What is TST?
TST is a national group of progressive atheists with chapters they call “congregations” across the United States.
On its website, TST states that it does not worship Satan, nor does it believe in the existence of the devil or any supernatural force or power. The group says on its website that it believes in “reason, empathy, [and] the pursuit of knowledge.” Its seven core tenets were also shown on the display in the Iowa capitol.
Undermining the fabric of American society
According to Picciotti-Bayer, the danger is that the TST founders have “set their sights on core places of the gathering of citizens.”
“They’re going after public schools, they’re going after our public facilities like our state capitols or even the U.S. Capitol, they’re trying to do that thinking that they can use the rich principles protecting religious freedom and free speech to kind of warrant what they’re trying to do,” she went on. “Sadly, they’ve got some funding to do that. So clearly, this is not just an annoying small group, but it’s a concerted effort to try to undermine the fabric of American society [by] manipulating our principles and the rule of law.”
Picciotti-Bayer said that TST has also become a growing threat to American society through its promotion of abortion as a “religious right” and its increasing presence in public schools.
She said that it’s important that government officials “draw the line” and that “if they’re going to make facilities open for public displays, that they are very clear that it needs to be for the good of the community and not for mocking what people hold dear, which is their religious beliefs.”
“To allow public displays from different community groups to celebrate the richness of our diversity does not mean that it opens the door for those places to be basically made fun of.”
In the case of the satanic monument at the Iowa state capitol, Picciotti-Bayer said she was “very heartened” that Gov. Reynolds “not only objected to it but asked for prayers.”
“Even though the leaders and the founders of The Satanic Temple disavow Satanism, the minute you let Satan in, we all know all sorts of havoc ensues,” she said.
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Despite the danger, Picciotti-Bayer said that concerned citizens can take action to push back.
“We need to support our elected officials to stand up to these kinds of manipulations,” she said, adding that “it’s important that officials feel emboldened by their voters and they feel like they have the backup to stand up to this kind of nonsense.”
“The other thing is, I do think we can’t diminish the importance of prayer,” she went on. “Even though the founders of The Satanic Temple claim not to really be Satanists … it’s something that we need to use our most powerful weapon, which is prayer, to fight against.”
TST did not reply to CNA’s request for comment by the time of publication.
Peter Pinedo is a DC Correspondent for CNA. A graduate of Franciscan University, Peter previously worked for Texas Right to Life. He is a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve.