New Religious Movement
The Satanic Temple (TST)
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Secular non-theistic religious organisation founded by Lucien Greaves and Malcolm Jarry (2013). Distinctive use of 'Satanic' iconography to assert religious-pluralism legal cases. Distinct from LaVeyan Church of Satan.
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Low Control
BITE breakdown
Behavior Control2/10
Information Control1/10
Thought Control2/10
Emotional Control1/10
Modifiers (+0)
0 — secular non-theistic religious organisation; mainstream low-control.
Profile facts
Founded
2013
Members
700,000+ [\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Temple#cite_note-3) (per Wikipedia infobox, retrieved 2026)
Active in
USA, Global
In context
The Satanic Temple uses Satanic iconography and ritual within an explicitly secular, non-theistic framework. Multiple high-profile First Amendment cases including Baphomet statue installations as response to Ten Commandments displays. IRS-recognised religious organisation since 2019.
Recovery resources
- ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) — General referral and cult-aware therapist directory.
- INFORM (Information Network on Religious Movements) — LSE-founded UK research-based information service covering new religious movements.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center — Steven Hassan's organisation; BITE-model resources and family-side exit guidance.
See the full curated list at /resources.
Evidence by BITE axis
Thought Control
- mainstream low-control
Timeline
- 2013TST founded
- 2019IRS recognises as religion
Evidence matrix
Structured sources cross-linked to the claims they document. Tiered per the source hierarchy. For free-text citations see the Sources section below.
Sources
- Joseph P. Laycock academic work search ↗
- District of Massachusetts | Oklahoma Man Previously Arrested for Allegedly Throwing Pipe Bomb at Satanic Temple in Salem Indicted by Federal Grand Jury — https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/oklahoma-man-previously-arrested-allegedly-throwing-pipe-bomb-satanic-temple-salem open ↗
- Satanic Temple — International Journal for the Study of New Religions (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1558%2Fijsnr.38954 open ↗
- The Satanic Temple is taking on the Christian right. It's fun to watch — https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/19/satanic-temple-fight-against-religious-right open ↗
- A Mischievous Thorn in the Side of Conservative Christianity — https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/11/us/a-mischievious-thorn-in-the-side-of-conservative-christianity.html open ↗
- What does Satan mean to the Satanic Temple? — https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/11/30/satanic-temple-lisa-ling-orig.cnn open ↗
- Satanist challenges Missouri's 72-hour abortion wait: It's 'a burden on my sincerely held religious beliefs — https://www.salon.com/2015/05/01/satanist_challenges_missouris_72_hour_abortion_wait_its_a_burden_on_my_sincerely_held_religious_beliefs/ open ↗
- The Satanic Temple's giant statue of a goat-headed god is looking for a home — https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/07/01/the-satanic-temples-giant-statue-of-a-goat-headed-god-is-looking-for-a-home/?noredirect=on open ↗
- The Satanic Temple Is Suing Missouri Over Its Abortion Law — https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-satanic-temple-is-suing-missouri-over-its-abortion-law/ open ↗
- Group aims to put Satanist monument near Oklahoma capitol — http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/12/8/satanists-aim-tobuildamonumentonthebiblebelt.html open ↗
- Unmasking Lucien Greaves, Leader of the Satanic Temple — https://www.vice.com/en/article/unmasking-lucien-greaves-aka-doug-mesner-leader-of-the-satanic-temple/ open ↗
- Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion — https://doi.org/10.5817%2FRel2021-1-9 open ↗
- Boston man arrested after alleged arson at Salem's Satanic Temple that damaged porch — https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/11/metro/boston-man-arrested-after-alleged-arson-salems-satanic-temple-that-damaged-porch/ open ↗
- Satanic Temple: IRS has designated it a tax-exempt church — https://www.apnews.com/6addf2f0ecb646919cb1cfcfdacfc6c1 open ↗
- The IRS Officially Recognizes the Satanic Temple as a Church — https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/irs-satanic-temple-church-tax-exempt-826931/ open ↗
- Speak of the Devil (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1093%2Foso%2F9780190948498.001.0001 open ↗
- Amid outcry, black mass at Harvard is called off — https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/05/12/cardinal-sean-malley-expresses-disappointment-harvard-decision-allow-black-mass-campus/tUjYx2817C65LAHousRIeP/story.html open ↗
- He's an Atheist. A Satanist. And He Wants Your Vote — https://time.com/4328169/satanic-temple-steve-hill-california-state-senate-race/ open ↗
- Satanic Temple Sponsors a Veterans Memorial in a Minnesota Town — https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/08/us/satanic-temple-sponsors-a-veterans-memorial-in-a-minnesota-town.html open ↗
- The Florida capitol's holiday display will include a festive message from the Satanic Temple — https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/12/04/the-florida-capitols-holiday-display-will-include-a-festive-message-from-the-satanic-temple/ open ↗
- Here's how the Satanic Temple fixed its vandalized holiday display in the Florida capitol — https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/12/24/heres-how-the-satanic-temple-fixed-its-vandalized-holiday-display-in-the-florida-capitol/ open ↗
- Michigan's state capitol will host a Satanic Temple display, but no nativity scene (for now) — https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/12/16/michigans-state-capitol-will-host-a-satanic-temple-display-but-no-nativity-scene-for-now/ open ↗
- Satanist And Christian Holiday Displays To Go Up At Michigan Capitol — https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/12/17/371503835/satanist-and-christian-holiday-displays-to-go-up-at-michigan-capitol open ↗
- Satan Is in the Illinois Capitol. Because It's the Holidays! — https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/us/satan-statue-illinois-capitol.html open ↗
- Satanic Sculpture Installed at Illinois Statehouse, Just in Time for the Holidays — https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/673422143/satanic-sculpture-installed-at-illinois-statehouse-just-in-time-for-the-holidays open ↗
- Congressman at odds with Wisconsin museum over Satan-themed Christmas Tree — https://www.newsweek.com/congressman-odds-wisconsin-museum-satan-themed-christmas-tree-1848165 open ↗
- Republican governor asks for prayers over Satanic Temple display — https://www.newsweek.com/republican-governor-asks-prayers-over-satanic-temple-display-1851793 open ↗
- Former Mississippi House candidate charged after Satanic Temple display is destroyed at Iowa Capitol — https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2023/12/15/satanic-temple-display-vandalized-iowa-capitol/998439d4-9b70-11ee-82d9-be1b5ea041ab_story.html open ↗
- Mississippi man accused of destroying statue of pagan idol at Iowa state Capitol takes plea deal — https://apnews.com/article/satanic-temple-hate-crime-iowa-1e56fb00dbe3a45f3efac6dcaa0c4147 open ↗
- Yes, an after-school Satan Club could be coming to your kid's grade school — https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-satanic-after-school-20160928-snap-story.html open ↗
- Portland OKs "After School Satan" for elementary kids — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/after-school-satan-satanic-temple-portland-approved/ open ↗
- How 'After School Satan Club' Is Shaking Things Up — https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/us/the-satanic-temple-after-school-club.html open ↗
- Satanic Temple opens online abortion clinic named after Samuel Alito's mother — https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/the-satanic-temple-abortion-clinic-samuel-alito-b2282495.html open ↗
- Religious Freedom Arguments Underpin Wave of Challenges to Abortion Bans — https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/health/abortion-religious-freedom.html open ↗
- Federal appeals court axes Satanic Temple abortion lawsuit — https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-lawsuits-us-news-columbia-michael-brown-27b897fd742c1efe2e3272626c46ed70 open ↗
- Salem-based Satanic Temple challenges Texas abortion law, arguing religious freedom - The Boston Globe — https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/07/metro/salem-based-satanic-temple-challenges-texas-abortion-law-arguing-religious-freedom/ open ↗
- Satanic Temple takes legal action against Texas abortion law and says members exempt — https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/satanic-templetexas-abortion-law-b1914346.html open ↗
- Satanists Call for Investigation into 'Satanic Panic' Killing of 8-Year-Old Boy — https://www.vice.com/en/article/satanists-call-for-investigation-into-satanic-panic-killing-of-8-year-old-boy/ open ↗
- Man charged with fire at Satanic Temple pleads not guilty — https://apnews.com/article/politics-religion-fires-crime-massachusetts-d1950e1ba80ec60911f226db196b5e6a open ↗
- US man faces hate crime over damage to Satanic Temple display in Iowa — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68162566 open ↗
- The greatest trick the satanists ever pulled: They may be truer to the words of Jesus than most Christians — https://www.salon.com/2015/11/28/the_greatest_trick_the_satanists_ever_pulled_they_may_be_truer_to_the_words_of_jesus_than_most_christians_partner/ open ↗
- Review of _Speak of the Devil: How the Satanic Temple Is Changing the Way We Talk About Religion_, by Joseph P. Laycock — https://muse.jhu.edu/article/848504 open ↗
- Speak of the Devil: How the Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk About Religion — The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture (2022) — https://doi.org/10.3138%2Fjrpc.2021-0020 open ↗
- Orgies, Harassment, Fraud: Satanic Temple Rocked by Accusations, Lawsuit — https://www.newsweek.com/orgies-harassment-fraud-satanic-temple-rocked-accusations-lawsuit-1644042 open ↗
- Satanists' holiday display at Minnesota Capitol sparks outrage — https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-capitol-satanic-holiday-display/ open ↗
- El fundador del Templo Satánico: "Ni creemos que Satán exista ni rendimos culto a la muerte — http://www.elmundo.es/sociedad/2016/08/18/57a9ec27e5fdea8e088b4681.html open ↗
- Can the Satanic Temple Save America? — http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/17/can-the-satanic-temple-save-america.html open ↗
