The Satanic Temple

[[File:LucienGreavesSASHAcon2016.jpg|165px|thumb|Lucien Greaves]]
{{Expand}}{{Satanism}}
'''The Satanic Temple''' is a group of [[Satanism|Satanists]] most known for social and political activism surrounding [[religious freedom]] and the [[separation of church and state]] in the US.

An [[atheistic]] organization, The Satanic Temple does not believe in a personal Satan, though a minority of its members are theistic Satanists.  They are unaffiliated with [[Anton LaVey]]'s Church of Satan, and differ from it in having a more [[Humanism|humanist]] philosophy in principle though not necessarily in practice.<ref>[https://queersatanic.com/the-satanic-temple-and-its-eternal-nobodies/ The Satanic Temple and its Eternal Nobodies]</ref>

The Satanic Temple has been documented having extensive ties to the [[alt-right]], particularly when examining its highest levels and two owners, Cevin Soling ("Malcolm Jarry") and Doug Misicko ("Doug Mesner", "Lucien Greaves"). In addition to this, former members of TST and abortion access funds have alleged the Temple is exploiting the fight for [[abortion]] rights for [[money]] and clout.

==Tenets==
They have a set of seven fundamental tenets ostensibly founded on ideas of [[Secular humanism|secular humanism]], freedom, and reason, which are listed below.<ref>[https://the.satanic.wiki/index.php/Seven_Tenets Seven Tenets history]</ref><ref>https://thesatanictemple.com/</ref>

{{cquote|One should strive to act with compassion and empathy towards all creatures in accordance with reason.

The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.

One's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone.

The [[freedom]]s of others should be respected, including the freedom to [[Politically incorrect|offend]].

To [[Political correctness|willfully]] and [[Conservative correctness|unjustly]] encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo your own.

Beliefs should conform to our best [[scientific]] understanding of the world. We should take care never to [[Creation science|distort scientific facts to fit our beliefs]].

People are fallible. If we make a mistake, we should do our best to rectify it and resolve any harm that may have been caused.

Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought.

The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.}}

(This is in contrast to the Church of Satan, who are basically [[Ayn Rand|Randroids]] with a coat of black paint.)

==Projects==
===After-school Satan Clubs===
The Satanic Temple has launched Satanic after school clubs.
{{cquote|It's important that children be given an opportunity to realize that the evangelical materials now creeping into their schools are representative of but one religious opinion amongst many. While the Good News Clubs focus on indoctrination, instilling them with a fear of [[Hell]] and [[God]]'s wrath, After School Satan Clubs will focus on free inquiry and [[rationalism]], the scientific basis for which we know what we know about the world around us. We prefer to give children an appreciation of the natural wonders surrounding them, not a fear of everlasting other-worldly horrors.|||<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/31/thanks-to-christians-after-school-satan-clubs-may-be-coming-to-an-elementary-school-near-you/ Thanks to Christians, After School Satan Clubs May Be Coming to an Elementary School Near You]</ref>}}

Satan clubs will only be in areas and schools where there are already after school Bible study groups.  Schools cannot discriminate by banning Satan clubs while allowing [[Bible]] study, or they will risk legal action over the [[First Amendment]].<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/08/02/franklin-graham-unaware-of-how-the-law-works-wants-schools-to-block-after-school-satan-clubs/ Franklin Graham, Unaware of How the Law Works, Wants Schools to Block After School Satan Clubs]</ref> A legal expert for [[Liberty Counsel]] said Satan Clubs have a [[First Amendment]] right to exist, but later threatened to sue. The Satanic Temple, by contrast, maintains that, without studying the curriculum of the Satan Clubs, the Liberty Counsel's actions are premature.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/08/03/christian-lawyer-who-said-after-school-satan-clubs-have-a-right-to-meet-now-says-he-may-sue-them/ Christian Lawyer Who Said After School Satan Clubs Have a "Right to Meet" Now Says He May Sue Them]</ref> According to [[Hemant Mehta]], the Liberty Counsel has misrepresented the Satan clubs<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/08/06/heres-how-liberty-counsel-is-lying-to-public-schools-about-the-after-school-satan-clubs/ Here’s How Liberty Counsel is Lying to Public Schools About the After School Satan Clubs]</ref> (though the group may arguably have courted such misrepresentation by using such an inflammatory name). The Satan clubs are looking for donations.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/31/thanks-to-christians-after-school-satan-clubs-may-be-coming-to-an-elementary-school-near-you/ Thanks to [[Christians]], After School Satan Clubs May Be Coming to an Elementary School Near You]</ref> Legal action is considered in one [[Georgia]]n district because the authorities have ignored repeated requests to start a Satan Club.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/08/28/a-georgia-school-district-may-be-sued-after-ignoring-requests-for-an-after-school-satan-club/ A Georgia School District May Be Sued After Ignoring Requests for an After School Satan Club]</ref> Future developments could be interesting. A district in [[Washington]] state decided they have to allow the Satan clubs.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/09/23/wa-district-officials-reluctantly-admit-satanists-can-start-an-after-school-satan-club/ WA District Officials Reluctantly Admit Satanists Can Start an “After School Satan” Club]</ref> The first After School Satan Club has opened in Portland, [[Oregon]] in mid-November 2016 with Christian protesters outside.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/11/17/after-school-satan-club-holds-first-ever-meeting-but-not-without-protesters/ After School Satan Club Holds First-Ever Meeting (But Not Without Protesters)]</ref> A second has opened in [[Utah]] and more are promised. <ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/01/13/a-utah-elementary-school-is-now-home-to-an-after-school-satan-club-thanks-christians/ A Utah Elementary School is Now Home to an After School Satan Club. (Thanks, Christians!)]</ref>

The supposed target of these efforts, Child Evangelism Fellowship and its "Good News Club" have expressed that the Temple's ASS clubs actually benefit them due to how much attention it brings their own clubs and little follow-through the ASS clubs end up having.<ref>[https://www.cefonline.com/articles/teach-kids-articles/satan-club-vs-good-news-club-a-real-story-cef/ How to be an Active Parent in Protecting Freedom of Religion]. CEF Online. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240510193001/https://www.cefonline.com/articles/teach-kids-articles/satan-club-vs-good-news-club-a-real-story-cef/ Archived] from the original on 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-12-13.</ref> Moises Esteves, Executive Director of CEF, told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] in December 2023: 
{{quotebox|1=As a matter of fact, sometimes it does the opposite [of shutting our clubs up] because Christians that are not aware about the the work we do in the public schools they’re not aware of child evangelism Fellowship, they go, "Hey we like what you guys are doing. Can we help?" So it it helps us have more clubs.<ref name="CBN News article">[https://cbn.com/news/world/ministry-leader-says-christian-clubs-thriving-backlash-against-after-school-satan-clubs Ministry Leader Says Christian Clubs 'Thriving' in Backlash Against 'After School Satan Clubs']. ''Christian Broadcasting Network''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240124220822/https://cbn.com/news/world/ministry-leader-says-christian-clubs-thriving-backlash-against-after-school-satan-clubs Archived] from the original on 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-12-13.</ref>}}

In response to a follow up question, Esteves further explained: 
{{quotebox|1=So [The Satanic Temple runs] to the media. Part of their strategy is to make a big scary splash, right? Well, when the media jumps into the story, then they want to hear the other side. They want to hear our side. So they come and ask questions and so on."<ref name="CBN Interview">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PelykMjECMg Satanic Kids Club Flub? Christian Leader Claims Surprising Response to After School Satan Clubs].  ''Christian Broadcasting Network''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20231212093115/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PelykMjECMg Archived] from the original on 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2024-12-13.</ref>}}

