“Hellbillies: Visible Satanism in Rural America” and other presentations
May 20, 2023 3:31 AM Subscribe
BBC: “...where local people have asked it to, it tries to launch an After School Satan Club, focused on community service, science, crafts and critical thinking. Opponents say it's frightening children, but TST says its content is demon-free. They have a kids' song - My Pal Satan - with a bopping animated goat, and the lines: 'Satan's not an evil guy, he wants you to learn and question why. He wants you to have fun and be yourself - and by the way there is no hell.'” Courthouse News: “Good-natured Satanists defy expectations in Boston.” Axois: “These aren't your grandfather's satanists.” WBUR: “The group says it chose Boston because of an ongoing lawsuit against the city.” Reuters photoset.
Hail Satan on Netflix is a nice look at the way the Church of Satan approaches church and state issues.
posted by warriorqueen at 4:07 AM on May 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by warriorqueen at 4:07 AM on May 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
Oops, sorry, The Satanic Temple.
posted by warriorqueen at 4:14 AM on May 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by warriorqueen at 4:14 AM on May 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
Honestly, between The Satanic Temple cropping up more and more in schools and the increasing friendliness that conservatives are displaying towards Russia....I'm feeling like everything I accepted as "the way things are" in the 1980s is being reversed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:24 AM on May 20, 2023 [33 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:24 AM on May 20, 2023 [33 favorites]
Heck, just remembered I wrote about a lovely coven of Satanists in rural Leicestershire, on MetaTalk way back in 2017 (which seems like a lifetime ago). I should return and see if they are still making and selling excellent chocolate cake; wonder if their leader still faints at the sight of blood.
posted by Wordshore at 4:28 AM on May 20, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by Wordshore at 4:28 AM on May 20, 2023 [10 favorites]
TST says its content is demon-free
Pfeh. Satanism without demons is like ice-cream without sugar. Where's the fun? Every kid should be given a copy of the Dictionnaire Infernal! Those illustrations sustained me as a misunderstood highschooler!
posted by mittens at 7:14 AM on May 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
Pfeh. Satanism without demons is like ice-cream without sugar. Where's the fun? Every kid should be given a copy of the Dictionnaire Infernal! Those illustrations sustained me as a misunderstood highschooler!
posted by mittens at 7:14 AM on May 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
Come on, we can't let ***Satanism*** be coopted by liberals and capitalism! wtf?
posted by abucci at 7:52 AM on May 20, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by abucci at 7:52 AM on May 20, 2023 [5 favorites]
The ASS clubs are a direct response to Christian after-school clubs, as mentioned ITFA. Some of those Christian clubs are really pernicious. They rent space in public schools and tacitly pass themselves off as school-affiliated, sometimes with the help of like-minded teachers.
One in my area was telling kids that all their friends were going to hell unless they joined the club. They had kids as young as kindergarten in the club.
ASS is fun and quirky and all, but it was started at least in part to shine a light on the nastiness that Christian clubs get away with in public schools. I hope all the quirkiness doesn't drown out that message.
posted by gurple at 7:53 AM on May 20, 2023 [20 favorites]
One in my area was telling kids that all their friends were going to hell unless they joined the club. They had kids as young as kindergarten in the club.
ASS is fun and quirky and all, but it was started at least in part to shine a light on the nastiness that Christian clubs get away with in public schools. I hope all the quirkiness doesn't drown out that message.
posted by gurple at 7:53 AM on May 20, 2023 [20 favorites]
There was an ad from some christian organization, “Satan says ‘Believe in yourself’, Jesus says ‘Believe in me.’”
That Satan sounds like a good influence.
posted by hwyengr at 8:00 AM on May 20, 2023 [30 favorites]
That Satan sounds like a good influence.
posted by hwyengr at 8:00 AM on May 20, 2023 [30 favorites]
I always enjoy TST's antics, but I have this nagging half-memory that they'd also sort of Milkshake Duck-ed. Did I imagine that? I really don't want to non-specifically slag them and it'd be great if they were still something I could confidently feel good about.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:15 AM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:15 AM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
From Wikipedia:
A group later known as HelLA formed in 2018, following a rift based on ethical concerns; the Los Angeles chapter objected to TST's acceptance of pro-bono legal work from the free speech lawyer Marc Randazza, as well as "the complete lack of racial diversity" among TST leadership. The ex-chapter head also cited a disagreement with Lucien Greaves' "absolut[ist]" philosophy on free speech.
