We discussed your article during "Writers' Coven." I had another thought...Isn't the essence of The Satanic Temple about thinking and moving past knee jerk reactions?
That maybe the ideal but a lot of people come to TST traumatized by organized religion and get really upset when it is pointed out that TST is an organized religion.
This was an excellent elucidation of the tensions raised in and by religion, and an excellent introduction to what the TST is about. Do you have any good sources or essays about the primacy of the Self's needs and wants?
Very enjoyable essay. Stephen Bradford Long stands as an excellent example of someone who is able to challenge issues in a thoughtful, forceful & articulate way without going outside the lines into mindless outrage AND he also provided thoughtful ways on how to navigate a different vision/path.
This is honest: "We are legitimacy seeking rebels that demand respect from the exact systems we reject who practice scientific woo with a profound moral certainty."
And it seems rational and rational to be responsible and reciprocal while maintaining freedom.
Lastly, I found the call to syncretism interesting.
I love this article! A lot of the talking points hit close to home for me. The recognition of Temple Satanism as a religion is something I tried in Germany but failed for now. Having a more defined framework would help immensely.
Delving deeper into the spiritual side of the practice (in a non supernatural way) is exactly what I try to do with a small group of people right now. Exploring the romantic side of Temple Satanism more and how this could be realised in personal practice.
I would like to at one point get Pinker out at some point.Not only because I have strong criticism towards him as a person but more because as someone who worked with a lot of data the way he represents chery picked information to make his points feels weird. I want to delve a lot deeper into the book to really understand what the book means to Temple Satanism and make a more compelling argument.
In my opinion Radical Romanticism would male quite a good replacement or at least addition to the primary texts or at least reading list. But that is - for a good reason - a longer process that will include a lot of discussions and collaboration.
I think a lot of what I'm getting at in this piece is the ~350 years of Enlightenment thinking and ~200 of Romanticism’s main character syndrome so it would be pretty universal.
It’s interesting that you’re running into this issue, as well. I was basically run out of TST WA for suggesting that political violence is sometimes justified. I pointed out that none of the Seven Tenets were at odds with my position (from a certain point of view), and, as you noted:
“The Mission Of The Satanic Temple Is To Encourage Benevolence And Empathy, Reject Tyrannical Authority, Advocate Practical Common Sense, Oppose Injustice, And Undertake Noble Pursuits.”
Sometimes rejecting tyrannical authority means doing so violently in self-defense. I don’t think there’s any legitimate argument to be made to the contrary, and I’ve taken law school seminars on the subject. I know what I’m talking about.
But I also recognize (as you pointed out) that TST is a legal entity, that the mastheads of the organization have the final say, and they have determined that maintaining the legal status of the organization is more important than allowing free discourse. So, after some ministers very publicly told me that they’d have me kicked out over my views, I voluntarily withdrew from the congregation. I suppose I’d have to say, “Sorry, not sorry” for being the angry trans woman in the room.
All of this is to say — I sympathize, and am sorry that you faced condemnation from some corners for the “Our Better Angels” service. I don’t expect anyone to share all of my views, and do not expect anyone to share all of yours, either.
At the end of the day, TST is an organization that will have issues figuring out where the lines are. I know my lines, and allowing fascists to throw immigrants into concentration camps, discriminate and threaten the safety of my trans brothers and sisters, and dismantle democracy are definitely firm lines for me. They aren’t for others. And we can disagree on that. But apparently, not in the same room. This isn’t an issue with TST, necessarily, but with society at-large right now.
I am not privy to those conversations but I do know The Satanic Temple is very expressly a non-violent organization. Given everything happening that the world that can be an emotionally and philosophically fraught position to have to hold in the face of such overwhelming injustice.
I am glad you are still here reading and engaging. And I do hope that you find a spiritual home that better aligns with your zeal.
“Zeal” is a good word for it. I have degrees in philosophy and law, and judged the international intercollegiate ethics bowl for some fifteen years. I don’t need some religious authority to tell me what’s right and wrong… Would be nice to find some sort of community though! As it is, I’ve given up on people. Too many purity tests, and I contain multitudes.
We discussed your article during "Writers' Coven." I had another thought...Isn't the essence of The Satanic Temple about thinking and moving past knee jerk reactions?
That maybe the ideal but a lot of people come to TST traumatized by organized religion and get really upset when it is pointed out that TST is an organized religion.
Your essay sparked me to ponder much. Hail you🤘
That's what I hope for. Agreement is never my goal. Honest contemptation is what I want. Thank you for doing that.
