Friend of Satan: how Lucien Greaves and his Satanic Temple are fighting the religious right, The Guardian, Adam Gabbatt, 1-4-2023

http://bit.ly/3DFvANk

In the aftermath of the 2022 Roe v. Wade reversal, groups like the Satanic Temple are leveraging religious freedom arguments to push back against the restrictions. The Satanic Temple claims that abortion rights align with their religious beliefs, particularly their principle that one's body is inviolable and subject to one's will alone. By filing lawsuits across various states, including Idaho, the Satanic Temple challenges the legality of these anti-abortion laws as an infringement on their religious practices.

Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, emphasizes the long-term strategy in fighting the legal battles, mirroring the years of effort the religious right invested to reshape laws in their favor. This method of fighting within the system, rather than outside it, is critical to their approach, especially given the influence of Christian ideology in the political landscape. Greaves notes the frustration in how the Satanic Temple is perceived, especially regarding its use of the Satanic image, which many find triggering. Despite the theatrics associated with the Temple's public protests and rituals, Greaves and his followers continue to press for the protection of civil liberties, specifically advocating for the separation of church and state.

Some, like Cindy, express concern over the use of Satanic imagery, which they believe detracts from the message of religious freedom and civil rights. The symbol of Baphomet, associated with the Satanic Temple, often provokes intense reactions, particularly from Christian conservatives. While this may bring attention, it sometimes overshadows the core message: the fight for religious freedom and bodily autonomy. Despite these challenges, advocates within the Temple see their efforts as a necessary resistance to the growing influence of religious doctrines in U.S. law.


The Non-Prophets Cynthia McDonald, Jordan (Reason to Doubt) , Cindy Plaza and Helen Greene.

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