Religiously ritualizing anti-religion:

the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

Gianni F. Trapletti
Gianni F. Trapletti
(PhD candidate, Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
The Satanic Temple

Pic. 1 logo

The Satanic Temple was founded in 2012-

2013 by Malcom Jarry and Doug Mesner (aka
Lucien Graeves), both former Harvard
University studentes.

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
The monument
to Baphomet

Pic. 2 the statue

The monument was not allowed

in public square

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
Against the biblical
Commandements in
public spaces
Pic 3

The Tables of the Law in Oklahoma City

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
TST as a non-theistic Pics 4-5
The seven Tenets
religious group

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
TST = Satanism 2.0?

Pic. 6
Anton LaVey (1930-1997)
founder of the Church of Satan

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
The Satanic Temple

Pic. 7
The headquarters in Salem (MS)

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
 The Satanic Temple
Pics 8-9
Merchandising

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
 Pics 10-11
The Satanic Temple Religious art

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
Rituals

Pic. 12
Public celebration of
The Satanic Temple

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
Westboro
Baptist
Church
Pic. 13
Demonstration of believers

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
 Pics 14-15
Pink Mass
The ritual

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
 Pic 16
Pink Mass
The ritual

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
The Black Mass

Pic 17
Traditional iconography
of the Black Mass
(XVI sec.)

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
The Black Mass

Pic 18
The place of Balck Mass in 2014

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
The Black Mass
Pics 19-20
The Los Angeles Rite (2017)

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
The Black Mass
Pics 21-22
The Los Angeles Rite (2017)

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
“The Black Mass, as it is enacted today, has no need for
supernaturalism, and it is not performed with the infantile
expectation that it should conjure Satan or demonic spirits.
In fact, it is our assertion that Black Mass can be enacted
with no ill-will toward the world at large, but as an
expression of personal independence against the stifling
strictures of supernatural religion that were instilled in
some of us frightened and unwilling children.
The Black Mass, at its best, should have a cathartic and
liberating effect for its participants and observers.”
(Lucien Greaves)

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
“Satanic rituals (…) are acts of creative expression. Consistent with

philosophical principles of self-determination and anti-authoritarianism

espoused by TST, our rituals are not dependent upon descriptive dogmatic

fidelity to rite ceremonies. Rather our rituals are often constructed for a

particular moment in time, for enactment at particular events, and subject to

the artistic preferences, additions, and revisions, of those who will participate

in them, within the limits of theirs collective consent. “

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple
(Lucien Greaves)
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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
” Traditional ‘sacred’ rituals, muttered verbatim, not
understood by their executors or observers, and intolerant
of modification, are form of authoritarian conditioning.
Satanic rituals, like Satanism itself, are meant to be
liberating and enriching. ”
(Lucien Greaves)

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
“Reliable, strict definitions of “religion” have proven
elusive, but there should be little doubt that the experience
reported to us by a vast membership of The Satanic Temple
indicate authentic religious experiences that are in no way
diminished by our refusal to embrace superstition.”
(Lucien Greaves)

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
Towards a standardized
Ceremonial?

Pic 23
The ‘recipe book’ by Shiva Honey

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
“Satanic ritual has served as an important tool for
my personal healing and empowerment.
I hope this book provide a light to guide you on
your journey to deeper self-knowledge and
personal power.”
(Shiva Honey)

Religiously ritualizing anti-religion: the ceremonies of The Satanic Temple

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
 Concluding:

- The rituals constitute for The Satanic Temple tools for political activism and social

awareness.

- They offer followers the symbols for a communty reaction against an environment

considered too Christianized and totalitarian.

- Through the rituals the practitioners access experiences of self-affirmation and

empowerment.

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
 Bibliography
M. Hedenborh White – F. Gregorius, “The Satanic Temple: Secularist Activism and Occulture in the
American Political Landscape”, International Journal for the Study of New Religion, vol. 10/1 (2019), pp.
89-110.
S. Honey, The Devil’s Tome: A Book of Modern Satanic Ritual, Foreword by Lucien Greaves, Illustrations
by Alexander Corey and Lucien Greaves, s.i.l., Serpentinae, 2020.
M. Introvigne, Satanism: A Social History, Leiden, Brill, 2016.
J.P. Laycock, Speak of the Devil. How The Satanic Temple Is Changing the Way We Talk About Religion,
New York, Oxford University Press, 2020.
The Satanic Temple, The Satanic Children’s Big Book of Activities, 2014 (available online:
https://thesatanictemple.com).
The Satanic Temple, The Satanic Temple’s Guide to Freedom of Religion in Public Schools, 2014
(available online: https://thesatanictemple.com).

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)
 Web sources of pictures
Pic. 1: https://www.wlox.com/2020/07/08/satanic-temple-threatens-lawsuit-if-god-we-trust-appears-new-mississippi-flag/

Pic. 2: https://hyperallergic.com/587195/misunderstood-satanic-monument-baphomet-satanic-temple/

Pic 3: https://religionnews.com/2015/09/30/oklahoma-to-remove-ten-commandments-monument-from-capitol-by-oct-12/

Pics 4-5: https://thenib.com/women-s-mass-at-the-satanic-temple/

Pic. 6: https://www.amazon.com/ANTON-LAVEY-Satanist-Baphomet-24x36inch/dp/B019P1EGS6

Pics 7-11: https://www.masslive.com/news/2018/09/satanic_temple_headquarters_in.html

Pic 12: https://www.iltimone.org/news-timone/canada-fronte-messa-nera-si-alzano-rosari/

Pic 13: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Westboro-Baptist-Church

Pic 14-16: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/a-satanist-church-had-gay-couples-kiss-on-the-grave-of-the-w

Pic 17: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Black_Mass

Pic 18: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/5/12/black-mass-relocated-controversy/
Pics 19-22: https://www.deccanchronicle.com/gallery/lifestyle/220117/dark-images-from-black-mass-at-satanic-temple-of-los-angles.html
Pic 23: https://thesatanictemple.com/collections/books/products/the-devil-s-tome-a-book-of-modern-satanic-ritual-by-shiva-honey-signed-first-edition-book

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G. F. Trapletti (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano)