The Satanic Temple

Movement·Founded 2013 CE

The Satanic Temple

Branch
S Figure of The Satanic Temple

Satan, as a figure of speech.

The rebel of Paradise Lost and of Anatole France, not the adversary of scripture. The Temple uses him because the argument only works when the applicant is the one nobody wants to accommodate.

Names & titlesSatan
DomainRebellion against arbitrary authority
RelationsTaken from Milton and Anatole France rather than from scripture
Depicted asAs Baphomet, goat-headed and winged, seated
StandingA literary symbol. No member is asked to believe he exists
Understanding it — context, not catechism: how this passage is held

The Temple's Satan is the rebel of Paradise Lost and of Anatole France's Revolt of the Angels, not the adversary of scripture, and he is used because the Establishment Clause argument only works when the applicant is the one nobody wants to accommodate. This is also the sharpest line between the Temple and the Church of Satan, which Anton LaVey founded in San Francisco in 1966 and which regards the Temple's politics as a betrayal of LaVeyan individualism; the Church of Satan has described Temple members as masquerading. The two bodies are separate, mutually hostile, and constantly confused for each other in press coverage. Neither worships a being either believes exists.

The same ground, other faiths

claims that share this one's ideas
Job, and the answer that is not one. Judaism · story Read it in full →
The ninth Guru's stand. Sikhism · story Read it in full →
The Age of Reason went to prison with its author. Deism · story Read it in full →
The fire, and then the exile. Hinduism · story Read it in full →
No one made this, and no one is running it. Buddhism · core tenet Go deeper →
The Tirthankaras cannot help you. Jainism · core tenet Go deeper →

The conversation

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