Not great, but definitely not quite the full Milkshake Duck. They're not going to be getting my money, but I do get a feeling that they're fighting the good fight even if they're not a perfect organization.
posted by explosion at 8:42 AM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
A group later known as HelLA formed in 2018, following a rift based on ethical concerns; the Los Angeles chapter objected to TST's acceptance of pro-bono legal work from the free speech lawyer Marc Randazza, as well as "the complete lack of racial diversity" among TST leadership. The ex-chapter head also cited a disagreement with Lucien Greaves' "absolut[ist]" philosophy on free speech.
Not great, but definitely not quite the full Milkshake Duck. They're not going to be getting my money, but I do get a feeling that they're fighting the good fight even if they're not a perfect organization.
posted by explosion at 8:42 AM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
"Why don't we have a kids' song with a bopping animated goat?"
"The big blue is not a normal blog, you can't downvote, you have to slog, through endless comments in the log - and by the way, there's no UI."
posted by metametamind at 8:52 AM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
"The big blue is not a normal blog, you can't downvote, you have to slog, through endless comments in the log - and by the way, there's no UI."
posted by metametamind at 8:52 AM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
I really want to hear a Mountain Goats' song titled "I’m the only Satanist on Martha’s Vineyard."
posted by heyitsgogi at 9:01 AM on May 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by heyitsgogi at 9:01 AM on May 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
The one thing that always got me about the Church of Satan is that you can't be a member if you're a felon. So if you have any actual real deal bad impulses, you gotta be a Christian.
posted by kingdead at 9:05 AM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by kingdead at 9:05 AM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
The Satanic Temple sponsors cleanup of a highway on-ramp in the western Cleveland suburbs and it’s a delight to see.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:14 AM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:14 AM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
Mod note: Couple of comments removed. Posting a jokey comment as the first comment is best avoided on more serious posts and please try to keep comments on topic as opposed to issues not mentioned in the original post.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 9:25 AM on May 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 9:25 AM on May 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
There was an ad from some christian organization, “Satan says ‘Believe in yourself’, Jesus says ‘Believe in me.’”
That Satan sounds like a good influence.
It makes perfect sense to me that Satanism, the worship of an embodiment of concentrated evil, should have a kind and benevolent underside.
Because that completes it as a mirror image of Christianity.
Consider one of the most dominant overarching metaphors of Christianity: believers as the flock tended by the Lord, who is the shepherd.
'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want'; 'the sheep may safely graze', etc. All that.
But what is the true relationship of sheep and shepherd?
Yes, the shepherd may herd you out to grassy areas and let you eat your fill, protecting you from wolves with a tribe of other wolves he has enslaved just the way he enslaved you, and who have been bred to be subservient and less intelligent than their wild counterparts just like you have.
And he will slaughter you and your youngest offspring whenever he gets hungry, castrating almost all the males even though they are destined to be slaughtered at the end of the growing season anyway, because they taste better that way, and allowing a few more of the females to survive and be bred with a male of his choosing rather than theirs.
And it's not like Christians this metaphor was designed to appeal to did not know these things. They couldn’t not know them because they were right in their faces all the time.
Somehow, Christians are able to maintain their faith and live in denial of that dark underside which is anything but hidden or even obscured.
I don’t know, it’s like that awful, horrific underside which is right out in the open but you still manage not to grasp is actually an essential element of anything humans are willing to believe as a matter of faith.
posted by jamjam at 9:51 AM on May 20, 2023 [19 favorites]
That Satan sounds like a good influence.
It makes perfect sense to me that Satanism, the worship of an embodiment of concentrated evil, should have a kind and benevolent underside.
Because that completes it as a mirror image of Christianity.
Consider one of the most dominant overarching metaphors of Christianity: believers as the flock tended by the Lord, who is the shepherd.
'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want'; 'the sheep may safely graze', etc. All that.
But what is the true relationship of sheep and shepherd?
Yes, the shepherd may herd you out to grassy areas and let you eat your fill, protecting you from wolves with a tribe of other wolves he has enslaved just the way he enslaved you, and who have been bred to be subservient and less intelligent than their wild counterparts just like you have.
And he will slaughter you and your youngest offspring whenever he gets hungry, castrating almost all the males even though they are destined to be slaughtered at the end of the growing season anyway, because they taste better that way, and allowing a few more of the females to survive and be bred with a male of his choosing rather than theirs.
And it's not like Christians this metaphor was designed to appeal to did not know these things. They couldn’t not know them because they were right in their faces all the time.
Somehow, Christians are able to maintain their faith and live in denial of that dark underside which is anything but hidden or even obscured.
I don’t know, it’s like that awful, horrific underside which is right out in the open but you still manage not to grasp is actually an essential element of anything humans are willing to believe as a matter of faith.
posted by jamjam at 9:51 AM on May 20, 2023 [19 favorites]
So if you have any actual real deal bad impulses, you gotta be a Christian.
