Deborah Chan
Satanist weddings are joyful affairs that celebrate shared Satanist values, such as individuality, equality, mutual respect, compassion, and love. There are two well-known religious Satanic organizations in the US: The Church of Satan, founded in the 1960s, and The Satanic Temple, a younger and more active group. These organizations are unaffiliated and hold differing views and rituals, including those for weddings. The Satanic Temple does not worship Satan or believe in the Devil or supernatural beings, and instead, values reason, empathy, and the pursuit of knowledge. While The Church of Satan does not mention weddings on its website, The Satanic Temple offers legally ordained ministers to officiate weddings in every state. These weddings can take place at their Salem, Massachusetts headquarters, known as The Little Black Chapel, or at other venues like a couple's home, a public park, or a graveyard.
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What You'll Learn
- The Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple are different organisations with different beliefs
- Satanists do not worship Satan or believe in the Devil
- Satanist weddings celebrate shared values, including individuality, equality, and mutual respect
- Satanist weddings do not include patriarchal traditions, like vows to 'honour and obey'
- The Satanic Temple offers legally ordained ministers to officiate weddings
The Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple are different organisations with different beliefs
The Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple are two distinct organisations with differing beliefs and philosophies. The Church of Satan, founded in the 1960s by Anton Szandor LaVey, was the first mainstream organisation to practice Modern Religious Satanism. LaVey's philosophy, as outlined in his Satanic Bible, centres around Social Darwinism, where humans are likened to wolves, justifying their actions to survive and thrive. This philosophy emphasises individualism, self-interest, anarchy, and hedonism. The Church of Satan holds that "true Satanism" is apolitical and opposes the campaigns of The Satanic Temple, claiming that they have misappropriated Satanism.
On the other hand, The Satanic Temple, a younger and more active congregation, holds beliefs inspired by 18th-century Enlightenment values. They emphasise reason, empathy, the pursuit of knowledge, social equity, community responsibility, compassion, agnosticism, scientific fact, bodily autonomy, and honesty. Their first tenet states, "One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason." They actively engage in campaigns to preserve and advance secularism and individual liberties.
The Satanic Temple does not require specific rituals and allows members to create their own, adhering to the TST tenets. Similarly, Satanic weddings performed by The Satanic Temple ministers are personalised and unique, with no established traditions. Couples are encouraged to incorporate rituals meaningful to them, such as exchanging vows, handfasting, candle lighting, or sword exchanges.
In contrast, the Church of Satan has not outlined specific wedding practices, but they generally oppose patriarchal wedding traditions. Weddings can be held in unofficial venues like homes, parks, graveyards, or landmarks, with an ordained officiant of the couple's choice.
While both organisations identify as Satanic, their interpretations of Satanism differ significantly, leading to a philosophical schism between them.
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Satanists do not worship Satan or believe in the Devil
The modern phenomenon of self-identified Satanism is largely attributed to the founding of the Church of Satan in the 1960s by Anton LaVey in the United States. LaVeyan Satanism is an atheistic group that does not believe in a supernatural Satan. Instead, Satan is used as a symbol or metaphor, representing a rebellion against arbitrary rules and authority. Most Satanists are non-theists and view Satanism as a liberation from traditional theistic beliefs, valuing nonconformity and revolt against superstition and arbitrary authority.
There are, however, different sects within Satanism, including Theistic Satanists who believe in a real Satan or some variant, and Non-Theistic Satanists who are usually spiritual atheists. The Satanic Temple, for example, does not worship Satan or believe in the Devil, and instead values "reason, empathy, the pursuit of knowledge," social equity, compassion, agnosticism, and honesty.
Satanic weddings, therefore, do not involve the worship of Satan or belief in the Devil. These weddings tend to celebrate shared values such as individuality, equality, mutual respect, compassion, and love. Couples are encouraged to incorporate rituals that are meaningful to them, making each Satanic wedding unique. While there are no established Satanic wedding traditions, some common rituals include handfasting, candle lighting, and sword exchanges.
In conclusion, while the term Satanism may evoke strong associations with the worship of Satan or the Devil, it is important to understand that Satanists themselves do not adhere to this interpretation. Satanism, for its followers, represents a rejection of traditional religious beliefs and a celebration of individual freedom and nonconformity.
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Satanist weddings celebrate shared values, including individuality, equality, and mutual respect
Satanist weddings are joyful affairs that celebrate shared values, including individuality, equality, and mutual respect. These values also include "reason, empathy, the pursuit of knowledge," and are aligned with social equity and community responsibility, compassion, agnosticism, scientific fact, bodily autonomy, and honesty.
There are no established Satanic wedding traditions, and couples are encouraged to incorporate rituals that are meaningful to them, making each Satanic wedding ceremony unique. Weddings need not take place at a temple, and couples often choose to hold their weddings in 'unofficial' venues, such as their home, a public park, a graveyard, a historic landmark, or another location with personal significance.
