah 14 gives no indication that Helel was a star or planet.[22][23]
Common beliefs
Though associated with Satanism, a philosophy based on the Christian interpretation of the fallen angel, Luciferianism differs in that it does not revere merely the devil figure or Satan but the broader figure of Lucifer, an entity representing various interpretations of "the morning star" as understood by ancient cultures such as the Greeks and Egyptians.[24]
In this context, Lucifer is a symbol of enlightenment,[25] independence, and human progression and is often used interchangeably with similar figures from ancient beliefs, such as the Greek titan Prometheus or the Jewish Talmudic figure Lilith.
For Luciferians, enlightenment is the ultimate goal.
The basic Luciferian principles highlight truth and freedom of will, worshipping the inner self and one's ultimate potential, and to encourage and celebrate the same within all.
Traditional dogma is shunned as a basis for morality on the grounds that humans should not need deities or fear of eternal punishment to distinguish right from wrong and to do good.
All ideas should be tested before being accepted, and even then one should remain skeptical because knowledge and understanding are fluid.
Regardless of whether Lucifer is conceived of as a deity or as a mere archetype, his presentation within Luciferianism is a representation of ultimate knowledge and exploration as well as humanity's savior and a champion for continuing personal growth.
Theistic Luciferians believe in Lucifer as an actual deity.
However, Lucifer is not worshipped as the Abrahamic God, but is revered and followed as a teacher and friend.
Most Theistic Luciferians are followers of the left-hand path and may adhere to different dogmata put forth by organizations such as the Neo-Luciferian Church or other congregations which are heavily focused on ceremonial magic, the occult, and literal interpretations of spiritual stories and figures.
Many modern-day pagans also believe that Lucifer and many other demons were originally gods of ancient civilizations that were demonized by the Abrahamic religions.