Editing The Satanic Temple (section)

== Schisms and internal dissent ==
The Satanic Temple has sparked the development of other Satanic religious organizations, whether amicably or through religious [[schism]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=Joseph P. Laycock|title=Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion|quote=In the summer of 2018, TST underwent a major shift with numerous chapters breaking away to form their own Satanic groups. Such schisms are common in the history of new religious movements, but it is significant that these groups remained interested in Satanism as a progressive religious and political movement.|chapter=The Day Satan Came to Oaklahoma|page=7.66|isbn=978-0190948498|doi=10.1093/oso/9780190948498.001.0001|date=2020-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Joseph P. Laycock|title=Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion|quote=Daniel Walker of Satanic Bay Area, a group allied with TST, explained, "We have this assumption that religion and theism are synonyms. If you can just get [the public] to understand that distinction that's sort of the Rosetta stone."|chapter=Religion or Trolls?|page=11.45|isbn=978-0190948498|doi=10.1093/oso/9780190948498.001.0001|date=2020-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.satanicbayarea.com/about/|title=About Satanic Bay Area|quote=We believe in the Seven Tenets of the Satanic Temple, but we are not a TST chapter and have no direct affiliation with them. We have no relationship with SF-based Satanist groups like the Temple of Set or old Church of Satan. Satanists and non-Satanists of all stripes are free to join us as long as they support our ideals.|access-date=2022-04-14}}</ref>

Prominent chapter leader [[Jex Blackmore]] left the organization in March 2018,<ref name="Aggeler">{{cite web | last=Aggeler | first=Madeleine | title=A Guide to All the Drama Roiling the Satanic Community | website=The Cut | date=2018-08-10 | url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/the-satanic-temple-drama-explained.html }}</ref> over statements deemed too extreme by the national TST organization. In a later interview, Blackmore criticized TST as corrupt: "The organization badly yearns to be deemed legitimate in the eyes of those in power but they will never achieve this aim, even if their litigious activities are successful. Our work, whatever it is, must come from a place of authenticity."<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-02 |title=JEX BLACKMORE INTERVIEW |url=https://interlocutorinterviews.com/new-blog/2020/11/2/jex-blackmore-interview |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Interlocutor |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Global Order of Satan]] was founded in 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalorderofsatan.com |title=Global Order of Satan}}</ref> following the departure of the TST-UK and London chapters, which had voted no confidence in TST. This schism was motivated by TST removing two consecutive UK chapter heads: the first for engaging in unapproved campaigns, and the second for "personality clashes".<ref name="Joseph P. Laycock 9.19-9.23" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalorderofsatan.com/history-and-background-of-the-global-order-of-satan/|title=History and background of the Global Order of Satan|quote=Officially formed on June 24th 2018, The Global Order of Satan was formed to be a worldwide collective of Satanists united under a shared set of life values & moral pillars. Our aim is to make the world we live in a better place through our actions and in doing so eliminate prejudice, injustice, and religious oppression.|access-date=2022-04-15}}</ref>

The group 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.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Joseph P. Laycock|title=Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion|quote=On August 4, the day after TST-UK departed, TST-Los Angeles announced that they were also leaving to form a new group that eventually became known as HelLa. In a statement, they specifically cited the Twitter lawsuit, which they viewed as a waste of resources, and the decision to work with Randazza. The statement read, "We believe Randazza is opportunistically using The Satanic Temple as both a shield and a lever as he continues to work on behalf of the alt-right, and we in the Los Angeles chapter want no part of this." It also cited, "the complete lack of racial diversity within leadership."|chapter=Satanic Schisms|page=9.24|isbn=978-0190948498|doi=10.1093/oso/9780190948498.001.0001|date=2020-02-17}}</ref><ref>Anna Merlan "[https://www.jezebel.com/the-satanic-temple-is-engulfed-in-a-civil-war-over-a-de-1828130997 The Satanic Temple Is Engulfed in a Civil War Over a Decision to Hire an Attorney With a Stable of Alt-Right Clients]" ''Jezebel'', August 7, 2018.</ref><ref>Joe Mullin "[https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/11/how-copyright-lawyer-marc-randazza-got-famous-lost-friends-and-went-broke/ Bribery, gay porn, and copyright trolls: The rise and fall of lawyer Marc Randazza]" ''Ars Technica'', November 5, 2015.</ref> The ex-chapter head also cited a disagreement with Lucien Greaves' absolutist philosophy on free speech.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Joseph P. Laycock|title=Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion|quote=Bel Citoyen, a former chapter head for TST-Los Angeles ... also took issue with the position of "free speech absolutism" advocated by Greaves, arguing, "The right to free speech doesn't mean the right to a platform."|chapter=Satanic Schisms|page=9.25|isbn=978-0190948498|doi=10.1093/oso/9780190948498.001.0001|date=2020-02-17}}</ref><ref name=sunshine>{{cite book|publisher=Routledge|author=[[Spencer Sunshine]]|title=Neo-Nazi Terrorism and Countercultural Fascism: The Origins and Afterlife of James Mason's Siege|year=2024|isbn=9780429576010|pages=413–417}}</ref>

Several "approved administrators" of the TST-Washington chapter left the Temple and took control of the chapter's social media pages in March 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.socialmedialawbulletin.com/2021/04/social-media-and-satan-pitfalls-of-losing-control-of-brand-social-media-accounts/|title=Social media and Satan: pitfalls of losing control of brand social media accounts|date=April 16, 2021 |quote=The Satanic Temple’s Washington Chapter has three social media accounts, all of which were maintained and controlled by members of the Temple who were “approved administrators,” and whose actions were subject to a written Code of Conduct from the Temple. ... In March 2020, the defendant administrators left the Temple and took control of its social media pages. They removed all other administrators approved by the Temple – effectively locking the Temple out of the accounts –  and posted manifestos claiming that Temple leadership are alt-right white supremacists who supported ableism and misogyny. The name of one secondary social media page was changed to “Evergreen Memes for Queer Satanic Friends.” On another social media page, they followed a number of extremist groups, in what the Temple characterized as an attempt to create a false impression of affiliation between the Temple and extremism.|access-date=2022-05-11}}</ref> TST responded with a lawsuit against the former members,<ref>{{Cite news |date=Oct 29, 2021 |title=Orgies, Harassment, Fraud: Satanic Temple Rocked by Accusations, Lawsuit |work=[[Newsweek]] |url=https://www.newsweek.com/orgies-harassment-fraud-satanic-temple-rocked-accusations-lawsuit-1644042 |access-date=December 12, 2023}}</ref> and subsequently sued ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine, claiming defamatory coverage of the matter.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Feb 28, 2022 |title=Satanic Temple sues Newsweek for defamation |work=[[Legal NewsLine]] |url=https://legalnewsline.com/stories/620997583-satanic-temple-sues-newsweek-for-defamation |access-date=December 12, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Volokh2023">{{cite web | last=Volokh | first=Eugene | title=Most Libel Claims by The Satanic Temple Against Newsweek Dismissed, But Not Claim Over Sexual Abuse Allegations | website=Reason.com | date=2023-03-09 | url=https://reason.com/volokh/2023/03/09/most-libel-claims-by-the-satanic-temple-against-newsweek-dismissed-but-not-claim-over-sexual-abuse-allegations/ | access-date=2023-12-13}}</ref>

Amidst a flurry of disaffiliations and resignations in May 2024, several state groups–including Colorado, Florida, and Minnesota–severed ties with the national TST organization.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Satanic Temple and its Eternal Nobodies | website=Queer Satanic | date=2024-05-28 | url=https://queersatanic.com/the-satanic-temple-and-its-eternal-nobodies/ }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=May 2024}} As TST Ministers raised internal criticisms, some dissenting groups formed the independent Coalition of Satanic Congregations.<ref>{{cite web | title=Coalition of Satanic Congregations | url=https://coalitionofsataniccongregations.org/ }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=May 2025}} A paper sculpture [[Phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]] drew ire at the [[Minnesota State Capitol]] in December 2024.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Cummings | first1=Caroline | last2=Moser | first2=Riley | title=Satanists' holiday display at Minnesota Capitol sparks outrage | website=CBS Minnesota | date=2024-12-16 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-capitol-satanic-holiday-display/ | access-date=2025-11-10}}</ref>