The Satanic Temple, for example, offers a range of rituals that can be added to any wedding package, such as handfasting, libation, and blood rituals. The Satanic Temple does not require any specific rituals, but members are free to participate in rituals that are personally meaningful, adhering to the Temple's tenets and tailored to meet individual or local needs.
The Church of Satan, on the other hand, does not appear to have an official position on weddings, as it is an atheist organization. However, any ordained wedding officiant can perform a wedding that celebrates a couple's Satanic values if they are comfortable doing so.
In conclusion, Satanist weddings are a celebration of shared values, with an emphasis on individuality, equality, and mutual respect. Couples are free to create their own unique rituals and choose venues that hold personal significance, making their wedding day a reflection of their beliefs and values.
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Satanist weddings do not include patriarchal traditions, like vows to 'honour and obey'
Satanist weddings are joyful affairs that celebrate shared values. These values include individuality, non-conformity, authenticity, equality, mutual respect, compassion, honesty, and love. As such, Satanist weddings do not include the patriarchal traditions found in many 'traditional' and religious weddings, such as vows to 'honour and obey'. Instead, couples are encouraged to incorporate rituals that are meaningful to them, making each Satanic wedding ceremony unique and personal.
There are no established Satanic wedding traditions. However, some rituals that couples might choose to include are joint wedding vows, handfasting, candle lighting, sword exchanges, special readings, or other unique rituals. For example, some Satanic weddings include blood rituals or the sharing of a chalice of wine or absinthe.
The Satanic Temple in Salem, Massachusetts, offers a Weddings & Ceremonies Program, which includes options such as an intimate candlelit elopement or a larger gathering in an art gallery. The Satanic Temple does not have any required rituals, but members can choose to participate in rituals that are personally meaningful. There is no absolute "right" way to perform any of them, and they are typically composed by members themselves, adhering to the Temple's tenets.
Any ordained wedding officiant can perform a wedding that celebrates a couple's Satanic values. Weddings can take place in unofficial venues such as homes, public parks, graveyards, or other locations with personal significance. Couples may ask a friend or relative to get ordained online to perform their wedding ceremony.
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The Satanic Temple offers legally ordained ministers to officiate weddings
The Satanic Temple (TST) offers legally ordained ministers to officiate weddings. The TST website states that its ordained ministers can legally officiate weddings in every state in the United States. To become a TST-ordained minister, one must be a Satanist, a member of TST, and an active participant in the community. The ordination program launched in early 2021 and is currently offering ordination to members who are active volunteers for a campaign or congregation.
The Satanic Temple does not have any required rituals, but members can choose to participate in rituals they find personally meaningful. These rituals are typically composed by members, adhering to TST tenets, and tailored to meet individual or local needs. Some rituals include the Black Mass, Unbaptism, and Destruction Ritual.
Satanic weddings performed at a recognized Satanic Temple are officiated by a Minister of Satan. Weddings can also take place in unofficial venues such as homes, public parks, graveyards, or historic landmarks. Couples are encouraged to incorporate rituals that are meaningful to them, making each Satanic wedding unique. These rituals may include handfasting, candle lighting, sword exchanges, or special wedding readings.
While The Satanic Temple does offer legally ordained ministers, it is not the only option for Satanic weddings. Any ordained wedding officiant can perform a wedding that celebrates a couple's Satanic values if they are comfortable doing so. Couples may also choose to have a friend or relative get ordained online through another recognized church or organization to perform their wedding ceremony.
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Frequently asked questions
Satanist weddings are joyful affairs that celebrate shared Satanist values, such as individuality, equality, mutual respect, compassion, honesty, and love. They do not include patriarchal traditions like the 'giving away' of the bride or vows to 'honour and obey'. Couples are encouraged to incorporate rituals that are meaningful to them, such as handfasting, candle lighting, sword exchanges, or blood rituals.
The Church of Satan is an atheist organisation that does not perform sacrifices or worship Satan. They do not have any required rituals and members do not believe in the existence of the Devil or the supernatural. There is no information to suggest that the Church of Satan performs weddings. However, any ordained wedding officiant can perform a wedding that celebrates a couple's Satanic values.
The Satanic Temple has a weddings and ceremonies program at its headquarters in Salem, Massachusetts. Their ordained ministers can legally officiate weddings in every state in the United States. The venue is described as perfect for gothic weddings, with staff who are praised for their helpfulness and professionalism.
Couples can choose to hold their Satanist wedding in unofficial venues such as their home, a public park, a graveyard, or another location with personal significance. They can ask a friend or relative to get ordained online with a recognised church or organisation to perform the ceremony.
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