Fighting Violence with Understanding
Beyond the Satanic Panic: Fighting Violence with Understanding
by Djin
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The world seems determined to set itself on fire lately, and we're not interested in adding fuel to the blaze.
Our organization stands firmly against political violence, ideological violence, religious violence, and violence used to intimidate, silence, or coerce others. Instead, we employ reason, compassion, bodily autonomy, justice, and the freedom to challenge ideas—not to harm people.
We believe understanding is earned through intentional listening, critical thinking, and civil conversation—not shouting matches, purity tests, or threats. We encourage people to question ideas, challenge assumptions, and examine evidence wherever it leads. Our tradition of open inquiry stands in sharp contrast to periods of history when questioning religious authority could invite persecution, imprisonment, or even execution. We have no interest in reviving that mindset under any banner. We are not another group of voices calling for bloodshed. Our fight is against harmful ideas, not against people.
So, if we authentically condemn violence, why is Satanism so often associated with it? Much of that connection can be traced back to the Satanic Panic—a wave of fear and moral hysteria that swept through the United States, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s, fueled by sensationalized stories about supposed Satanic crime and ritual abuse. The media and popular culture helped amplify these fears, while movies, television, music, and horror fiction further Hollywoodized the image of Satanists as violent, murderous, and inherently evil. Although much of that mythology has long been debunked or discredited, those fictional portrayals continue to shape how many people understand Satanism today.
Violence has no place in any of our global TST congregations. Our first and fourth tenets emphasize compassion, reason, and peaceful coexistence across all species, with self-defense as the exception. That commitment to nonviolence extends beyond our tenets and into the campaigns, programs, and communities we build. From initiatives like the Save the Children campaign to After School Satan Club, our work is focused on protecting individual rights, empowering communities, and creating positive change—not causing harm.
This is an opportunity to remind our community—and anyone reading—that our values are rooted in critical thinking, empathy, and individual liberty. The loudest voices don't always represent the wisest ones.
We're doing all we can to help change that.
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