This was an excellent elucidation of the tensions raised in and by religion, and an excellent introduction to what the TST is about. Do you have any good sources or essays about the primacy of the Self's needs and wants?
From a religious perspective I would recommend Tara Burton’s “Strange Rite” because it gets specifically into the individuality of religion.
I also really like the academic text Authenticity: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Philosophy, Psychology, and Psychiatry.
Leave it to Satanic Fragment to have excellent text recommendations on hand!
I try to have references handy. I like reading and sharing what I read.
Thank you!
My pleasure!
Very enjoyable essay. Stephen Bradford Long stands as an excellent example of someone who is able to challenge issues in a thoughtful, forceful & articulate way without going outside the lines into mindless outrage AND he also provided thoughtful ways on how to navigate a different vision/path.
Thank you so much.
This is honest: "We are legitimacy seeking rebels that demand respect from the exact systems we reject who practice scientific woo with a profound moral certainty."
And it seems rational and rational to be responsible and reciprocal while maintaining freedom.
Lastly, I found the call to syncretism interesting.
Thank you. We're a weird group. There are a lot of internal tensions and contradictions that are very much strengths if we let them be that.
I love this article! A lot of the talking points hit close to home for me. The recognition of Temple Satanism as a religion is something I tried in Germany but failed for now. Having a more defined framework would help immensely.
Delving deeper into the spiritual side of the practice (in a non supernatural way) is exactly what I try to do with a small group of people right now. Exploring the romantic side of Temple Satanism more and how this could be realised in personal practice.
I would like to at one point get Pinker out at some point.Not only because I have strong criticism towards him as a person but more because as someone who worked with a lot of data the way he represents chery picked information to make his points feels weird. I want to delve a lot deeper into the book to really understand what the book means to Temple Satanism and make a more compelling argument.
In my opinion Radical Romanticism would male quite a good replacement or at least addition to the primary texts or at least reading list. But that is - for a good reason - a longer process that will include a lot of discussions and collaboration.
The long dialogues are part of what we do. Good thing we're good at it.
It's surprising how much this applies to the Christian context and my own wrestling with the institutional nature of the church!
I think a lot of what I'm getting at in this piece is the ~350 years of Enlightenment thinking and ~200 of Romanticism’s main character syndrome so it would be pretty universal.
Ahaha that's a great way to put it!
It’s interesting that you’re running into this issue, as well. I was basically run out of TST WA for suggesting that political violence is sometimes justified. I pointed out that none of the Seven Tenets were at odds with my position (from a certain point of view), and, as you noted:
“The Mission Of The Satanic Temple Is To Encourage Benevolence And Empathy, Reject Tyrannical Authority, Advocate Practical Common Sense, Oppose Injustice, And Undertake Noble Pursuits.”
Sometimes rejecting tyrannical authority means doing so violently in self-defense. I don’t think there’s any legitimate argument to be made to the contrary, and I’ve taken law school seminars on the subject. I know what I’m talking about.
But I also recognize (as you pointed out) that TST is a legal entity, that the mastheads of the organization have the final say, and they have determined that maintaining the legal status of the organization is more important than allowing free discourse. So, after some ministers very publicly told me that they’d have me kicked out over my views, I voluntarily withdrew from the congregation. I suppose I’d have to say, “Sorry, not sorry” for being the angry trans woman in the room.
All of this is to say — I sympathize, and am sorry that you faced condemnation from some corners for the “Our Better Angels” service. I don’t expect anyone to share all of my views, and do not expect anyone to share all of yours, either.
At the end of the day, TST is an organization that will have issues figuring out where the lines are. I know my lines, and allowing fascists to throw immigrants into concentration camps, discriminate and threaten the safety of my trans brothers and sisters, and dismantle democracy are definitely firm lines for me. They aren’t for others. And we can disagree on that. But apparently, not in the same room. This isn’t an issue with TST, necessarily, but with society at-large right now.
I am not privy to those conversations but I do know The Satanic Temple is very expressly a non-violent organization. Given everything happening that the world that can be an emotionally and philosophically fraught position to have to hold in the face of such overwhelming injustice.
I am glad you are still here reading and engaging. And I do hope that you find a spiritual home that better aligns with your zeal.
“Zeal” is a good word for it. I have degrees in philosophy and law, and judged the international intercollegiate ethics bowl for some fifteen years. I don’t need some religious authority to tell me what’s right and wrong… Would be nice to find some sort of community though! As it is, I’ve given up on people. Too many purity tests, and I contain multitudes.