This is perhaps unsurprising given that TST owner Cevin Soling initially wanted to utilize TST and "religious freedom loopholes" as part of his existing goal of sabotaging (integrated) public schools in the name of "abolitionism".<ref>[https://queersatanic.com/cevin-soling-really-hates-public-schools Cevin Soling really hates public schools], June 5, 2023.</ref>

===Baphomet statue===
The Satanic Temple is best known in the media for its publicity stunts done in the interest of protecting [[Separation of church and state|church-state separation]], in a manner similar to [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|Pastafarianism]]. They're responsible for a number of antics, such as attempts to have {{wpl|Statue of Baphomet|a statue}} of [[Baphomet]] displayed wherever Christian symbols are shown on government property.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/26/satanic-temple-sculpture-detroit-oklahoma Satanists unveil sculpture in Detroit after rejection at Oklahoma capitol], ''Guardian'', 26 July 2015</ref> As a result, they have become quite popular with the atheist community. Their spokesperson, Lucien Greaves (real name Doug Misicko), has appeared on shows like [[Hemant Mehta|The Friendly Atheist]] podcast and others.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpOOGcx5kE</ref> However, the statue has never successfully blocked a 10 Commandments monument and as of 2024, remains installed at TST's Salem headquarters where people pay to enter the premises and take photos with the statue. In litigation against the city of Belle Plaine, Minn., TST claimed in depositions to earning at least $182,000 in ticket revenue between July 2017 and November 2020.<ref>[https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66651784/804478296/the-satanic-temple-v-city-of-belle-plaine/ The Satanic Temple v. City of Belle Plaine], Document #804478296. ''By charging admission for entry into the Gallery, the Temple collected $182,000.''</ref><ref>[https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/15064653/84/1/satanic-temple-the-v-belle-plaine-city-of/ Satanic Temple, The v. Belle Plaine], City of
Exhibit(s) 1-42, and 44-45 — Document #84 , Attachment #1. From document Page 46 Doug Misicko (as "Lucien Greaves" and speaking on behalf of "Doug Mesner":
{{cquote|Q And how much does the Satanic Temple charge for admission?
A 12 dollars per general public. Five dollars for card-carrying members of the Satanic Temple.
Q What is the total amount of administration fees collected from persons entering the gallery and viewing the cube display from July 2017 to the present date?
A Let's see... $1,600 for card-carrying members. $180,400 for all others.
Q How many people paid to enter the gallery from July of 2017 to the present date?
A Let's see... I don't have a number for that.
Q What documents did you review to determine those dollar figures?
A I didn't -- I consulted with Malcolm.
Q And did he review documents to determine those dollar figures?
A Yes.}}</ref>

===Invocations===
In early 2016, the Satanic Temple wanted to give an invocation at the city council of Phoenix, [[Arizona]].  Some councilors wanted only a rota of council-approved clergy to give invocations.  The [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]] planned legal action if the [[First Amendment]] was breached.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/02/03/phoenix-city-council-will-replace-invocation-with-moment-of-silence-to-spite-satanic-temple/ Phoenix City Council Will Replace Invocation with Moment of Silence To Spite Satanic Temple]</ref> Phoenix chose a moment of silence instead, but legal action was threatened from Christians who wanted explicitly Christian [[prayer]] in government.<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/02/06/what-is-a-prayer/ What is a prayer?]</ref><ref>[http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/05/hyperventilating-christians-freak-out-over-ban-on-prayer-at-phoenix-city-council-meetings-video/  Hyperventilating Christians Freak Out Over Ban On Prayer At Phoenix City Council Meetings]</ref> Ultimately, the city decided to limit their invocations to police and firefighter chaplains rather than the more open policy it had previously.<ref>[https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix-city-council-votes-to-restore-prayer-at-meetings-8165057 Phoenix City Council Votes to Restore Prayer at Meetings], March 24, 2016. ''Phoenix City Council members have voted to restore prayer at the beginning of their formal meetings, but the invocation will have to be given exclusively by individuals serving as chaplains for the city’s police and fire departments. ''</ref> Attempts to use the courts to force Satanic invocations in the cities of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Boston failed at both the federal and appellate court level.<ref>[https://the.satanic.wiki/index.php/The_Satanic_Temple Lawsuits], specifically ''Satanic Temple et al v. Scottsdale, City of et al'' and ''The Satanic Temple, Inc. v. City of Boston''</ref>

===Protect Children Project===
Since 2014, The Satanic Temple has announced a campaign against [[corporal punishment]] in American schools, initially called Protect Children Project or "PCP"; this is apparently legal in nineteen states with 110,000 children being beaten per year.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/03/16/the-satanic-temple-tackles-corporal-punishment-with-tx-billboard-never-be-hit-in-school-again/ The Satanic Temple Tackles Corporal Punishment With TX Billboard: "Never Be Hit In School Again"]</ref>

The campaign uses an argument based on the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion. The Satanic Temple argues that corporal punishment violates the Satanic Temple's belief in a inviolable body and intends to argue on these grounds for anyone who registers for them.<ref>https://protectchildrenproject.com/</ref> 

Again, this seems to be an extension of TST owner Cevin Soling's opposition to public schools more than any higher principle given that TST has never challenged corporal punishment in private schools, which remains much more common in the USA.<ref>[https://queersatanic.com/why-you-havent-left-the-satanic-temple/#russia-today Why You Haven't Left The Satanic Temple, July 17, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.privateschoolreview.com/blog/corporal-punishment-still-exists Corporal Punishment Still Exists], April 28, 2024. ''While corporal punishment is legal in private schools in every state, it is rarely used in that setting nowadays. Unfortunately, only New Jersey and Iowa have banned corporal punishment in private and parochial schools.''</ref>

===Pro-choice activism===
Beginning in 2015, The Satanic Temple attempted to challenge state abortion restrictions in Missouri with the first being Mary Doe v. Jeremiah J Nixon et al ("Mary Doe I"). This, related state-level challenge The Satanic Temple et al v. Jeremiah Jay Nixon et al. ("Mary Doe II"), and the subsequent Doe v. Greitens et al ("Judy Doe") all failed.<ref>[https://the.satanic.wiki/index.php/The_Satanic_Temple#For-Profit_Corporation_Lawsuits For-profit Corporation Lawsuits], The.Satanic.Wiki</ref>

After the [[Supreme Court]] didn't block [[Texas]]'s ban on [[abortion]] after six weeks in 2021, the Satanic Temple launched a new wave of abortion restriction challenges based on their newly defined "Satanic abortion ritual". They again claimed an exception on religious freedom grounds, including using the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a federal bill that does things like protecting certain Native American groups' right to use [[peyote]], as grounds for protection of Satanic Temple members' right to use abortifacients (substances that induce abortions).<ref>[https://wdet.org/posts/2021/09/09/91398-the-satanic-temple-willing-to-fight-for-abortion-access-after-texas-law-takes-effect/ The Satanic Temple “Willing to Fight” for Abortion Access After Texas Law Takes Effect], Amanda LeClaire, ''wdet'' 9 September 2021</ref> The Satanic Temple created billboards and a Facebook ad campaign claiming they were able to circumvent state restrictions on abortions despite this argument previously being rejected in the Missouri lawsuits and eventually admitting in a lawsuit against one of their billboard companies that they knew no such exemption actually existed.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=all&ad_type=political_and_issue_ads&country=US&id=23849074434400743&view_all_page_id=220538341415523&search_type=page&media_type=all Facebook.com/ads], Library ID: 243216577714312, Sep 4, 2021 - Sep 25, 2021.</ref><ref>[http://queersatanic.com/the-satanic-temple-cannot-help-you-get-an-abortion-and-it-does-not-deserve-your-support/#billboard The Satanic Temple cannot help you get an abortion, and it does not deserve your support], QueerSatanic.com], </ref><ref>[https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63115599/47/1/the-satanic-temple-inc-v-lamar-media-corporation/ The Satanic Temple, Inc. v. Lamar Media Corporation], Exhibit Combined Exhibits — Document #47 , Attachment #1. Specifically:
{{cquote|Q     When making this statement, was TST aware of any -- I'm sorry -- The Satanic Temple.  Was The Satanic Temple aware of any situation in which clinic exempted someone from an abortion-related requirement imposed by state law because of their Satanic beliefs in general?
A     No.    But we feel that our position is perfectly in line with the law, and I find it impossible to see the law coming to any other conclusion than that this is a valid claim.
Q     When making this statement, was TST aware of any situation in which a court found that someone was exempt from an abortion requirement imposed by state law because they were participating in the Satanic abortion ritual?
A     No.    This is -- this is a first.
Q     And is The Satanic Temple aware of any situation in which a court has found that someone was exempt from an abortion requirement imposed by state law because of their Satanic beliefs in general?
A     Not -- not to our awareness.}}</ref>

All post-2021 abortion ban lawsuits by The Satanic Temple have failed and/or been abandoned thus far, often under scathing criticism for the quality and manner of arguments by the judges who heard them.<ref>[https://queersatanic.com/the-satanic-temple-is-very-bad-at-court-cases/#matthew-kezhaya The Satanic Temple is very bad at court cases], Matthew Kezhaya. Especially, Kezhaya's admonishment: ''The brief history above makes it appear quite doubtful that Attorney Kezhaya is capable of conforming his conduct to acceptable practice in federal court. His explanations as to the two sanctions entered against him also fail to convince that they weren’t justified.''</ref>

====Pro-choice slacktivism====
However, TST has been called out for merely engaging in [[slacktivism]].<ref name="queerabortion">{{cite web|url=https://queersatanic.com/the-satanic-temple-cannot-help-you-get-an-abortion-and-it-does-not-deserve-your-support/|title=The Satanic Temple cannot help you get an abortion and does not deserve your help.|date=May 6, 2022|publisher=Queer Satanic}}</ref> To quote Dr. Mia Brett:

{{quotebox|1=Judges are not going to take satanic temple arguments for abortion seriously. I worry putting them up next to Jewish arguments will delegitimize the Jewish fight. Seriously stop.<ref>Mia Brett on Xitter (6:21 PM on May 21, 2022). [https://archive.ph/c6lRU Archived].</ref>}}

The Satanic Temple has also been accused of exploiting abortion activists for money.<ref name="queerabortion"/><ref>"The Satanic Temple loses every single case. They are the worst and they are stealing your money. Give to abortion funds." - Abortion Squad on Xitter (12:23 AM on September 9, 2021). [https://archive.ph/jV0BG Archived]</ref> Indeed, grassroots abortion access groups like the Yellowhammer Fund have stated that it's better to donate to local grassroots abortion activist groups "that have been doing this work for decades" or clinics than donating to TST.<ref>"There is a better way to support abortion access & fight back: by putting your dollars & trust in grassroots orgs that have been doing this work for decades (in a way that honors & respects clinics and patient wishes)." - Yellowhammer Fund on Xitter (7:17 PM on September 13, 2021). [https://archive.ph/BwLZQ Archived.]</ref>

Journalist Susan Rinkunas' article for Jezebel "Don’t Count on the Satanic Temple for a Legal Abortion" went into this subject even more in depth, quoting Texas Equal Access Fund, which compared TST to crisis pregnancy centers and expressed worries that people might not realize the Temple offered no legal protections for people in reality.<ref>[https://www.jezebel.com/satanic-temple-abortion-rights-religious-exemption-real-1849073332 Don’t Count on the Satanic Temple for a Legal Abortion], “I just want to make sure that people are aware about organizations that might not be good for them, like [crisis pregnancy centers],” Rodriguez said, “and TST is kind of a part of that.”</ref> In the same article, Jex Blackmore, former spokesperson for TST’s reproductive rights campaigns from 2014 to 2018, said:

{{quotebox|1=Should someone attempt to use one of their exemption forms and face legal punishment, there is no guarantee the Temple or any other attorney would support or pay for the fees associated with their defense or resulting fines... They are putting people at risk.}}

In a now-deleted series of tweets in September 2021, Blackmore was even more forceful<ref>[https://twitter.com/JexBlackmore/status/1437767217504980999 Twitter], [https://web.archive.org/web/20210914213838/https://twitter.com/JexBlackmore/status/1437767217504980999 Archive backup]</ref>:

{{quotebox|1=Don’t give your money to The Satanic Temple. There’s zero transparency about how funds are spent and their lawsuits fail to center the needs of clinics or people seeking an abortion. Send your money directly to providers and those supporting the medical needs of pregnant people. <br>There was a time when the organization started when I thought this approach had real teeth and I still think a similar approach could be successful if organized by a intersectional coalition that’s been doing the real work. TST will exploit our bodies to fill their pockets.}}

==Alt-right affiliations==
The founder of the Satanic Temple, Lucien Greaves, has a history of questionable statements and affiliations with far right figures. In 2003, Greaves, on the online podcast ''Might is Right'', notably complained that the [[Nazis]] "ruined [[antisemitism]]", and that it was okay to hate Jewish people as long as they were religiously observant.<ref name="left">{{cite web|url=https://queersatanic.com/why-you-havent-left-the-satanic-temple/|title=Why You Haven't Left The Satanic Temple|date=July 17, 2021|publisher=Queer Satanic}}</ref>

In 2013, Greaves brought on his Neo-Nazi buddy Shane Bugbee, host of the ''Might is Right'' Internet livestream, to help found The Satanic Temple.<ref name="left"/>

The Satanic Temple leader "Priest Penemue", also known as Greg Stevens, is a "one-time [[Breitbart]] contributor"<ref name="left"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151101065315/https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2015/10/31/when-satanism-met-the-internet/ "When Satanism met the Internet"] - ''Breitbart''. Greg Stevens (October 31st, 2015). Archived.</ref> who also had close ties with the far right ghoul [[Mike Cernovich]] and [[Milo Yiannopoulos]], to the point of editing one of Cernovich's books and playing minigolf with Yiannopoulos.<ref name="left"/><ref>[https://queersatanic.com/today-is-a-good-day-for-the-satanic-temple-to-release-its-finances/2/ Today is a good day for The Satanic Temple to release its finances]</ref>

TST's lawyer, Marc Randazza, is a lovely piece of work who has also defended such esteemed clients as [[Alex Jones]] and ''[[The Daily Stormer]]''.<ref name="voxrandazza">{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/8/9/17669894/satanic-temple-alt-right-marc-randazza-lawyer-lucien-greaves|title=The Satanic Temple is divided over its leader’s decision to hire Alex Jones’s lawyer|last=Burton|first=Tara Isabelle|date=August 9, 2018|publisher=''Vox''}}</ref> Randazza has also personally guest-starred on ''Infowars'' multiple times.<ref name="voxrandazza"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@randazza/marc-randazza-about-free-speech-rights-today-on-infowars-739ab8bb6044|title=Marc Randazza about free speech rights today on Infowars|last=Randazza|first=Marc|date=July 17, 2018||publisher=Medium}}</ref>

Cevin Soling, another prominent member of The Satanic Temple, has expressed all sorts of ghoulish opinions before, ranging from supporting the abolition of [[public education]] because he believes schools are too diverse,<ref>[https://archive.ph/DfyRJ Queer Satanic post on the matter]</ref> to committing [[denialism]] of the Palestinian genocide and creating a nonprofit to that effect.<ref>[https://archive.ph/ZTn2D "Where does TST stand on Israel"]</ref><ref>[https://queersatanic.com/what-the-hell-is-the-satanic-temple-ep-6-alliance-for-integrity-and-justice-ltd/ What the hell is “The Satanic Temple”? — Ep. 6: “Alliance for Integrity and Justice”]</ref>

===Freeze peach===
{{main|Freedom of speech}}
Greaves and TST have a history of proclaiming their support for freedom of speech. However, they demonstrate a confused understanding of what freedom of speech actually is, as can be seen in the [[Facebook]] post made by Greaves below:

{{quotebox|I regret to announce that I have withdrawn from my role as a scheduled speaker at the forthcoming Left Hand Path Consortium to take place in Atlanta early next month. When it was announced that I was to speak at the Consortium, I received a few emails from concerned observers who asked why I would appear at an event alongside a "fascistic" character like [[Augustus Sol Invictus]], who was also scheduled to speak. While I'm not intimately familiar with the works and philosophy of the man in question, I also did not feel that my speaking at the conference constituted an endorsement of his, or anybody else's, point of view. Further, his perspective, from what I know, legitimately falls somewhere on a broad spectrum of recognized "Left Hand Path" philosophies, whether I find that perspective tenable, consistent, and reasonable, or not (just as Fascism legitimately has a place in discussions upon political philosophies without fear that such a discussion lends undue credibility to its contemporary implementation. Do we truly know what we're for if we refuse to discuss what we're against?). From what I know, he's part of a larger dialogue regarding the Left Hand Path that I feel is worth engaging in.

[...]

It's easy to stand up for Free Speech when you are fighting for your own voice, or for the voice of those you agree with. It's a completely different fight and, arguably, your loyalty to Free Speech only means anything at all, when you're willing to fight for the Free Speech of those with whom you disagree.<ref>[https://archive.ph/1cSsX Lucien Greaves' announcement post on Facebook dated March 14, 2016]</ref>}}

For context, Greaves is bitching about the fact that the Left Hand Consortium Path removed his fascist buddy and certified freak [[Augustus Sol Invictus]] from his speaker slot. What Greaves doesn't understand is that the LHCP is a private entity, not a government. As a private entity, the LHCP is not obligated to provide [[First Amendment]] protections the same way that the US government is.<ref name="scotusblog">{{cite web|url=https://www.scotusblog.com/2019/06/opinion-analysis-court-holds-that-first-amendment-does-not-apply-to-private-operator-of-public-access-channels/|title=Opinion analysis: Court holds that First Amendment does not apply to private operator of public-access channels|last=Howe|first=Amy|date=June 17, 2019|publisher=SCOTUS Blog}}</ref> As a private entity, the LHCP is not under any obligation to provide a platform for Sol Invictus.<ref name="scotusblog"/> In fact, the LHCP has the First Amendment right to ''reject'' Sol Invictus as a speaker.<ref>[https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-supreme-court/475/1.html  ''Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. Public Utilities Commission,'' 475 U.S. 1 (1986)]</ref>

These claims to support free speech are also ultimately [[hypocritical]]. When it's speech The Satanic Temple doesn't like, they attempt to shut it down. The Satanic Temple has a track record of filing multiple [[SLAPP]] suits against their critics over the years.<ref>[https://queersatanic.com/the-satanic-housewife-videos-and-legal-threat-by-the-satanic-temple/ Footnotes: “The Satanic Housewife” videos and legal threat by The Satanic Temple]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://queersatanic.com/2023-was-a-very-bad-year-for-the-satanic-temple-in-court/|title=2023 was a very bad year for The Satanic Temple in court|date=December 22, 2023|publisher=Queer Satanic}}</ref> Ultimately, it seems that The Satanic Temple's valiant defense of freedom of expression only goes in one direction: in support of the [[reactionary]] right.<ref name="left"/>

===Eugenics===
{{main|Eugenics}}
During that infamous 2003 Internet radio livestream, Greaves made several comments in support of eugenics, such as:

{{quotebox|Gerod Staaf: Now. What about the concept of eugenics? Do we see that being implemented anytime in the US?

Doug Misicko: I don’t know. It would have to be- You know, I think eventually there’s gonna have to be population control. And that’s where it’ll start. Then if you’re going to start controlling the population, then you can start getting into the argument about in what direction you control the population, why don’t you use it towards a eugenics end? Or at least curb [[dysgenics]] which is opposite eugenics. For those who don’t know, the concept being that the stupidest people breed the most. It seems axiomatic at this point, it’s just, hey, a given truism.<ref name="left"/>}}

For context, Doug Misicko is Greaves' real name.<ref name="left"/>

Greaves followed it up in 2004 with another spiel on the necessity of controlled breedin<ref>[https://queersatanic.com/lucien-greaves-and-the-satanic-temple-have-a-lot-to-answer-for/#eugenics-and-who-decides “Lucien Greaves” talks eugenics and “who decides”]</ref>:

{{quotebox|Doug Misicko: Yeah, eugenics. Right right, right, right. No, no, no. Eugenics is the practice of proper breeding to produce a better gene pool, and a lot of people try to say that it doesn’t work, and that you can’t breed people better because of too many variables or anything else, but everybody knows through common sense that’s a bunch of shit because we’ve seen horse breeders, we’ve seen animal breeders, we’ve seen everything else. I mean, people give a shit about the papers when they get their dog. People give a shit about those things because they know it works. We know there’s facts of heredity. We know that smart people can have a stupid kid, and you know, stupid people can sometimes have a smart kid, but that’s called deviation from the mean, and it’s not uncommon. That happens, but nonetheless, I feel there should be a eugenics policy, or at least something to curb it’s opposite, which is dysgenics, which is producing inferior breeds through, like fetal alcohol syndrome, or crack babies, or whatever. We shouldn’t promote that, and often people will ask me, you know…

Shane Bugbee: Oh really? Lots of people ask professor Doug. “Oh, people will ask me…”

Doug Misicko: People will often ask me “How can you promote an idea like eugenics? Who is qualified… Who’s going to decide who is qualified to have a kid, and who’s not?” You know? And I always tell them that I would be happy to decide. I would be happy to put up some kind of standardized test, like driving a fucking car, Y’know?

Shane Bugbee: So you would decide?

Doug Misicko: Why not?}}

In 2008, Greaves went on a facetious rant further demonstrating his support for eugenics:

{{quotebox|One needs to demonstrate proper cognizance to scrub toilets or pick produce, but nobody is too simple to have a child. Motherhood may be the most important job a person could take, and yet nobody is too incompetent to be denied the task. And it’s a good thing, too — for who would decide who is fit to breed and who is not? Selective breeding of any kind is eugenics all over again, and anybody who even mutters that foul word must be ridiculed from discourse as neo-Nazi swine.

Only a fascist could be so vile as to suggest that the laws of heredity could be employed toward the betterment of the gene-pool or — disregarding any such lofty notions of “improvement” — cessation of the propagation of severe dysfunctions from retardations to psychopathy.

Anybody who would recommend that parents who are unable to afford housing, food, or clothing — or is otherwise incapable of caring for a child — should thus abstain from having children is nothing more than a megalomaniacal totalitarian. You have merely to point at her and [[Nazi analogies|say aloud, “Hitler!”]] and your argument is won.

