Was Aleister Crowley a Satanist or devil worshiper?
No. Although he can be misquoted (and quoted out of context) to suggest otherwise, Crowley most certainly was not a Satanist or a devil worshiper. There is no question that he seemed to enjoy his sinister reputation. It is also true that he loved to shock the shockable and was happy to allow anyone who was ignorant and superstitious enough to believe in a bogeyman devil to be afraid of him also. But in order to be a Satanist (by the most common definition during Crowley's lifetime) one must acknowledge the reality of the Judeo-Christian-Muslim spiritual worldview - a worldview that embraces the concept of a devil who is the all-evil opposite to a god who is all good. As Crowley repudiated Judeo-Christian-Muslim doctrines (including belief in the existence of their "devil") there are no grounds whatsoever to charge that he was a Satanist.
"The devil does not exist. It is a false name invented by the Black Brothers to imply a Unity in their ignorant muddle of dispersions. A devil who had unity would be a god."
It is true that there is much in the imagery of Crowley's writings that is dark and at first glance very terrifying. But if we view these works objectively, we find nothing in them more frightening than the imagery we find in the Bible or any number of other religious literature, Eastern or Western.
Crowley especially despised the hypocrisy and the spiritually restrictive aspects of established religions, especially Christianity, and did not deny charges that his philosophy was anti-Christian. However, a careful examination of his writings reveals his profound understanding and respect for the pure spiritual impulse that is at the heart of all religions including Christianity. His allusions in his writings to Satan, Lucifer, the devil, and so forth are pertinent only within the self-referential documents of Thelema. They can only be understood and evaluated within those contexts and should only be disturbing or offensive to those individuals who for whatever reason are unwilling or unable to do a little honest homework.
I remember a long time ago when a friend of mine learnt about my increasing interest in new age things and gifted me a little carved wooden trinket box with a pentacle on the top. I shut that scary satanic little box up in a drawer untouched for almost a year! Stupid now when I think about it, but amusing to look back on. 