Satanic Temple spokesperson Lucien Greaves explained why Salem, famous for its witch trials in the 1690s, was a good fit for a satanist home.
“Salem emerged as an obvious choice to be established as the base for our operations,” he said. “In addition to Salem’s history and proximity to the intellectual hub, Salem is quaint, and quite lovely, and we intend to contribute to the cultural climate while maintaining the community’s high standards.” Greaves explained.
Inside the headquarters is a seven and a half foot tall bronze statue of Baphomet, the goat headed idol associated with Satanism.
The group made headlines in August after it launched “After School Satan” clubs for children in a number of cities across the US, including Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Washington DC. The clubs were launched in response to a Supreme Court ruling which allowed evangelical religious programs to operate in schools.
“Fundamentalist Christian organizations are trying to turn public schools into indoctrination camps for children,” the group explained. “With millions in funding and a team of aggressive lawyers, they have been successfully eroding the separation of Church and State.”
The Satanic Temple does not worship Satan but, according to its website, believers practice empathy, compassion and believe in individual sovereignty and the rejection of tyrannical authority.
This article was originally published in RT News.