Breeding restrictions are a slippery slope, and it is absolutely inevitable that if the rapist is sterilized, so too will be all non-Aryans. Consensus means nothing here, because in a democracy “all men are created equal” — except when applying for jobs, or being accepting into schools, or looking for a loan….

But breeding is different. You can’t stratify there. An alcoholic inbred could possibly produce the next Einstein, (Though, I suppose, the alcoholic would be unlikely to be an actual inbred. There are laws against inbreeding. Inbreeding is known to propagate genetic defects, but that’s where we need to draw the line, or [[Slippery slope fallacy|it’s head first down that slippery slope]].) and infertile couples should care nothing of the background details of their sperm donor.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110611110603/http://www.process.org/discept/2008/01/21/mothers-day/ "Mother's Day"] - Process.org. Archived.</ref>}}

In fact, the main ad for a website Greaves plugged until ''2018'' was a voice-clip of Greaves saying this:

{{quotebox|Natural selection and modern civilization have ceased to exist. Today we live in a world overpopulated with bottom feeders. The pool is overfilled with the dregs, there is no inherent value on human life. The value is earned and most people are running a deficit. They’re worse than worthless. They’re counter-productive. What can be done? www.dysgenics.com.<ref name="left"/>}}

===Ableism===
Greaves has a history of ableist sentiment, as evidenced by the transcript below:

{{quotebox|Hart Fisher: Been like a little cripple time down here at the RadioFreeSatan.com.

Doug Misicko: Yeah, we love the r*t*rds.

Hart Fisher: Oh, very important. “Kids of Widney High.”

Doug Misicko: Right. Make some beautiful music.

Shane Bugbee: First ones in the fuckin showers. First go the r*t*rds and then go the Jews.

Doug Misicko: The r*t*rds are entertaining.

Shane Bugbee: Next is the n----rs and sp-cs and then more Jews.

Hart Fisher: …right.
 
Doug Misicko: You can tell a r*t*rd it’s got a bug on the back of its head and watch it spin in violent circles, and everybody has a good time.
 
Hart Fisher: While I was growing up, I had this friend of mine he had a cousin that had Down syndrome and he moved in with his with- with his grandma and that- the Down syndrome chick, and her bedroom was next to his and he said he used to have to listen or masturbate at night.
 
Doug Misicko: He had to, huh?

Hart Fisher: Well, yeah, you know, he’s just living in a fucking trailer. Some fuckin’ r*t*rd is masturbating and making all this noise. Ain’t no way…
 
Doug Misicko: I heard r*t*rds have quite the sexual appetite, too.
 
Hart Fisher: Oh, yeah. And then I was dating this girl and she had an older aunt that was a, uh, a ‘tard. And she she got knocked up by the mailman. ‘Cause the mailman would come and sweet talk his way in until eventually he knocked her up. And that was in Texas. Friendly.

Doug Misicko: Yeah, it doesn’t even sound like the ‘tards are at a loss to find somebody to do it with them. What is going on!? That’s dysgenics.<ref name="left"/>}}

Notice how Greaves ties in his support for eugenics with [[ableist]] sentiment. It also seems almost like a contractual obligation to reference the [[Holocaust]] from these goons.

To further tie his ableist sentiment into his support for eugenics, Greaves has stated he does not believe that "low-[[IQ]] people" should have the "right to [[sex|breed]]."<ref name="left"/> How he plans on enforcing that when his organization says everyone has the inviolable right to control their own body (which would include the right to breed/reproduce if they want to), is unsaid. Maybe it's just hypocrisy, which is not exactly unheard of among the alt-right, religious right, etc., types.

==Schisms and internal dissent==
The Satanic Temple has also prompted the development of other Satanic religious organizations, albeit typically with much acrimony as lower level leaders and rank-and-file members reject the priorities of TST's lawsuit-happy owners.

===Early departures===
The Satanic Temple’s first “High Priest” former Vital Remains lead-singer Brian Werner, was announced as such on TST’s social media in June 2013.<ref>[https://twitter.com/satanic_temple_/status/344117360636080128 Twitter.com], ''The Satanic Temple has dubbed Brian Werner High Priest. Congrats, Brian!'', Jun 10, 2013</ref> Werner publicly left the organization in December 2014, claiming his one-time personal friend Lucien Greaves had used lawyers to attempt to force a non-disclosure agreement on him. This led Werner to compare the organization to Scientology.<ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIN4aZ8IMz0&t=419s High Priest Brian Werner resigns from The Satanic Temple ], Dec. 23, 2014. ''“Now, I've got nothing but love for Doug [Lucien Greaves], man. You know, dude, you've been family to me since this thing started, but however this betrayal it's not going to be forgotten and effectively ruined any and all friendship that we once had. Rather than call me and talk to me, rather than reply to texts or have any contact of any kind, I get an email from the lawyers accepting my resignation with an attached six-page non-disclosure agreement. Really dude? After everything me and you have been through in the last three years—you've been a guest in several of my homes you know my wife. I've been a guest in yours. You've embraced me and called me brother. You couldn't even pick up a telephone and talk to me? You had to hide behind the lawyers? What is this Scientology?"''</ref> <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160410101918/https://satanicviews.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/leader-resigns-from-satanic-temple Leader resigns from Satanic Temple], Jan. 5. 2015</ref> Around the same time, the first leader of the Portland local group Zach Black also said he was leaving, complaining about a lack of democracy and transparency in the organization. <ref> [https://web.archive.org/web/20161019001932/https://satanicviews.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/the-woes-of-the-satanic-temple-continue/ The woes of the Satanic Temple continue], Jan. 16, 2015.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5124BHSJVQk The Satanic Temple – My Resignation], Jan. 21, 2015</ref> Black had been a Church of Satan member from 1994 to 2002 who had favored white nationalist Boyd Rice to succeed [[Anton LaVey]] as the next Church of Satan leader. Black stated he left TST as part of a disagreement with Greaves over Black linking to a PDF library on Black’s “Satanic International Network” website that contained works under the copyright of Greaves friend, Adam Parfrey, owner of publishing company Feral House. <ref>[https://www.villagevoice.com/trolling-hell-is-the-satanic-temple-a-prank-the-start-of-a-new-religious-movement-or-both/ Trolling Hell: Is the Satanic Temple a Prank, the Start of a New Religious Movement — or Both?], July 22, 2014. ''“Zach Black is a 38-year-old sushi chef in Northern California and a longtime Satanist. He started the Satanic International Network, the largest — though not the only — social media site for Satanists. He was a card-carrying member of the Church of Satan for nearly a decade, from 1994 to 2002. For the first few years after he joined, Anton LaVey was still alive. That made all the difference, Black says, and the church was much more “proactive.” Black is one of a group of disaffected ex-Church of Satan members who believe Gilmore was never supposed to become the church’s next leader. LaVey wanted to pass the torch to a man named Boyd Rice, an artist and writer who was a close friend, Black says. “But he turned it down. He didn’t want to do it. I’m not sure why.”’’''</ref> Werner, Black, and Greaves’ longtime friend Shane Bugbee were all publicly-established Satanists who had been brought into the organization in the summer of 2013 following the botched stunt in Tallahassee in January 2013 that local media had identified as being part of the same prank documentary idea TST had originated as.<ref>[https://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/01/you-hear-the-one-about-the-pro-scott-satanic-cult.html Miami Herald], Jan. 16, 2013. ''Greaves swore to god (his, of course) that this was no joke. But upon further review, it turns out that Greaves is pulling another kind of joke on us. Greaves is listed as the casting director of a feature film called …wait for it…The Satanic Temple. A casting call was posted on the web site Actors Access on Jan. 7 seeking non-union actors for no pay. “We are seeking people from all walks of life, goths, grandparents, soccer moms, etc to be the followers of a charismatic yet down to earth Satanic cult leader,” the post stated. “The shoot will be on January 25th in downtown Tallahassee. Actors will be required to wear tasteful Satanic garb.” The casting call said the movie was a mockumentary about the “nicest Satanic Cult in the world.” It was seeking actors for eight speaking roles “to play minions” and 10 featured extras. (The positions have since been filled).''</ref>

Former chapter head of the St. Louis group “Damien Ba’al” exited The Satanic Temple in July 2015, going on to form the “United Aspects of Satan.” <ref>[https://uaofsatan.org/faq/ United Aspects of Satan FAQ]</ref>. In November 2016, TST Minneapolis left the organization as a whole to become "Minnesota's Left Hand Path Community ", later explaining, “We found the lack of communication, organization and leadership from the National Body to be reasons enough to step away.” <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02UZT2AwUBsTUHoBVPBxqZgsSthXKBY6YNU24V8no1gCbmJ54GoHHyL6uEwFRqBceRl&id=1072517956191138https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02UZT2AwUBsTUHoBVPBxqZgsSthXKBY6YNU24V8no1gCbmJ54GoHHyL6uEwFRqBceRl&id=1072517956191138 Facebook post], May 7, 2017.</ref> 

In 2017, the St. Louis chapter as a whole departed from TST to become the independent group “Ordo Sororitatis Satanicae”. Nikki Moungo, a subsequent St. Louis chapterhead to Ba’al and a TST “National Council” member interviewed the “Mary Doe” from TST’s failed Missouri abortion litigation, alleging Greaves had been verbally abusive to Mary Doe and that TST had used legal threats to prevent “Mary Doe” from communicating with the rest of the St. Louis chapter while litigation was ongoing, a claim also reported by the ''Riverfront Times''.<ref>[https://medium.com/@SistersSatanic/mary-doe-speaks-her-story-the-satanic-temple-a-case-experience-e13e965127c6 Mary Doe Speaks: Her Story—The Satanic Temple, a Case Experience], Feb. 13, 2019</ref> <ref>[https://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/the-satanic-temple-sued-missouri-to-push-for-abortion-rights-then-everything-went-to-hell-31557301?showFullText=true The Satanic Temple Sought to Upend Missouri Abortion Law. Their Plans Went to Hell], May 18, 2019. ''MacNaughton's solution was an unusual one. In a letter sent to Doe dated July 5, 2016, MacNaughton proposed what amounted to gag order of his own client, with financial repercussions if she tried to meddle in the case. As long as MacNaughton remained her attorney, the agreement stipulated that Doe "have no intentional contact with any member of the Satanic Temple" — which would include Nikki Moungo — and that MacNaughton retain "sole authority to make or authorize publicity" for the case. There was another provision. If Doe tried to fire MacNaughton on her own, for any reason but "incompetence," the agreement made her liable for a $1,500 termination fee. The agreement/gag letter sent by MacNaughton represented the last piece of direct communication between Doe and the Temple for nearly two years. After that, Doe says, "I got updates on the case through Google alerts."''</ref>
 
Moungo alleged that Cevin Soling ('Malcolm Jarry"), who has publicly compared criticism of the Israeli military to “blood libel” and has registered a nonprofit devoted to targeting pro-Palestinian college students, had personally stepped in to disqualify an otherwise promising candidate from leadership because of the candidate’s "terrorist" credentials, by which Soling meant involvement in Students for Justice in Palestine. <ref>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-haunted-salem-a-jewish-church-founder-preaches-the-art-of-satanic-social-change/ In haunted Salem, a Jewish church founder preaches the art of ‘Satanic’ social change], Oct. 26, 2016</ref><ref>[https://corp.sec.state.ma.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSummary.aspx?sysvalue=0ZVXR3QjVnUeh422HMvBIJDobEiLI34qd21_z6jP.sY- Alliance for Integrity and Justice Ltd.], Massachusetts business No. 001325870, registered May 3, 2018. Cevin Soling is  </ref><ref>[https://queersatanic.com/what-the-hell-is-the-satanic-temple-ep-6-alliance-for-integrity-and-justice-ltd/ What the hell is “The Satanic Temple”?—Ep. 6: “Alliance for Integrity and Justice”], Nov. 2, 2023</ref>
<ref>[https://medium.com/@SistersSatanic/as-witness-and-measure-taken-to-pronounce-the-satanic-temple-my-experience-a1400928656f As Witness and Measure Taken, To Pronounce: The Satanic Temple — My Experience], Aug. 15, 2018. ''‘’Co-founder and executive ministry member Malcolm Jarry issued a lit response, rejecting the candidate on the grounds he was a terrorist due to his involvement with “Students for Justice in Palestine” while at university. I was seriously taken aback at Jarry’s inflammatory, unreasoned, and emotionally charged response. Then another council member stepped forward and bravely admitted they too were, or had previously been, involved with the same organization. This council member questioned whether the temple was prepared to remove them from their council position, or should Jarry’s end-all, be-all ruling on the prospect remain in place? Though I campaigned for this wonderful candidate, the issue was simply ‘case closed’. If TST hierarchy cannot hold themselves to the same standards they hold potential chapter heads to, they are unworthy of their own position. To claim this person was a terrorist is truly concerning and potentially harmful hyperbole and sets as well terrible standards for an egalitarian, decentralized governing body.’’''</ref>

===2018 schism===
Jex Blackmore, national spokesperson and head of the then-prominent Detroit chapter, left TST in March 2018, over statements deemed too extreme by the national TST organization.<ref name="Aggeler">{{cite web | last=Aggeler | first=Madeleine | title=A Guide to All the Drama Roiling the Satanic Community | website=The Cut | date=2018-08-10 | url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/the-satanic-temple-drama-explained.html }}</ref> In a Medium post that August, Blackmore described being mistreated by male members and not supported by leadership which they called "one of many examples of systematic gaslighting, degradation, and bullying that many women have experienced within TST over the years" and criticized the lack of financial transparency the org displayed: "Currently, there is no way of knowing if the money donated actually supports their legal actions." <ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-06 |title=“The Struggle for Justice is Ongoing” |url=http://medium.com/@JexBlackmore/the-struggle-for-justice-is-ongoing-6df38f8893db |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=Medium |language=en-US}}</ref> In a later interview, Blackmore criticized TST as corrupt:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-02 |title=JEX BLACKMORE INTERVIEW |url=https://interlocutorinterviews.com/new-blog/2020/11/2/jex-blackmore-interview |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Interlocutor |language=en-US}}</ref> 

{{cquote|Organizations can be formalized and function very well. However, in The Satanic Temple’s case, I would use the word “corrupt” rather than “formalized”. The organization badly yearns to be deemed legitimate in the eyes of those in power but they will never achieve this aim, even if their litigious activities are successful. Our work, whatever it is, must come from a place of authenticity. I do not want to align myself within the systems of oppression that I seek to dismantle. That’s where we differ. The Satanic Temple too, became one of those systems.}}

