Recent turmoil within The Satanic Temple (TST) has left many of its followers and observers bewildered. The organization, known for its provocative activism and dedication to secularism, has found itself embroiled in internal strife, prompting significant departures and factionalism among its ranks.
At the heart of the controversy is Lucien Greaves, one of TST’s co-founders and its most prominent spokesperson. Greaves made headlines when he announced the cancellation of Satancon, an event that was supposed to be a focal point for TST’s activities. Instead, he declared that the organization would shift its focus to a “Year of Unity,” a move met with skepticism and confusion among members.
Tensions reached a boiling point when a member and minister from Canada took to social media to lampoon Greaves’ leadership, questioning the substance of the purported “Year of Unity” with memes and satirical posts. In response, Greaves ejected the member from TST, igniting a firestorm of debate within the organization. As the shit continued to roll downhill, it gained speed. Greaves, meanwhile, maintained his policy of downplaying the drama, blaming “internal nobodies” for the problems.
The fallout from this incident exposed deeper fissures within TST. Some members rallied behind Greaves, defending his authority to maintain order within the organization. Others criticized his decision, arguing that it stifled dissent and undermined the principles of autonomy and free expression that TST purportedly champions. TST is a politically progressive organization, and many of its members identify as leftists, who are notably anti-hierarchical.
As the controversy raged on social media platforms like Reddit, Facebook, and Twitter, resignations flooded in from various volunteer positions within TST, particularly from the ordination council, which saw a significant exodus of members.
Perhaps most damning was the resignation of the head of SatanOps, TST’s IT department, amid allegations of unauthorized access and surveillance of members’ data—a development that further eroded trust in TST’s leadership.
Adding fuel to the fire was the emergence of a detailed document chronicling the upheaval within TST, complete with screenshots of private messages and allegations of breaches of conduct. The document, shared both internally and with Greaves himself, intensified divisions within the organization.
Greaves exacerbated tensions by appearing on a podcast to defend his actions, unapologetically asserting his authority and dismissing dissenting voices—a move that alienated many within TST and prompted a wave of defections.
In response to the turmoil, several TST chapters across the United States and abroad declared their independence, severing ties with the central organization—a dramatic rebuke of Greaves’ leadership and a testament to the depth of discontent within TST’s ranks.
Critics accuse Greaves of fostering a cult of personality and prioritizing his own interests over those of the organization and its members. They argue that his heavy-handed approach has undermined TST’s core values of inclusivity and grassroots activism, driving away longtime supporters and tarnishing its reputation.
Despite the upheaval, the future of TST remains uncertain. With factions emerging and alliances shifting, the organization faces a critical juncture that will test its resilience and its commitment to the principles it espouses at a critical moment in the nation’s history, where a competent and unified TST is needed.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the fallout from this internal strife is far from over, and its implications for TST and its members are profound and far-reaching.
WriteLeft 