With the recent SCOTUS decision allowing legal same-sex marriage throughout the USA, certain religious groups have rushed to condemn this position. In contrast, the Church of Satan welcomes this landmark ruling. During our Year 50 Conclave (held this past Walpurgisnacht in Washington, DC) our Reverend Lee Crowell, who resides in Virginia, discussed his successful 2012 legal battle to be allowed to officiate at weddings, one part of his responsibilities as an ordained Priest in the Church of Satan. While ministers of many faiths typically are granted this privilege without question, Crowell—a successful attorney—had to contest the initial denial, even though […]
religious freedom
14 posts
Church of Satan helps debunk Devil Worship claims. A census for the small town of Bolster in Derbyshire, England, had 17 pranksters write on their forms that they worshipped the “anti-christ.” This is typically a comical way to rile the local faithful folks since being a secularist or atheist tends not to be that shocking, these days. While we’ve had many members throughout the UK for quite a number of years, they are productive, law-abiding citizens who are generally liked and even admired by their friends, family and associates. They typically keep their affiliation secret because of public misperceptions, but […]
The organization that promotes reason and science to those who govern the US has some splendid thoughts for how one can assist to maintain the principles delineated in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and the US Constitution.
The Church of Satan celebrates our 50th year of offering an individualist, atheism-based, carnal alternative to the world’s spiritual doctrines on Religious Freedom Day. Visit our page to honor this day. You’ll find thought-provoking essays, video, music, and even merchandise and a contest! We invite you to share our joy in this American legacy of liberty! —Magus Peter H. Gilmore
Rabbi Jason Miller quite aptly points out the pitfalls of Michigan’s pending “Religious Freedom and Restoration Act” which would serve as a license for legalized bigotry. When I discussed the US Supreme Court’s decision in favor of Hobby Lobby in my essay “Mask Slippage,” I stated “Let this revealing behavior that has emerged since the SCOTUS decision be a clear warning to secular people that many religions are simply biding their time until the opportunities arise to recapture their dominance over those who are not of their ilk.” It seems “biding time” is ending. This emerging trend is also ringing […]