August 2018 also saw numerous local groups separate from the national org, citing the authoritarianism of the organization's structure and its priorities following TST's owners to the detriment of everyone else. The large Los Angeles chapter split away to form HelLA, specifically objecting to TST devoting legal resources to have [[Alex Jones]]' favorite lawyer Marc Randazza help Lucien Greaves get a blue checkmark on Twitter, as well as "the complete lack of racial diversity" among TST leadership.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BmFaw1WFO5i/?hl=en&img_index=1 @HelLA], Aug. 4, 2018. ''"We view Marc Randazza as a Twitter troll and an agent of the alt-right. He is not a neutral actor with no political motivation of his own; he is an ally to Nazis and to alt-right provocateurs.”''</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180821104547/https://www.jezebel.com/the-satanic-temple-is-engulfed-in-a-civil-war-over-a-de-1828130997 Jezebel.com], Aug. 7, 2018. ''“It went from where all the chapters were very autonomous but worked in a larger network,” she said, “to this national council and executive ministry who pretty much appointed themselves.” DiPasquale alleges, too, that the executive leadership was largely white and male, a decision that didn’t sit particularly well with her.< br /><br />''The Twitter lawsuit, she says, is something much of the rank-and-file TST membership only found out about once it hit the news. When she started researching Randazza, she adds, she and other TST Los Angeles members were upset. “He’s a terrible human being,” she says.''</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Joseph P. Laycock|title=Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion|quote=On August 4, the day after TST-UK departed, TST-Los Angeles announced that they were also leaving to form a new group that eventually became known as HelLa. In a statement, they specifically cited the Twitter lawsuit, which they viewed as a waste of resources, and the decision to work with Randazza. The statement read, "We believe Randazza is opportunistically using The Satanic Temple as both a shield and a lever as he continues to work on behalf of the alt-right, and we in the Los Angeles chapter want no part of this." It also cited, "the complete lack of racial diversity within leadership."|chapter=Satanic Schisms|page=9.24|isbn=978-0190948498|doi=10.1093/oso/9780190948498.001.0001|date=2020-02-17}}</ref><ref>Anna Merlan "[https://www.jezebel.com/the-satanic-temple-is-engulfed-in-a-civil-war-over-a-de-1828130997 The Satanic Temple Is Engulfed in a Civil War Over a Decision to Hire an Attorney With a Stable of Alt-Right Clients]" ''Jezebel'', August 7, 2018.</ref><ref>Joe Mullin "[https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/11/how-copyright-lawyer-marc-randazza-got-famous-lost-friends-and-went-broke/ Bribery, gay porn, and copyright trolls: The rise and fall of lawyer Marc Randazza]" ''Ars Technica'', November 5, 2015.</ref> The ex-chapter head also cited a disagreement with Greaves' absolutist philosophy on free speech.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Joseph P. Laycock|title=Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion|quote=Bel Citoyen, a former chapter head for TST-Los Angeles ... also took issue with the position of "free speech absolutism" advocated by Greaves, arguing, "The right to free speech doesn't mean the right to a platform."|chapter=Satanic Schisms|page=9.25|isbn=978-0190948498|doi=10.1093/oso/9780190948498.001.0001|date=2020-02-17}}</ref><ref name=sunshine>{{cite book|publisher=Routledge|author=Spencer Sunshine|title=Neo-Nazi Terrorism and Countercultural Fascism: The Origins and Afterlife of James Mason's Siege|year=2024|isbn=9780429576010|pages=413–417}}</ref> In some cases, such as Los Angeles, Portland, and the United Kingdom, the social media accounts the local groups had created were renamed and departed with them.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/satanicportland/posts/pfbid02jGvLhpdFXZaVh8h5Whoax1WrperF7a41sxCTHKRiwRtYQqnBwZM5cX3tbm7RgGnil Satanic Portland], Aug. 15, 2018. ''The Portland Chapter is hereby withdrawing its membership from The Satanic Temple. We sincerely appreciate the support we’ve received from our local community and while we are thankful for the greater community we have come to know through The Satanic Temple, we have lost all confidence in National Council’s ability to adequately address our concerns. We can no longer ally ourselves with TST. Our membership and leadership has decided that it is within our best interests to return to being Satanic Portland and no longer an affiliate of The Satanic Temple. The lack of accountability and formal organizational structure in The Satanic Temple National Council and Executive Ministries has been a point of contention within our chapter for the last 2 years. As Chapters, we must always ask for National Council’s consent on our actions. There is no accountability for National Council or Executive Ministries.''</ref> In other cases, such as earlier St. Louis and Detroit chapter exoduses, the accounts were left behind and abandoned. 

The Global Order of Satan was founded in 2018, rebranding after TST's European and Israel chapters first separated and re-named themselves as "Satanic Temple International". <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/globalorderofsatan/about_profile_transparency Global Order of Satan Facebook], page transparency.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalorderofsatan.com |title=Global Order of Satan}}</ref> This schism was motivated by TST removing two consecutive UK chapter heads: the first for engaging in unapproved campaigns, and the second for "personality clashes".<ref>Joseph P. Laycock 9.19-9.23"</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalorderofsatan.com/history-and-background-of-the-global-order-of-satan/|title=History and background of the Global Order of Satan|quote=''Officially formed on June 24th 2018, The Global Order of Satan was formed to be a worldwide collective of Satanists united under a shared set of life values & moral pillars. Our aim is to make the world we live in a better place through our actions and in doing so eliminate prejudice, injustice, and religious oppression.|access-date=2022-04-15}}</ref><ref>[https://medium.com/satanic-sermons/hail-satan-a-response-7a0f87c75063 “Hail Satan?”- a response], Sep. 12, 2019. ''At the beginning of 2018, we began to experience some issues with communications from TST’s National Council, and, after an incident where the Kreuzpflicht project was carried out without the National Council’s permission, one of our chapter heads was thrown out of TST entirely. It was at this point that the rest of us were given a choice, either carry on with TST, or go our own way. Thanks to the bravery and quick thinking of our chapter heads, along with the help of other chapters in Sweden, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Israel, we decided to set up an organisation that would later be called The Global Order of Satan. ''</ref>