- Why Detroit Has the Largest Satanist Temple Chapter in the US — http://abcnews.go.com/US/detroit-largest-satanist-temple-chapter-us/story?id=32714083 open ↗
- Unmasking Lucien Greaves, Leader of the Satanic Temple — https://www.vice.com/read/unmasking-lucien-greaves-aka-doug-mesner-leader-of-the-satanic-temple open ↗
- The Satanic Temple Is Suing Missouri Over Its Abortion Law — https://news.vice.com/article/the-satanic-temple-is-suing-missouri-over-its-abortion-law open ↗
- Inside the Satanic Temple's Secret Baphomet Monument Unveiling — https://www.vice.com/read/inside-the-satanic-temples-secret-baphomet-monument-unveiling-666 open ↗
- Hundreds Gather for Unveiling of Satanic Statue in Detroit — http://time.com/3972713/detroit-satanic-statue-baphomet/ open ↗
- The Satanic Temple Is Suing Missouri Over Its Abortion Law — https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/7xa959/the-satanic-temple-is-suing-missouri-over-its-abortion-law open ↗
- Unmasking Lucien Greaves, Leader of the Satanic Temple — https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4w7adn/unmasking-lucien-greaves-aka-doug-mesner-leader-of-the-satanic-temple open ↗
- Le Temple satanique est le nouveau paradis queer — https://www.vice.com/fr/article/pad9xy/temple-satanique-nouveau-paradis-queer open ↗
- lire en ligne — https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/11/17/satanic-temple-challenges-policy-allowing-religious-materials-to-be-distributed-at-public-schools open ↗
- lire en ligne — https://www.la-croix.com/Religion/Le-Temple-satanique-autorise-sein-lecole-lUS-Navy-2019-10-18-1201055114 open ↗
- Trump hat einen mächtigen Gegner herausgefordert: den Teufel persönlich. — https://sz-magazin.sueddeutsche.de/texte/anzeigen/45879 open ↗
- Russia declares The Satanic Temple undesirable. — https://meduza.io/en/news/2024/12/04/russia-declares-the-satanic-temple-undesirable open ↗
- Man arrested after starting fire at Satanic Temple in Salem. — https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/satanic-temple-salem-fire-man-arrested-daniel-lucey/ open ↗
- Oklahoma Man Arrested for Allegedly Throwing Pipe Bomb at Satanic Temple in Salem, Mass. — https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/oklahoma-man-arrested-allegedly-throwing-pipe-bomb-satanic-temple-salem-mass open ↗
- I co-founded The Satanic Temple. After the arson attack on our HQ, I want to clarify what we stand for. — https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/satanic-temple-arson-attack-b2100806.html open ↗
- Here Are the Latest Photos of the Satanic Statue Being Made for Oklahoma’s Statehouse. — https://www.vice.com/en/article/av49mb/oklahomas-satanic-statue-is-coming-along-nicely open ↗
- School grants Satanic Temple permission to run after-school club for 10-year-olds. — http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/28/school-grants-satanic-temple-permission-to-run-after-school-club/ open ↗
- Satanic Temple: Warum Jex Blackmore ihre Abtreibung bloggt. — https://www.welt.de/kultur/article149999418/Die-oeffentliche-Abtreibung-der-Jex-Blackmore.html open ↗
- Unmasking Lucien Greaves, Leader of the Satanic Temple. — https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/unmasking-lucien-greaves-aka-doug-mesner-leader-of-the-satanic-temple open ↗
- Satanic Temple: IRS has designated it a tax-exempt church. — https://apnews.com/general-news-6addf2f0ecb646919cb1cfcfdacfc6c1 open ↗
- [Laycock, Joseph P. Speak of the devil: how the satanic temple is changing the way we talk about religion] — Religio: revue pro religionistiku (2021) — https://dx.doi.org/10.5817%2FRel2021-1-9 open ↗
- Speak of the Devil (2020) — https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Foso%2F9780190948498.001.0001 open ↗
- “Satanists Call for Investigation into 'Satanic Panic' Killing of 8-Year-Old Boy” — https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/d7am3a/satanists-call-for-investigation-into-satanic-panic-killing-of-8-year-old-boy open ↗
- What does Satan mean to the Satanic Temple? — http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/11/30/satanic-temple-lisa-ling-orig.cnn open ↗
- Satanic Temple holds public sculpture unveiling in Detroit — https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-michigan-satanic/satanic-temple-holds-public-sculpture-unveiling-in-detroit-idUSKCN0Q009F20150726 open ↗
- Can the Satanic Temple Save America? — https://www.thedailybeast.com/can-the-satanic-temple-save-america open ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗ runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-29Phase 1 Batch J: per-group recovery resources applied via programmatic palette (closest-fit by category + subCategory + score). Palette: Mainstream-comparator lighter.
- 2026-05-20Source-density flags derived from existing free-text sources[]: academic sources. Heuristic auto-flag; subsequent editorial pass will populate structuredSources[] with reliability tiers.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
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Disclaimer. This profile is an educational summary based on publicly available reports. Many members of this group do not experience the patterns described. Individual congregations and chapters vary widely. If you or someone you know needs support, contact a licensed therapist or the International Cultic Studies Association.