SatanCon is the annual convention of the

Satanic Temple The Satanic Temple, often abbreviated TST, is a nontheistic religious organization that is primarily based in the United States, with additional congregations in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Co-founded by Lucien Greaves, the orga ...

, a

non-theistic Nontheism or non-theism is a range of both religious and nonreligious attitudes characterized by the absence of espoused belief in the existence of god or gods. Nontheism has generally been used to describe apathy or silence towards the subject o ...

religious organization which uses

Satan Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an entity in the Abrahamic religions that seduces humans into sin or falsehoo ...

ic imagery to advocate for

egalitarianism Egalitarianism (), or equalitarianism, is a school of thought within political philosophy that builds from the concept of social equality, prioritizing it for all people. Egalitarian doctrines are generally characterized by the idea that all hu ...

social justice Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, Equal opportunity, opportunities, and Social privilege, privileges within a society. In Western Civilization, Western and Culture of Asia, Asian cultures, the concept of social ...

, and the

separation of church and state The separation of church and state is a philosophical and jurisprudential concept for defining political distance in the relationship between religious organizations and the state. Conceptually, the term refers to the creation of a secular sta ...

. The conventions combine traditional conference-style educational panels with social events, arts, and a marketplace.

Background

The Satanic Temple is a non-theistic religious organization founded in 2013. It uses

ic imagery, humor, and legal tactics to advocate for the

critical thinking Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgement. The subject is complex; several different definitions exist, which generally include the rational, skeptical, and unbiased an ...

reproductive rights Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to human reproduction, reproduction and reproductive health that vary amongst countries around the world. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows: Reproduct ...

, abolishing

corporal punishment in schools School corporal punishment is the deliberate infliction of physical pain as a response to undesired behavior by students. The term corporal punishment derives from the Latin word for the "body", . In schools it may involve striking the student on ...

, and other causes. It does not believe in a supernatural Satan, but uses the idea of Satan and the public's reaction to the concept as a metaphorical or satirical tool to challenge religious authority and advocate against what it views as

injustice Injustice is a quality relating to unfairness or undeserved outcomes. The term may be applied in reference to a particular event or situation, or to a larger status quo. In Western philosophy and jurisprudence, injustice is very commonly—but ...

History

The first SatanCon, with about 300 attendees, took place February 11–13, 2022, at the Saguaro Hotel in

Scottsdale, Arizona , settlement_type = City , named_for = Winfield Scott , image_skyline = , image_seal = Seal of Scottsdale (Arizona).svg , image_blank_emblem = City of Scottsdale Script Logo.svg , nick ...

. The location was chosen based on a 2016 incident in which a member of the Satanic Temple requested to deliver an

invocation An invocation (from the Latin verb ''invocare'' "to call on, invoke, to give") may take the form of: *Supplication, prayer or spell. *A form of possession. * Command or conjuration. * Self-identification with certain spirits. These forms a ...

for the Scottsdale City Council and was denied. The Temple filed a legal challenge alleging religious discrimination, but lost the case and subsequent appeal. The convention was dedicated to the former mayor, Jim Lane, and former councilmember Suzanne Klapp. The convention's theme was "

Lupercalia Lupercalia was a pastoral festival of Ancient Rome observed annually on February 15 to purify the city, promoting health and fertility. Lupercalia was also known as ''dies Februatus'', after the purification instruments called ''februa'', the b ...

in Scottsdale" and sessions focused on human rights, social justice, and the organization's activities and programs. The second convention, marking the organization's 10th anniversary, took place April 28–30, 2023, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts. It was sold out, drawing about 800 attendees. The location was chosen for similar reasons as the first convention, dedicating it to Boston Mayor

Michelle Wu Michelle Wu ( zh, t=吳弭, first=t; born January 14, 1985) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the mayor of Boston, mayor of Boston, Massachusetts since 2021. She is a member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

, whom it was suing for religious discrimination. The Temple sued Wu and the City of Boston over their rejection of the organization's request to deliver one of the city council's traditional invocations, a decision the Temple likewise characterized as discrimination. The event used the theme "

Hexennacht Walpurgis Night (), an abbreviation of Saint Walpurgis Night (from the German ), also known as Saint Walpurga's Eve (alternatively spelled Saint Walburga's Eve), is the eve of the Christian feast day of Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess in ...

in Boston". Programming included panels, mixers, a "Satanic Marketplace", and music, combining traditional conference panels with arts and community-oriented social events.

Protests

At the first year's event, hundreds of Christians protested the convention holding crucifixes, crosses, and signs denouncing Satan, although the Satanic Temple does not involve belief in the supernatural Satan. In its second year, the

Archdiocese of Boston The Archdiocese of Boston ( la, Archidiœcesis Bostoniensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in the New England region of the United States. Its territorial remit encompasses the whole of ...

said it was responding to the event with "intense prayer" and a

Christian revival Christian revivalism is increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a church congregation or society, with a local, national or global effect. This should be distinguished from the use of the term "revival" to refer to an evangeli ...

event called Revive Boston was organized in response to SatanCon's "weekend of blasphemy", involving several forms of worship and evangelism. The convention again drew protesters, including a group organized by pastor

Greg Locke Gregory Duane Locke (born May 18, 1976) is an American Christianity, Christian pastor. He is the founder of Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Early life Locke was born in Donelson Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1976. ...

and a group from the

white nationalist White nationalism is a type of racial nationalism or pan-nationalism which espouses the belief that white people are a raceHeidi Beirich and Kevin Hicks. "Chapter 7: White nationalism in America". In Perry, Barbara. ''Hate Crimes''. Greenwoo ...

organization

Patriot Front Patriot Front is an American white nationalist and neo-fascist hate group. Part of the broader alt-right movement, the group split off from the neo-Nazi organization Vanguard America in the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally in 2017. P ...

. Protesters held signs with

anti-LGBTQ Anti-LGBT rhetoric comprises themes, catchphrases, and slogans that have been used against homosexuality or other non-heterosexual sexual orientations in order to demean lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. They range from the ...

anti-abortion Anti-abortion movements, also self-styled as pro-life or abolitionist movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in respo ...

, anti-

blasphemy Blasphemy is a speech crime and religious crime usually defined as an utterance that shows contempt, disrespects or insults a deity, an object considered sacred or something considered inviolable. Some religions regard blasphemy as a religio ...

, and other messages. Following the convention, the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. n ...

reported on viral

disinformation Disinformation is false information deliberately spread to deceive people. It is sometimes confused with misinformation, which is false information but is not deliberate. The English word ''disinformation'' comes from the application of the ...

spread on social media in the form of AI-generated images depicting children learning about Satanism at SatanCon, where there were no such events.

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/satancon-home Annual events in the United States The Satanic Temple Conventions in Boston Conventions in Arizona