It is a formality, but a very important one.
If you don't cut the finger and bleed you won't be connected through your blood and soul.
Performing the dedication and signing it with your name and your blood frees you completely from the enemies influence and makes your dedication permanent.
It is not like you are selling your soul out if that is what you are worried about, but it is so that you truly free from the enemy and come back to your origional family.
The path of Spiritual Satanism is no easy one, but it is the most powerful and rewarding of all.
To my shame I was afraid to cut my finger, but during the ritual Satan helped me and afterwards I felt better than I had ever felt before. Like I was completely free from any negative influence that I had experienced before in my life.
Satan is very patient, so are the other demons/gods. Take your time and perform the dedication when you are ready, but before you start doing any of the rituals and power meditations you must dedicate, or the enemy will relentlessly attack you and it will eventually overwhelm you. Trust me on this..
When you are dediated Satan watches out for you and you are under his divine protection, so the enemy won't be able to attack you relentlessly as when you would be on your own.
Ofcourse after dedicating you must start empowering yourself so you can protect yourself without needing to rely on Satan and you can join the fight as a warrior of Satan against the enemy.
Study the information on the ww.templeofzeus.org website and after dedicating start the 40 days of power program by High Priest Zevios Metathronos. This will ensure you make a good start and gain the power you need to truly begin your journey in Satanism and walk the path of a true Satanic warrior.
Here is the link to the 40 day program:
http://satanism-nazism.webs.com/hp_hood ... rogram.pdf
Good luck with your dedication and HAIL SATAN!