I think you might have yourself a false dichotomy there.
posted by biffa at 2:11 PM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think you might have yourself a false dichotomy there.
posted by biffa at 2:11 PM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
She says she first learned about TST through TikTok
And another one of my dark hairs turned white.
posted by doctornemo at 2:15 PM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
And another one of my dark hairs turned white.
posted by doctornemo at 2:15 PM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
The group says it chose Boston because of an ongoing lawsuit against the city.
No, it's clearly because the experience of driving in Boston is so infernal.
posted by doctornemo at 2:21 PM on May 20, 2023 [7 favorites]
No, it's clearly because the experience of driving in Boston is so infernal.
posted by doctornemo at 2:21 PM on May 20, 2023 [7 favorites]
But what is the true relationship of sheep and shepherd?
With bright knives he releaseth my soul
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places….
posted by TedW at 2:45 PM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
With bright knives he releaseth my soul
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places….
posted by TedW at 2:45 PM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
Why Detroit Has the Largest Satanist Temple Chapter in the US
posted by clavdivs at 6:49 PM on May 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by clavdivs at 6:49 PM on May 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
They're suing one former chapter and subjecting them to heavy legal bills. [...] Satan would be disappointed in them.
It seems unlikely that Satan would ever be disappointed in somebody hiring lawyers.
posted by whir at 11:58 PM on May 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
It seems unlikely that Satan would ever be disappointed in somebody hiring lawyers.
posted by whir at 11:58 PM on May 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
My immunocompromised ass couldn't help but notice that masks seemed to be required at SatanCon, in contrast with the recent CDC conference or every single local religious congregation with which I am familiar.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:12 AM on May 21, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 4:12 AM on May 21, 2023 [5 favorites]
Confirmation:
Satancon attendees must be 18 or over and have proof of COVID vaccination. Attendees must wear an N-95, KN-95, or disposable surgical mask. Gaiters, bandanas, and cloth masks will not be allowed.posted by hydropsyche at 4:13 AM on May 21, 2023
It seems unlikely that Satan would ever be disappointed in somebody hiring lawyers.
No businessman likes to see customers flocking to the competition.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:41 AM on May 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
No businessman likes to see customers flocking to the competition.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:41 AM on May 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
I like thinking about Satan in the old way: that he was and is God's chief investigator & prosecuting attorney.
The horror film Let Us Prey features Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos from Game of Thrones) as a version of the devil who targets those who have it coming. The writer/director says as a young Catholic he used to wonder: if Satan only punishes bad people, why would he be a bad guy?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:23 AM on May 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
The horror film Let Us Prey features Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos from Game of Thrones) as a version of the devil who targets those who have it coming. The writer/director says as a young Catholic he used to wonder: if Satan only punishes bad people, why would he be a bad guy?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:23 AM on May 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
In 'The Prophecy', Lucifer was an unwitting ally. The real trick is getting Satan back into his box without him ever knowing it.
posted by clavdivs at 6:36 PM on May 21, 2023
posted by clavdivs at 6:36 PM on May 21, 2023
Milkshake duck? Oh, so now we're cancelling Satan for being evil?
posted by straight at 8:57 PM on May 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by straight at 8:57 PM on May 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
I like thinking about Satan in the old way: that he was and is God's chief investigator & prosecuting attorney. And in heaven, there's nothing wrong at all about entrapment. Think of the Satan from the Book of Job.
Sometimes Satan is "the accuser" or "the adversary" in the Bible, but mostly he's "the tempter" a figure who temporarily has power to do or inspire evil in the world. But he's not the ruler of hell, just destined to be it's most notorious prisoner. Dante pictures him in the lowest level of hell trapped in ice unable to move or speak.
posted by straight at 9:45 PM on May 21, 2023
Sometimes Satan is "the accuser" or "the adversary" in the Bible, but mostly he's "the tempter" a figure who temporarily has power to do or inspire evil in the world. But he's not the ruler of hell, just destined to be it's most notorious prisoner. Dante pictures him in the lowest level of hell trapped in ice unable to move or speak.
posted by straight at 9:45 PM on May 21, 2023
I like thinking about Satan in the old way: that he was and is God's chief investigator & prosecuting attorney.
See also Neil Gaiman's short story Murder Mysteries. There a particularly good comics adaptation by P. Craig Russell too.
posted by Paul Slade at 2:43 AM on May 22, 2023
See also Neil Gaiman's short story Murder Mysteries. There a particularly good comics adaptation by P. Craig Russell too.
posted by Paul Slade at 2:43 AM on May 22, 2023
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[Here's the Soundcloud audio of theirs.]
Fun fact: London had a 1970s pub band called The Blubbery Hellbellies. They were good too.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:01 AM on May 20, 2023 [2 favorites]