Posts Tagged ‘baphomet’
Report-The Satanic Temple Unbaptizes Salt Lake City!
Posted in Other, Satanism, tagged baphomet, mock ritual, The Satanic Temple, The Satanic Temple-Arizona Chapter, The Satanic Temple-Utah Chapter, Unbaptism on July 25, 2016| 4 Comments »
The Satanic Temple-Utah Chapter has been up and running since February of 2016. Holding regular open meetings at the public library, they have encouraged the community to think rationally and to consider the separation of church and state.
The temple hosted an unbaptism for Salt Lake City on Sunday, July 24, 2016 from 7-10pm at club metro. Cost was $10 at the door. Participants were required to sign their soul over to Satan, which protected the event from those unworthy of being unbaptized (meaning protesters). About thirty people participated, dipping hands in dry ice, having upside down crosses painted on their forehead in fake blood, or being lit on fire (members of the temple).Those conducting the rites were in ritual regalia (or none), with Baphomet watching in the background. Sketch Cabaret of Salt Lake City helped provide entertainment. The chapter head of Arizona, Stu De Haan, participated in the rite in support of the Utah Chapter.
From TST’s Facebook, they posted about the unbaptism
“Within many theocratic constructs, baptism is both the key to one’s salvation and a claim placed by the church on its members. This claim is purposefully imposed on infants or children too young to understand what is being asked of them, who are expected to forever be subservient to the theocracy of their upbringing. It is a vow to never question or seek out truth, a complete relinquishment of personal power, and a lifetime of servitude to a vengeful dictator.
But here, now, we stand before you and embrace the name of Satan not as a deity but as a symbol of rebellion against these impositions. A claiming back of our inherent right to personal sovereignty and morality. We are here to shed ourselves of our previous submissions and in doing so, we are reborn into our chosen life led by Satanic ideals of liberty, justice, benevolence, empathy, and common sense.”
The event had been well advertised, with flyers posted around the city from original artwork done by one of the core council member Autumn Rogers and online with digital art done by the art director of the Arizona chapter Morgan Elizabeth. The temple hopes to make it an annual event.
(Photos used by permission of The Satanic Temple-Utah Chapter)
Flyer for The Satanic Temple-Utah Chapter done by Autumn Rogers
Flyer for The Satanic Temple-Utah Chapter Unbaptism event by Morgan Elizabeth of the Arizona Chapter.
The Satanic Temple-Utah, Unbaptism, Sunday, July 24, 2016, Club Metro, Salt Lake City, UT
The Satanic Temple-Utah, l to r back- Chalice Blythe, Nathaniel, Autumn Rogers (mask), Stu De Haan (end), Unbaptism, Sunday, July 24, 2016, Club Metro, Salt Lake City, UT
The Satanic Temple-Utah, Unbaptism, Stu De Haan (left center) and Nathaniel (right center), set on fire, Sunday, July 24, 2016, Club Metro, Salt Lake City, UT
The Satanic Temple-Utah, Unbaptism, Chalice Blythe (center) and Autumn Rogers (mask), Sunday, July 24, 2016, Club Metro, Salt Lake City, UT
The Satanic Temple-Utah, Unbaptism, l to r- Chalice Blythe, participant, Autumn Rogers, Sunday, July 24, 2016, Club Metro, Salt Lake City, UT
Report-Satanic Temple of Utah Open Meeting May 21, 2016
Posted in literature, Other, religion, Satanism, tagged adversary, baphomet, Church of Satan, Club Metro, goth, Left hand Paganism, Open Meeting, Paradise Lost, rational inquiry, Satanic Temple, Satanic Temple-Utah, Satanism, SL Public Library, Ten Commandments Oklahoma, The Satanic Temple, Unbaptism, Watchtower Coffee on May 24, 2016| Leave a Comment »
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 Muad’Dib.
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, Shy Fox and attendees, Salt Lake City Public Library, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT