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[[File:Satanic Temple Building.jpg| | [[File:Satanic Temple Building.jpg|450px|thumb|Headquarters of the Satanic Temple in Salem, Massachusetts]] | ||
The '''Satanic Temple''' is a nontheistic religious and human rights group based in the United States, with additional chapters in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The group uses [[Satan]]ic imagery to promote egalitarianism, social justice, and the separation of church and state, supporting their mission "to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people" | The '''Satanic Temple''' is a [[atheism|nontheistic religious]] and human rights group based in the United States, with additional chapters in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The group uses [[Satan]]ic imagery to promote egalitarianism, social justice, and the separation of church and state, supporting their mission "to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people." | ||
The Satanic Temple has utilized satire, theatrical ploys, humor, and legal action in their public campaigns to "generate attention and prompt people to reevaluate fears and perceptions", and to "highlight religious hypocrisy and encroachment on religious freedom." | |||
The organization's participation in public affairs includes political actions as well as lobbying efforts, with a focus on exposing [[Christianity|Christian]] privilege when it interferes with personal religious freedom. It considers marriage a religious sacrament that should be governed under the First Amendment's protection of religious liberty which should prevail over state laws. Because the group regards inviolability of the body as a key doctrine, it also views all restrictions on abortion, including mandatory waiting periods, as an infringement on the rights of Satanists to practice their religion. | The organization's participation in public affairs includes political actions as well as lobbying efforts, with a focus on exposing [[Christianity|Christian]] privilege when it interferes with personal religious freedom. It considers marriage a religious sacrament that should be governed under the First Amendment's protection of religious liberty which should prevail over state laws. Because the group regards inviolability of the body as a key doctrine, it also views all restrictions on abortion, including mandatory waiting periods, as an infringement on the rights of Satanists to practice their religion. | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
[[File:Baphomet Statue Salem.jpg|400px|thumb|Occultist [[Travis McHenry]] standing with a [[Baphomet]] statue in the Satanic Temple headquarters]] | [[File:Baphomet Statue Salem.jpg|400px|thumb|Occultist [[Travis McHenry]] standing with a [[Baphomet]] statue in the Satanic Temple headquarters]] | ||
Cofounders Greaves and Jarry met in 2012, and The Satanic Temple was active by January 2013.In an interview with The New York Times, Malcolm Jarry stated that the idea of starting a Satanic faith-based organization was first conceived to meet "all the Bush administration's criteria for receiving funds, but was repugnant to them". The idea was inspired by then–president George W. Bush's formation of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. | Cofounders Greaves and Jarry met in 2012, and The Satanic Temple was active by January 2013. In an interview with The New York Times, Malcolm Jarry stated that the idea of starting a Satanic faith-based organization was first conceived to meet "all the Bush administration's criteria for receiving funds, but was repugnant to them". The idea was inspired by then–president George W. Bush's formation of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. | ||
===Headquarters=== | ===Headquarters=== | ||
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==Comparison to LaVeyan Satanism== | ==Comparison to LaVeyan Satanism== | ||
Lucien Greaves has described the Temple as being a progressive and updated version of [[LaVeyan Satanism|LaVey's Satanism.]] The Temple views itself as separate and distinct from its forerunner, representing "a natural evolution in Satanic thought" | Lucien Greaves has described the Temple as being a progressive and updated version of [[LaVeyan Satanism|LaVey's Satanism.]] The Temple views itself as separate and distinct from its forerunner, representing "a natural evolution in Satanic thought." Greaves has said that the elements of Social Darwinism and Nietzscheanism within LaVeyan Satanism are incongruent with game theory, reciprocal altruism, and cognitive science. He has also criticized the LaVeyan Church of Satan for its lack of political lobbying and what he sees as their exclusivity, referring to them as autocratic and hierarchical, and saying that the Church fetishizes authoritarianism. Conversely, the Church of Satan has made statements claiming that The Satanic Temple are only "masquerading as Satanists" and do not represent Satanism. | ||
==Comparison with theistic Satanism== | |||
Theistic Satanism is an umbrella term for religious groups that consider [[Satan]], [[the Devil]], to objectively exist as a deity, supernatural entity, or spiritual being worthy of worship or reverence, whom individuals may believe in, contact, and convene with, in contrast to the atheistic archetype, metaphor, or symbol found in LaVeyan Satanism. | |||
Organizations who uphold theistic Satanist beliefs most often have few adherents, are loosely affiliated or constitute themselves as independent groups and cabals, which have largely self-marginalized. Another prominent characteristic of theistic Satanism is the use of various types of magic. Most theistic Satanist groups exist in relatively new models and ideologies, many of which are independent of the [[Abrahamic religion]]s. | |||
==External link== | ==External link== | ||