The Satanic Temple

Address: 64 Bridge St, Salem, MA 01970

Years Active: 2013–Present

The Satanic Temple, headquartered in Salem and founded in 2013, has consistently fought against discrimination against marginalized groups by American religious organizations. Not to be confused with the older yet mostly inactive Church of Satan—see a more detailed comparison between the two here—the Satanic Temple prides itself on having organized “a number of high-profile public campaigns designed to preserve and advance secularism and individual liberties.” Started by Lucien Greaves and Malcolm Jarry, the Satanic Temple describes itself as a “non-theistic movement” and follows seven “Fundamental Tenets,” including: “One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason”; and: “One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.” Among its various initiatives, the Satanic Temple is vocal and upfront about its advocacy for LGBTQ+ people. Greaves noted in a 2019 article that “the Temple is mostly made up of LGBTQ+ people who feel disowned and disenfranchised from the traditional religious institution,” later adding that the Satanic Temple “will fight [anti-LGBTQ+ groups] to the death to ensure that there are equal rights.” The group’s “Ongoing Campaigns” page lists the variety of other causes which the Satanic Temple runs, such as “Religious Reproductive Rights,” and “Sober Faction,” which provides a space that offers “a Satanic approach to recovery from addiction.”

Sources and Further Information:

https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/about-us