Satanic Temple

The Satanic Temple (TST) is a non-theistic group that was founded in 2013. It uses the figure of Satan to advocate for separation of church and state, lest all religions be equal under the law including Satanism.

Though TST has chapters spread throughout the United States, it lacked a flagship temple until the fall of 2016 when the organization opened its headquarters in Salem, Massachusetts. The temple is the organization’s first location that’s open to the public.

The temple houses an art museum, and a gift shop. Much of the art is a critique on organized religion. There’s even a library featuring literature about the Satanic Panic that spread throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Lucien Greaves is the spokesperson for the Satanic Temple.

A documentary was made of the Satanic Temple sect by Penny Lane in 2018 called "Hail Satan?".

On April 25, 2019, it was announced that the Satanic Temple had officially received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, being classified as a "church or a convention or association of churches."

In 2026, a federal judge ordered that the Satanic Temple be allowed to hold a holiday event at the state Capital in Des Moines, Iowa. The Satanic Temple has been barred from the event by Iowa Republican leaders in years prior. Although, a figure of Baphomet was included in 2023 at the Iowa State Capital and was vandalized quickly after installation. The statue and vandalization has increased scrutiny of the group.

See Also

Vertical File in Salem Collection - Satanic Temple, The

Satanic Temple Atlas Obscura

• "Judge orders Iowa to allow Satanic Temple to hold event" The Salem News, Nov. 5, 2026, p. A07