The Satanic Temple vs. the Church of Satan

The rise of the Satanic Temple in Canada.

It was a Wednesday evening in Ottawa, and around two dozen people had gathered for the biweekly meeting of the Satanic Temple. Some were there in secret, fearful of getting fired from their jobs or being shunned by their families for associating with such a group.

While his Ottawa group is the only official chapter of the Satanic Temple in Canada, a number of unofficial groups — called Friends of the Satanic Temple — have been popping up across the country over the last year. They aim to become official chapters, but must first go through an official vetting process. And that takes time.

New Satanists on the block.

Within a year of its formation, the Satanic Temple achieved notoriety for hosting a “pink mass” at the gravesite of the mother of Fred Phelps, founder of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church. The “pink mass” was an example of extreme trolling, and involved same-sex couples kissing over the grave as a ceremony to make Phelps’ mother “gay in the afterlife."

As for whether the Satanic Temple has staying power, specifically in Canada, Holt said that remains to be seen. But because the Temple is tackling important and topical issues of the day, that will contribute to its longevity and relevance. 

“A new religion always emerges as a response to negotiating the demands of modern society. They are emerging as something they see as lacking,” Holt said. “They are always reflecting contemporary ideas. As long as they continue to be invested in challenging those issues, I certainly think they will have an audience for that. Whether or not that lasts five, 10, 100 years, no scholar knows.”

Nicholas Marc

As for the future of the Satanic Temple in Canada, Nicholas Marc says the group will continue to do charitable work locally and advocate for women’s rights — this includes donating feminine hygiene products to shelters as part of their Menstruation for Satan program. 

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