Salt Lake Pagan Society

SLPS was curious to find out what the Satanic Temple-Utah Chapter would be discussing at their open meeting. “I wanted to know more about them, what they are going to be up to, and to educate myself. I’m not a Satanist, don’t have a desire to be one, or really believe in the figure, but better to be smart than ignorant, especially considering I’m always trying to educate people about Paganism, I don’t want to make that mistake about Satanism” said president Cureton.

The meeting was originally scheduled for Watchtower coffee across from the SLCC campus on state and 1500 S. The meeting had so many RSVPS that it was moved to conference room 4 at the Salt Lake Public Library for 2pm on Saturday, May 21, 2016. The meeting was very professional, with chairs, a table for the council, a slide show, brochures, and refreshments afterwards. Chapter president Chalice Blyth, who received the chapter charter in February 2016,  gave the presentation, with occasional comments from the other core council members: Aaron Shea (DJ at Club Metro), Paul Black, and Autumn Rogers (bass guitarist for the goth rock band IMPXVIII).

The Satanic Temple is a nonprofit founded in 2013 and is set up in a chapter style. A state, city or county may have chapters. The main purpose of the order is to use the pre Judaic/Christian adversary figure. This figure is the one who represents the idea and function of the adversary or rebellion through time and civilization, which in this case is named Satan. The literary figure, such as Satan found in Paradise Lost by John Milton fits more with their beliefs of rebelling than the one found in mythology.

The aim of the Temple is to counter oppressive religion, especially when it comes to intolerance and preference in schools and government.  The organization is primary non-theist, as the members do not generally believe or bow to any deities. They promote benevolence, reason, and rational inquiry disconnected from religious mythology. Since they aren’t religious, they do not perform ceremonies or practice magic like the Church of Satan. There isn’t a plan for a church or space, since they don’t bow to any God/Goddess, and rejected the idea posed by the audience of having a baphomet statue in a shrine or erected in Salt Lake unless the dominate Christian faith, Mormonism or otherwise, tries to enshrine in law, school, or for the public religious rules and statues. Examples of this push back against religious agendas can be seen with the ten commandments monument erected in Oklahoma in 2015 at the state capitol building. The Satanic Temple protested and was in the process of erecting a baphomet statue when suddenly the ten commandments monument was declared illegal and removed under cover of night.

The temple will try to do community service and fun activities, like an upcoming “unbaptism” Sunday, July 24 at Club Metro which will be a performance for those who wish to undo their old baptism ($10 entrance fee and selling your soul to the Devil is required at the door, which is pure irony since they don’t believe in Satan as an ungod, so no actual souls are going to be sold).

Membership is simple, simply submit an online form, no fee required. They are seeking active members to help with events, but encouraged passive members. They also encouraged allies to the Temple, people who can share events or like their page on Facebook/Instagram. They did warn the audience that associating with the Temple comes with a “scarlet letter” due to society’s reaction to Satan.

A question and answer period was after the presentation, with many questions in the audience ranging from “Can a person be a left hand Pagan and join?” to “Since it’s for Utah, anyone want to carpool from outer areas to attend events in SLC?” No protesters or anti Satanist were present. Attendance was about 50 people.

Satanic Temple-Utah open meeting, brochure, Salt Lake City Public Library, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

Satanic Temple-Utah open meeting, L to r (table): Aaron Shea, Paul Black, Autumn Rogers, Chalice Blyth, Salt Lake City Public Library, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

Satanic Temple-Utah open meeting, Chalice Blyth talking about the seven tenets, Salt Lake City Public Library, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

Satanic Temple-Utah open meeting, attendees, Salt Lake City Public Library, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

Satanic Temple-Utah open meeting, attendees, Salt Lake City Public Library, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

Satanic Temple-Utah open meeting, attendees, Salt Lake City Public Library, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT