PL: Thefi lm shows TST as being passionately
involved in current affairs; some Satanists
(and some Christians) argue that religion
should be‘apolitical’. Doyou believe that
religion must be present on the public stage?
LG: I see TST not as a force demanding the
presence of religion on the public stage, but
rather we are acknowledging religion’s pre-
existing encroachment into public affairs while
offering a counterbalanceagainst a heretofore
unchallenged privilege enjoyed by Christian
nationalists. TST has never demanded
representation in a public forum where there
were not already religious displays or activities
taking place. In fact, I personally feel that it
would be best if religion were left out of public
forums. But if religion is already present, it is
our duty to see that pluralism is respected,
and ensure that one viewpoint is not enjoying
exclusive access to the public commons.
PL: Satanism celebrates independent
thought, which has prompted some Satanists
to criticise TST for promoting a left-leaning,
libertarian political perspective...
LG: Satanism is a socio-political mythological
framework that provides a narrative regarding
the fall of DarkAge feudalistic Christendom
and the rise of Enlightenmentvalues:
democratic ideals of individual liberty,
pluralism, and free inquiry. Satan as an
icon of revoltagainst tyranny has political
implications.We believe in secular pluralism:
a viewpoint-neutral government that respects
religious diversity and is limited from imposing
preferential regard for, or restrictionsagainst,
any one religious perspective, including non-
belief, over another.To me, it is senseless to
say that religion should be apolitical, and that
we, as a religion, must remain entirely silent
as a religious majority invades secular politics
in an attempt at a theocratic coup.We are not
“leading byexample” if we do nothing.
That said, TST has consistently stood onvery
clear principles without blindly embracing
political fads on the left or right. While some
on the right believe they denigrate us by
calling us“Satanic JusticeWarriors” some on
the left have developed a conspiracy theory
that we are secretly alt-right because we
advocate non-violent activism. Similarly, we
advocate Free Speech, whichwas a distinctly
leftist cause till recent times, and now it is
believed by some that a respect for Free
Speech is merely an endorsement of the most
odious forms of Hate Speech.Political fads
will come and go, but Satanism is here to stay.
PL:People sometimes mixyou up with the
Church of Satan. However, there are some
significant differences between the two most
prominent Satanic organisations today. What
are they and areyou in dialogue together?
LG: The Church of Satanwas never terribly
big, nor were they ever terribly active. They
did, however, cultivate avery strong belief that
they hold a monopoly over all things Satanic
and have waxed apoplectic every time we have
been in the news. They cannot seem to grasp
why TST isgaining all of this international
attention for activities that impact current
affairs while nobody is interviewing them
about their“ritual chambers”. They have tried
desperately to delegitimise us and spread
false information about us. Their real objection
is that we identify as Satanists while they
claim to holdexclusive rights on Satanism.
We are not in dialogue with them and, frankly,
there is nothing that could begained from any
alliance with them.PL: The‘seven tenets’ of TST focus on
compassion, empathy and the nobility of
human life. These seem almost Christlike in
their outlook. Fundamentalist evangelicals
notwithstanding, would the TST feel an
affinity to the more loving and progressive
interpretations of Jesus?Satanism is something that has developed
into its own set of affirmativevalues devoid
of any compulsory disdain for Christianity. Our
fi ght isagainst superstition and theocracy.
To be clear, we would push back just as hard
againstanyorganised attempt to legislate
preference for a particular religion as we do
against the Christian nationalists in the US.
When we held ourrally for religious pluralism
in Arkansas, which serves as the climactic
scene inHail Satan?, my own speechwas
preceded by a speech delivered by a Christian
minister whom we invited, and who fully
understood who we are and the importance of
our message. Despite attempts by theocrats
to present themselves as representatives
for the entirety of the Christian faith, there
have been no shortage of Christians who
themselvesraised their voices in objection to
pandering politicians claiming ownership of
their faith and trying to impose it upon others.
There are so many conflicting interpretations
of Jesus --ranging from theradical communist
to the pious conservative -- that it would be
strange if we did not have an overlap invalues
with some of them.PL: TST is non-theistic, but speaking purely
hypothetically, wouldyou like there to bea
real Satan, or indeed a real God?Personally, I am comfortable living ina
Universe that is not ordered upon the arbitrary
whims of divine beings. I see beauty ina
Universe constructed upon evolutionary
principles, bottom-up,rather than top-down by
an omniscient consciousness. The answers
are ours tofi nd, the discoveries ours to
make, our futures our own to navigate. While
I acknowledge that we can never be 100 per
cent certain of anything, uncertainty is not
carte blanche to propose equal legitimacy
for bizarre and grossly improbable claims
with what can be empirically supported.
That said, however, I am most drawn to the
outliers and anomalies, and I am always
deeply interested in that which challenges
entrenched assumptions. Not everything that
can be known is now understood, and I think
the Satanist generally embraces opportunities
to explore the unilluminated fringes.PL: The IRS has officially recognised TST as
a church, affording it tax-exempt status.
How significant is this victory, and what
breakthroughs areyou focusing on next?It is a significant victory, the immediate upshot
of which is that the State of Arkansas, whom
we are currently in litigationagainst,fi nds
that they must now abandon their entire
legal defenceagainst our claim of religious
discrimination. They were arguing that TST
is not a‘legitimate’ religious organisation,
and that therefore our claim of religious
discriminationwas moot. The IRS is the only
Federalagency that has any type of test for
determining religious legitimacy, and far be
it from Arkansas to impose some new and
self-serving set of standards of their own.
We are now recognised as a Church, and we
can claim equal access to allexemptions
and privileges conferred by that status. As
theocrats continue tofi ght toexpand the
benefits of “Religious Freedom” they will
be inadvertently aiding in a proliferation of
Satanism. Future historians will look back
and say that itwas an attemptedEvangelical
theocratic coup in the United States that
helped to birth a new Satanic era.Hail Satan?is reviewed on p69.FT383 43