The other day, one of my favorite Youtube channels, called Channel 5, posted another video wherein the host, Andrew Callaghan, interviewed various people attending (and protesting) a Satanic Temple gathering. The Satanic Temple (which is an atheistic "religion" of sorts that does a lot for charity and preserving our rights and liberties) was participating in its first major gathering since the Covid pandemic began, with its main focus set on the current issue of Roe Vs Wade. The Satanic Temple has been working tirelessly to ensure that women have access to healthcare, including contraception and, if necessary, abortion. 

For years, they’ve done their best to preserve the Separation of Church and State, by doing what Evangelical Christians in politics have been doing: showing off their religion (or, in the Satanic Temple's case, their satanic aesthetic). If people have the right to erect crosses and engrave bible passages in front of public buildings, then people have the right to unveil a statue of Baphomet in front of the Arkansas State Capitol. Needless to say, the Satanic Temple is certainly an interesting rabbit hole to fall down into. 

On the other side of the issue, Channel 5 interviewed a number of Christian protestors at the Satanic gathering as well. Long story short, I was honestly disturbed by how those people acted, and what they preached. I found myself siding with members of the Satanic Temple more and more. In fact, since watching that video, and doing some research on the Satanic Temple (among other churches and organizations), I may become a member of the Satanic Temple, as a genuine show of support for their cause. 

Don’t tell my grandparents I said that. 

For the record, the Satanic Temple doesn't actually practice Satanism. The Church of Satan is a true Satanic church. But they don't like the Satanic Temple for a number of reasons, including the Church of Satan's belief that the Satanic Temple has bastardized and mocked their beliefs. Why? Because, to be fair, the Satanic Temple is largely satire. They're basically a bunch of gothic atheists who spend their time and money standing up to conservative politics, advocating for religious freedom and body autonomy, and running a number of charities that help people in need. Of course, the Satanic Temple also hosts a number of gatherings every year, which always attract a lot of Christian protestors. 

In Channel 5's video, the way the protesting Christians acted towards and responded to the genuine concerns and pains members of the Satanic Temple had, frankly nauseated me. For instance, a woman (about my age) in a black dress, black makeup, and a spiked collar around her neck, proudly and fearlessly spoke to the camera about how she was abused by her family and members of her church. The church tried to cover things up, and went as far as to tell her that she was at fault, and the men who were abusing her just couldn’t control themselves because... well... that’s just how men are, apparently. But, when she discovered and reached out to the Satanic Temple, they swooped in to help her right away. They not only helped her in court, they got her and her mother a brand new apartment, a career, a new family within the Satanic Temple, and so much more. 

What did her church do? Nothing, except attempt to protect the abusers from prosecution, and blame her for their actions. 

And, what was a nearby so-called Christian’s response to her harrowing life story? “Well, in the Old Testament, it does say women are property, and kids become adults when puberty hits…”

Yeah. That might be one of the most despicable things I have ever fucking heard.

Had I been at that gathering and heard that “Christian” say that to a victim of every type of abuse under the sun, he would’ve left in an ambulance, and I would’ve been very proud of my assault charges. Before anyone calls me a hypocrite, didn’t Jesus flip tables and whack people with a horsetail whip when he saw them defiling a place of worship with their greed? Didn’t Jesus also say people who hurt the innocent ought to have a millstone tied to their neck and be thrown into the sea? Didn’t Jesus call the Pharisees “sons of serpents”, which is the equivalent of saying, “sons of bitches” in today’s language?

Just sayin’...