Devil's in details in Satanist v. Satanist spat

Even as Satanists around the country increase in boldness – scheduling a Black Mass in the heart of the Bible Belt and distributing literature to school children in Orlando – a battle is brewing over orthodoxy among followers of the dark side.

News that the Satanic Temple – the activist group known for working to build a monument to Satan at the Oklahoma State Capitol next to a monument of the Ten Commandments – plans to open its first chapter house in Detroit is drawing criticism from followers of the similarly named Temples of Satan.

"They are not Satanists," Cindy Fleming of the Oxford, Michigan-based Temples of Satan told the Detroit Free Press. "If they want to speak on behalf of a political agenda, they need to do it as the atheists they are. They do not need to use a religion. They don't believe in anything, any religion – so why are they using a religion to do it? That is hypocritical, it's an oxymoron and it's not even credible."

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Fleming's fiancé, Rev. Tom Erik Raspotnik, 49, agreed, criticizing Satanic Temple's atheism and left-leaning politics, noting his group honors the diety of Satan, is pro-life and believes in animal sacrifices.

"I would be like a tea-party Satanist," Raspotnik said,

Raspotnik said he had participated in tea-party activities, though he did not advertise his Satan-worshiping beliefs.

Satanic Temple members see Satan as a metaphor for the "eternal rebel in opposition to arbitrary authority," or a "metaphorical construct."

In January the New York-based Satanic Temple formally submitted its monument application to a panel that oversees the Oklahoma Capitol grounds, including an artist's rendering that depicts Satan as Baphomet, a goat-headed figure with horns, wings and a long beard. In the rendering, Satan sits on a pentagram-adorned throne with smiling children next to him.

The group made its offer of the statue after the legislature approved the placement of the Ten Commandments by a Christian group using its own funds.

"The monument has been designed to reflect the views of Satanists in Oklahoma City and beyond," temple spokesman Lucien Greaves said in a statement. "The statue will also have a functional purpose as a chair where people of all ages may sit on the lap of Satan for inspiration and contemplation."

In July Satanic Temple announced it was using the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision to promote their own political initiatives in support of abortion.

Citing the court's ruling allowing Hobby Lobby to opt out of providing contraceptives to employees on the basis of their religious beliefs, Satanic Temple said informed-consent laws, mandating that women considering abortions must be given state-approved literature about the procedure, constitutes a violation of its members' religious beliefs.

WND reported Tuesday Satanic Temple had been granted permission to pass out its literature to students in public schools in the Orlando, Florida, area after district officials declined to prohibit distribution of religious materials.

The Washington Times reported the planned effort by the Satanic Temple follows a decision to allow the distribution of Bibles and atheist materials as well.

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Temple spokesman Lucien Greaves told the Times: "We think the responsible thing to do is to ensure that these students are given access to a variety of differing religious opinions, as opposed to standing idly by while one religious voice dominates the discourse and delivers propaganda to youth.

"I am quite certain that all of the children in these Florida schools are already aware of the Christian religion and its Bible, and this might be the first exposure these children have to the actual practice of Satanism. We think many students will be very curious to see what we offer," Greaves added.

District officials say they reserve the right to review materials, but they already have allowed the World Changers of Florida to hand out Bibles and a team of atheists gave out material a year ago.

Temple members say they are preparing to distribute the "The Satanic Children's Big Book of Activities."

Temples of Satan's Fleming said the attention-grabbing Satanic Temple does not speak for all Satanists.

"They cannot, and nor do they, speak on behalf of the rest of the Satanic community, that believe in the creator, who we call Satan ... the one that predates Christianity," she said. "The one who is in the first creation epic, who fought the dragon Tiamat for mankind."

A third group, the Church of Satan, is also critical of Satanic Temple, despite being in agreement on atheism.

"We see nothing of value in the actions of this handful of individuals," High Priest Magus Peter Gilmore of the Church of Satan told the Free Press.

As further evidence of the schism among Satanists, Gilmore said his church applied the term "Satanist" only to its own members, dismissing others as "devil worshipers or demonolators."

WND also reported Tuesday two petitions have collected nearly 180,000 signatures of people opposed to a Satanic "Black Mass" in Oklahoma City.