===Subsequent splits and reputation for retaliation===
The Satanic Temple has earned a reputation for litigiousness against former members, leading to the moniker “Scientology for mall goths.”<ref>[https://queersatanic.com/footnotes-to-the-atlantics-a-satanic-rebellion-social-justice-collides-with-the-satanic-temple/ Footnotes to The Atlantic’s: “A Satanic Rebellion – Social justice collides with the Satanic Temple”], ''Johnson and his friend Nathan Sullivan, who now organize under the name Queer Satanic, no longer defer to the air of mystery cultivated by the Temple. During our conversation, neither man used Greaves’s pseudonym, instead referring to him as Doug [Misicko]. They also endorse some critics’ description of the Temple as “Scientology for mall goths.” As for Greaves’s co-founder Malcolm Jarry, they pointed to a documentary that he made about a cargo cult in Vanuatu, in which he offers himself as the island’s long-prophesied messiah. (Jarry declined to be interviewed for this article.)''</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230427083052/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/inside-americas-satanist-movement/ Inside America's Satanist Movement], April 29, 2023. ''Meanwhile, ex-members of The Satanic Temple have founded the Global Order of Satan, whose British spokesman, an undertaker called Chaplain Leopold, says he left TST ‘after discovering things that I can’t go into, otherwise they’d sue me’.'' </ref> TST sent legal threats to leaders who left in 2018 and spoke out, claiming they had violated the non-disparagement clauses of their Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180909172422/https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2018/09/04/after-pushback-the-satanic-temple-will-revise-its-non-disparagement-clause/ After Pushback, The Satanic Temple Will Revise Its Non-Disparagement Clause], Sep. 4, 2018. ''Recipient agrees that Recipient shall not make any statements, or take any other actions whatsoever, that disparage the goodwill, name, brand, or reputation of the Disclosing Party or its current or former founders, directors, employees, independent contractors, volunteers, donors, supporters, or contributors. For purposes of this Section, “disparage” shall mean any critical or negative statement, whether written or oral, about the foregoing parties. Examples of disparaging statements include, but are in no way limited to, statements that the aforenamed parties have been dishonest, acted fraudulently, misused funds, or otherwise engaged in unethical or dishonest behavior, or are associated with parties who engage in such behavior. This obligation shall be in effect at all times following the Effective Date of this Agreement, both during and after the termination of the Recipient’s relationship with Disclosing Party (in whatever capacity).''</ref><ref>[https://the.satanic.wiki/images/b/ba/NC_Meeting_Notes_2018-09-09.pdf Satanic Temple National Council meeting notes], Sep. 9, 2018.
''3) Legal letters have been sent to ex-CHs who have violated NDA / AA terms a) We do not expect them to publicly respond but we will have responses / statements prepared, explaining the need for the legal letters and spelling out the ways in which they violated their signed agreements, in case something appears. b) We will be sure to get this information to chapter leadership as quickly as possible if something arises so they can help control responses online.''</ref><ref>[https://the.satanic.wiki/images/a/ab/TST_NC_Announcement_2018-09-03_About_the_new_NDAs_and_AAs.pdf National Council Announcement], Sep. 2, 2018. ''We sign NDAs provided by other parties as a matter of standard practice, any time we do long-form media pieces with production companies, or partner with any other organization or business to work upon a project together. We have had NDAs for as long as we’ve had affiliation agreements for chapters. The non-disparagement clause in our updated NDA uses broad language that is standard, and produces no risk for the members who sign. Any attempt on our part to enforce the non-disparagement clause for a trivial matter would be thrown out of court, especially if there was no measurable harm to our organization.''</ref> However, despite contemporary claims that these clauses were removed, other members have subsequently made references that they persist, sometimes accompanied with threats of litigation. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210202204233/https://ariadnedesatanas.com/2021/02/02/why-i-left-the-satanic-temple/ Why I Left The Satanic Temple], Feb. 2, 2021. ''I am no longer a member of The Satanic Temple. I cannot say more due to NDA’s I have signed with TSTTA and TSTVHQ: I am not the person to get inside information from. It will get you a “No Comment”, I do not need a lawsuit.''</ref><ref>[https://www.old.reddit.com/r/satanism/comments/1ebm4er/information_thats_been_asked_about/ Information that's been asked about], July 25, 2014.</ref>

This litigiousness is not restricted to people who signed contracts with them. In March 2020, an approved administrator of TST's Washington chapter removed other admins and editors of the Facebook page and posted news article and blogs referencing previous ex-member testimony and past works and statements by TST's owners.<ref>[https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17042463/1/6/united-federation-of-churches-llc-v-johnson/ United Federation of Churches LLC v. Johnson], April 2, 2030.</ref> TST responded with a lawsuit against the former members the lawsuit's target characterized as a [[SLAPP suit|SLAPP]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=Oct 29, 2021 |title=Orgies, Harassment, Fraud: Satanic Temple Rocked by Accusations, Lawsuit |work=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/orgies-harassment-fraud-satanic-temple-rocked-accusations-lawsuit-1644042 |access-date=December 12, 2023}}</ref>. TST sued the four former members of TST Washington in federal, appellate, and state court from April 2020 till September 2024 while utilizing the for-profit corporation "United Federation of Churches, LLC, d/b/a/ 'The Satanic Temple' ", ultimately abandoning further re-filings and appeals in October 2024 with no legal rulings coming in their favor.<ref>[https://queersatanic.com/moreover-we-are-no-longer-being-sued-by-the-satanic-temple-in-federal-district-court-or-king-county-superior-court/ Hell yes: Washington state court dismisses latest lawsuit by Satanic Temple targeting former members], Sep. 24, 2024.</ref>

In February 2022, TST sued ''Newsweek'' magazine and its reporter Julia Duin, claiming defamatory coverage of the matter in an October 2021 article of the case, however, as of December 2024, all claims had been dismissed except for whether it was defamatory to quote someone speaking of sexual abuse occurring in the Temple and the question of whether The Satanic Temple was a public figure.<ref name="Volokh2023">{{cite web | last=Volokh | first=Eugene | title=Most Libel Claims by The Satanic Temple Against Newsweek Dismissed, But Not Claim Over Sexual Abuse Allegations | website=Reason.com | date=2023-03-09 | url=https://reason.com/volokh/2023/03/09/most-libel-claims-by-the-satanic-temple-against-newsweek-dismissed-but-not-claim-over-sexual-abuse-allegations/ | access-date=2023-12-13}}</ref>

In June 2022, TST threatened "The Satanic Housewife," a former member of the Austin chapter with a lawsuit for creating two TikTok video referring the suit against the Washington State defendants as "suing former members to make them be quiet about the stuff they experience while in The Temple" and about a sexual assault allegation in the Austin chapter she had been aware of.<ref>[https://queersatanic.com/the-satanic-housewife-videos-and-legal-threat-by-the-satanic-temple/ Footnotes: “The Satanic Housewife” videos and legal threat by The Satanic Temple], June 20, 2022.</ref> The woman recorded the verbatim retraction TST's lawyers sent to her that month, but in November 2022, the Temple initiated a defamation lawsuit against her.<ref>[https://sataniceurope.wordpress.com/2022/12/04/the-freedom-to-offend/ Satanic Europe], Dec. 4, 2022, "The Freedom to Offend". </ref>

As part of the litigation against the former Washington State members, TST admitted to using paid contractors to keep tabs on online critics, ostensibly to "flag defamatory comments for further review," which ''Atlantic'' journalist [[Helen Lewis]] also confirmed.<ref>[https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17042463/42/1/united-federation-of-churches-llc-v-johnson/ Exhibit declaration of Rachel Chambliss — Document #42 , Attachment #1], Nov. 23, 2022. The pseudonymous Rachel Chambliss: "3. I joined TST as paid contractor in September of 2021. 4. My job for TST is to provide email administrative support. My job duties include answering emails to the general website, editing the TST monthly newsletter, and other special projects. Included in those special projects is monitoring social media for comments about TST. I look for both positive and negative comments and I flag defamatory comments for further review."</ref><ref name="Atlantic 2023">{{cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Helen |date=1 October 2023 |title=The Social-Justice Rebellion at the Satanic Temple |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/social-justice-rebellion-satanic-temple/675481/ |url-status=live |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |magazine=The Atlantic |publisher=Emerson Collective |issn=2151-9463 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003214145/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/social-justice-rebellion-satanic-temple/675481/ |archive-date=3 October 2023 |access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref>

In April 2024, YouTube video essayist Dead Domain released the video "Lies of The Satanic Temple" detailing much of this negaive history, which as of December 2024, had received more than 200,000 views.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lV8GLQtOTs Dead Domain], April 26, 2024.</ref> Starting in May 2024, another wave of local-area groups, including Australia, Colorado, Florida, and Minnesota–severed ties with the national TST organization. Some of these went on to form the independent Coalition of Satanic Congregations.<ref>{{cite web | title=Coalition of Satanic Congregations | url=https://coalitionofsataniccongregations.org/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The Satanic Temple and its Eternal Nobodies | website=Queer Satanic | date=2024-05-28 | url=https://queersatanic.com/the-satanic-temple-and-its-eternal-nobodies/ }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Freedom of religion]]
*[[Jason Rapert]]
*[[Satanic Panic]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Satanic Temple}}
[[Category:Atheism]]
[[Category:Alt-right]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Categories: Atheism, Alt-right, Organizations