What “Hell” Really Means (and How It Shaped Satanism)

So, let’s talk about hell. Not the movie version with fire and screaming souls — the idea of hell. The one that’s been built up through stories, art, and religion for centuries. Most of what people imagine when they hear “hell” actually comes from literature, not scripture. And one of the biggest influences? Dante’s Inferno.

Dante’s Inferno (written in the 1300s) wasn’t meant to be some metal horror fantasy. It was a journey through the human mind — a map of morality, guilt, and consequence. The nine circles of hell each symbolized a kind of human failing: lust, greed, violence, betrayal… all the ways people drift from truth or balance. The deeper the circle, the further you fall from what makes you human.

And here’s the part most people forget: in Dante’s version, Satan isn’t some fiery warlord. He’s silent. Trapped in ice. A symbol of ultimate emptiness — total disconnection. It’s not power, it’s paralysis. That image stuck around for centuries, shaping how the world saw evil, sin, and punishment.

Then, in the 1960s, Anton LaVey came along and flipped it. >:)
He created modern, non-theistic Satanism — not about worshiping a being, but embracing what “Satan” represents: rebellion, curiosity, individuality. All the qualities that old religion labeled as dangerous.

LaVeyan Satanists don’t see pride, pleasure, or desire as sins — they see them as human instincts. Instead of fearing the “lower self,” they celebrate it. To them, Satan isn’t a monster; he’s a metaphor for being unapologetically yourself, for thinking freely, and rejecting guilt that’s been forced on you.

So in a weird way, Dante and LaVey are two sides of the same coin. Dante explored the fear of losing yourself to temptation. LaVey turned that fear into empowerment — a reminder that darkness isn’t always evil; sometimes it’s just honesty.

Maybe hell was never a place under the ground. Maybe it’s what happens when you stop thinking for yourself. And maybe Satan, instead of being the enemy, is just the question we’re too afraid to ask.

what do you think? curious to hear your take :)