In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by The Satanic Temple co-founder Lucien Greaves to discuss AI and the threat it might pose to religious minorities.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: Satan and AI | Lucien Greaves”
In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by fellow Satanic Temple member Murphy Fawkes to discuss our recent article defending The Satanic Temple. We give a thorough response to many of the falsehoods and conspiracies about TST.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: In Defense of The Satanic Temple | Murphy Fawkes”
I recently co-authored a piece with Murphy Fawkes for Free Inquiry responding to some common criticisms of the Temple.
The Satanic Temple is far from perfect. It is made up of human beings and is therefore a profoundly flawed institution. But, as we argue in the article, that’s also the point. TST has enshrined imperfection and growth in the 6th Tenet, which reads, “people are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one’s best to resolve any harm that might have been caused.”
Continue reading “The Satanic Temple is a Church for Imperfect People”
In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by Chalice Blythe to discuss the opening of The Satanic Temple’s abortion clinic.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: The Religious Right to Abortion | Chalice Blythe”
In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by June Everett to discuss The Satanic Temple’s After School Satan Club.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: After School Satan Club | June Everett”
In this episode of Sacred Tension, Lucien Greaves joins me to reflect on the upcoming ten-year anniversary of The Satanic Temple. We also discuss the After School Satan Club, standing up to theocracy, the importance of conversation and depolarization, and much more.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: Ten Years of The Satanic Temple | Lucien Greaves”The past couple of weeks have been challenging. My grandfather died, and the ensuing family chaos and celebrations of a life well lived distracted me from my work. I hope to get back to a regular schedule soon.
Continue reading “Sunday Curiosities: Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Offend”
The Fourth Tenet of The Satanic Temple reads, “The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one’s own.”
Continue reading “In Defense of the Fourth Tenet of The Satanic Temple”
If there is one thing I find myself continually communicating about my Satanism, it is this: my Satanism isn’t about you. You might feel such a unique revulsion at my practice, or you might be so flummoxed by the religion that you can only assume that it is about deliberately provoking you.
This all assumes that you, the offended, are at the center of my religion. But my Satanism isn’t about you. You, the offended, don’t figure into 99.9% of my religious practice. It isn’t about offending, hurting, or provoking you. My Satanism is about me — my catharsis, my fulfillment, and how I choose to practice compassion toward all other creatures. That it offends you is incidental.
But offense, even if that is not my Satanism’s primary goal, does have its utility, and it is this: my Satanism is the test of your commitment to religious liberty.
Continue reading “My Satanism Is the Test of Your Commitment to Religious Freedom”
Of all the challenging aspects of Satanism, blasphemy is perhaps at the top. I have known people to literally weep with horror when they first encounter the concept of the Black Mass, and others to simply shut down and say, “I can’t do this,” when they are confronted with the full breadth of Satanic blasphemy.
Blasphemy can be an important part of Satanism. But there are many different types of blasphemy, and I believe that understanding them might help outsiders better engage in inter-religious dialogue with the Satanic community. (It’s also important to note that there are many Satanists who don’t connect deeply with the notion of blasphemy at all.)
Continue reading “Varieties of Satanic Blasphemy”
Stephen Bradford Long 