Satan is Pretty Cool, Actually

From childhood, I struggled to reconcile the messages I heard in church—love, equality, and goodwill—with the stories I heard in the news of so-called “devout followers of Christ” committing horrifying acts of violence and hatred. In contrast, The Satanic Temple consistently centers its work on human rights, scientific inquiry, and compassion. No sacred texts are exploited for profit, no basic freedoms are trampled, and no one is condemned for their imperfections. Instead, The Satanic Temple amplifies marginalized voices, fights injustice, and defends bodily autonomy. In spite of these goals, The Satanic Temple is often confused with other belief systems, like Anton LeVay’s Satanism, or even Paganism. This is a tragedy, that American culture has deemed The Satanic Temple to not be worth our collective time, as I truly believe that institution is a wonderful, wholly good thing. 

In order to get everyone on the same page, I will directly quote the stated goal and overall thesis of The Satanic Temple, as declared on their website, “thesatanictemple.com”.

“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.”

“We have publicly confronted hate groups, fought for the abolition of corporal punishment in public schools, applied for equal representation when religious installations are placed on public property, provided religious exemption and legal protection against laws that unscientifically restrict people's reproductive autonomy, exposed harmful pseudo-scientific practitioners in mental health care, organized clubs alongside other religious after-school clubs in schools besieged by proselytizing organizations, and engaged in other advocacy in accordance with our tenets.”

The Satanic Temple, different though they may be from standard Christian practices that have dominated American culture for the last 300 years, deserve equal respect and legal standing among American religions, not just for the sake of their progressive beliefs, or for the sake of freedom of expression, but because the Christian-based culture that America finds itself submerged in today has repeatedly shown itself to harbor hatred and greed within its ranks, and we as a nation deserve better than that.

Christianity, though something I truly believe can be used for good, has used its authority as the most popular global religion to force its beliefs upon others, which is not only unfair, but paves the way for a kind of “one group controls all others” way of thinking. No belief system should be able to hold that kind of power, especially in a supposedly democratic parliament. Satanism ought to have exactly the same amount of power, exactly the same amount of say in politics, that Christianity has.

The Satanic Temple’s mission encompasses a range of social and political actions: confronting hate groups; abolishing corporal punishment in public schools; ensuring equal representation of religious symbols on public property; protecting reproductive autonomy from unscientific legal restrictions; exposing harmful pseudoscience in mental health care; and organizing inclusive after-school clubs. These efforts, guided by principles of empathy and reason, reflect a commitment to justice and community well‑being.

Christianity’s influence on American law and culture is undeniable. Biblical principles inform our Constitution, presidential inaugurations require an oath on a Bible, and until recently, few alternatives to the King James Version were accepted in court. While Christian ethics have fostered charitable works and moral discourse, they have also been used to impose narrow religious doctrines on the entire population. When conservative Christian legislators held near‑unilateral control over abortion policy, they overturned Roe v. Wade, disregarding the wishes of non‑believers, moderate Christians, and adherents of other faiths. If The Satanic Temple held equal representation, women’s rights might have been more robustly defended.

An article written by Martin E. Gold at the American Constitution Society further emphasizes this point, claiming that:

“In writing the state’s new abortion laws the controlling state legislative faction, which in a large number of states will be conservative Christians, can (and will) ignore the position of other religions, of more moderate Christians, and of non-believers… conservative Christian doctrine dominates and which moves the U.S. further away from being a non-sectarian nation having separation of church and state.”

I have found genuine community in The Satanic Temple. Churches often felt judgmental and unwelcoming, whereas gatherings at The Satanic Temple were warm, inquisitive, and accepting. In many Christian sanctuaries, the crucifix symbolizes suffering and guilt. In contrast, The Satanic Temple’s imagery—portraits of the figure often called the Antichrist—recasts the rebel as a guide toward empathy and self‑determination. Among fellow Satanists I encountered people who celebrated me for who I am rather than chastising me for perceived flaws.

Many Christian teachings suggest that only the morally perfect ascend to heaven—a doctrine that felt alienating during my years of struggle with depression and violent intrusive thoughts. Protesters at The University of Delaware once declared that my suffering doomed me to damnation. Thinking like this is what leads people to extremism and violence, and it was both disheartening and hurtful to hear such a thing said with such conviction and hatred. The Satanic Temple, by contrast, offers no promise of supernatural forgiveness; it demands only that we act compassionately and uphold justice for all. The Christian belief system says that we must change for a higher power, whereas The Satanic Temple says that we must change for ourselves, for a better community, and for a better tomorrow.

I hold no ill-will toward Christianity, despite my many qualms; it can and does build loving communities when done right. But in a society and culture with as many differing people and beliefs as America has, no single faith should dominate our collective lives. The Satanic Temple’s unwavering advocacy for human rights, scientific reasoning, and individual dignity merits full equality with any Christian church or Jewish synagogue in American culture and politics. It is time to treat Satanism with the same respect and legal standing as other religions in our democracy.

Satan advocating for love among mankind