"The Satanic Bible" has been in print since 1969 and has been translated into various languages. Lewis argued that although LaVeyan Satanists do not treat "The Satanic Bible" as a sacred text in the way many other religious groups treat their holy texts, it nevertheless is "treated as an authoritative document which effectively "functions" as scripture within the Satanic community". In particular, Lewis highlighted that many Satanists – both members of the Church of Satan and other groups – quote from it either to legitimize their own position or to de-legitimize the positions of others in a debate. Many other Satanist groups and individual Satanists who are not part of the Church of Satan also recognize LaVey's work as influential.