Speak of the Devil: How the Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion

Hoesly, Dusty

doi:10.1080/0048721x.2021.1997546

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…The Church of Satan is an important case for inquiry into the impact of religious economies and organizational ecology theories on religious organization outside of Christianity. Organizations that have politicized Satanism, such as the Satanic Temple, continue to be influential in state and national conversations over the role of church in state within the public sphere (Laycock 2020). Modern movements such as QAnon also seek to target Satanism and use it as a political rallying cry (Barton 2021, Foreword and 205-6).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main academic attention to Satanism in the United States focused on the moral panic of the 1980s and 1990s, and the recent Satanic Temple (Laycock 2020). The Satanic Temple is largely known for its publicity stunts opposing the incorporation of religious ideals into state or legal frameworks.…”

Section: Satanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Satanic Temple, founded in 2013, is one of multiple groups influenced by the LaVeyan Satanism of the Church of Satan. A thorough study of this politicized form of Satanism is discussed by Laycock (2020) in a recent book titled Speak of the Devil. Today, a proliferation of ephemeral new satanic groups occurs online.…”

Section: Satanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Organizational Analysis of the Schismatic Church of Satan

Foertsch

2022

Review of Religious Research

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Background The Church of Satan, the seminal example of organizational Satanism, was founded in 1966. During the 1970s, the Church of Satan was wracked by a history of numerous schisms. Despite the notoriety of Satanism in popular culture, few scholars have analyzed the Church of Satan as a religious organization. Furthermore, not many scholars have directly discussed the schisms that it has undergone. Purpose The purpose of this research is to analyze the Church of Satan, an understudied case in American religious organizational history, and its schisms. A theoretical framework based on religious economies and organizational ecology is introduced to account for schism in Satanism, which hitherto has been dominated by European cultural milieu arguments. Methods A historical case study is performed on the case of the Church of Satan, using primary and secondary documentation, in order to address four theoretical propositions. Results Findings demonstrate costliness, authority, doctrine, and niche/environment were all potential causes for the schisms that impacted the Church of Satan. Conclusions and ImplicationsThe Church of Satan conforms to religious economies and organizational ecology theory expectations of schism. Further research is needed to understand organizational aspects of Satanism and other avant garde religious groups.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Satanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Organizational Analysis of the Schismatic Church of Satan

Foertsch

2022

Review of Religious Research

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“…The Church of Satan spurred many schismatic groups such as Temple of Set (forming Setianism) and the Church of Satanic Brotherhood (see Petersen 2009;Foertsch 2022). The impact of the Satanic niche and its ideas in the public sphere makes Satanism/Setianism a fascinating case study for sociologists of religion (an example being the Satanic Temple and its movement-see Laycock 2020). Recent studies suggest that there exists a Satanic niche in the American religious market that functions in ways predicted by religious economies and organizational ecology theory (Foertsch 2022).…”

Section: Satanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are a range of secondary and primary sources available to study Satanism as a religious niche. Good secondary sources for understanding the history of the Satanic niche are found in Introvigne's Satanism: A Social History (2016), Laycock's (2020) Speak of the Devil, van Luijk's Children of Lucifer (2016), Dyrendal et al's (2015) The Invention of Satanism and Lewis' (2001) Who Serves Satan? As for crucial primary sources, many come from LaVey himself, which could be found online.…”

Section: Satanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Field Study Update on Organizational Satanism and Setianism in the United States

Foertsch

2022

Review of Religious Research

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Background With recent attention to the organizational dynamics of contemporary Satanism, updated information on Satanic and Setian organizations is imperative for the field. Purpose The purpose of this research note is to update the literature surrounding Satanism and Setianism with new organizational and administrative information, which will help scholars studying these groups in developing new theoretical frameworks and interpretations. Methods A snowball sample interview, participant observation, and ethnographic study was conducted. In person field work was done primarily in Austin, TX, and New York, NY, where occult bookstores, wicca stores, online group pages/forums, Satanic gatherings, and goth clothing shops were frequented for a portrayal of “lived Satanism.” Results Findings elaborate on the authority structures of five Satanic and Setian organizations, and a long considered defunct Satanic group called the Church of Satanic Brotherhood is uncovered. Participants also elaborate on the previous schisms within the Satanic niche. Conclusions and Implications Field note recommendations are given to future researchers working in Satanic studies. The organizational findings inform future research and theoretical innovations, including religious organization ecology (ROE) theory.

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Symbolic objects in contentious politics

Starnes

2023

International Affairs

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Speak of the Devil: How the Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

An Organizational Analysis of the Schismatic Church of Satan

An Organizational Analysis of the Schismatic Church of Satan

A Field Study Update on Organizational Satanism and Setianism in the United States

Symbolic objects in contentious politics

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