30. Despite not believing in God or Satan, perverse religious imagery was still important to the Church
Working as a paranormal investigator, LaVey found his rational explanations for seemingly-supernatural occurrences did not sit well with complainants who naturally wanted an exotic explanation for the most prosaic events. Allied to his research into the psychology of religion, LaVey realized that ‘man needs ritual and dogma’, and so incorporated the most recognizable depiction of Satan and pseudo-religious mumbo jumbo into his atheistic organization to attract and maintain members. This all makes sense, when you think about it: as with any organization, club, or sports team, ritual and symbol give members and fans a sense of belonging.