The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently recognized Satanic Temple as a legitimate organized religion under the federal state of the US government after they stand against the anomaly on the separation of the government and religion done by some churches.
After being declared officially, the Satanic Temple received several privileges given by the government such as tax exemption for the organization and the right to freely host some public events.
“We are pleased to announce that for the very (first) time in history, a Satanic organization has been recognized by the United States Federal Government as being a church." Satanic Temple said in their statement.
“This acknowledgement will help make sure the Satanic Temple has the same access to public spaces as other religious organizations, affirm our standing in court when battling religious discrimination, and enable us to apply for faith-based government grants.” They added.
This is not the first time that the organization movement has received the favor of the government, way back 2015 the Temple was allowed to build their own statue of Baphomet in Oklahoma alongside with the scuplted structure of the 10 commandments.
Contrary to what other people believe in about the Satanic Temple, they do not believe a single deity even do preach Satan or any other entities. They are unlikely to the practices done by the Church of Satan of Anton LaVey, who believes in magic while the temple do not. The Temple is more likely a political movement rather than a religious one.
They are pushing for freedom and justice, having the advocacy on secularism in US, LGBTQIA+ acceptance, and other relevant issues.
“The mission of The Satanic Temple is to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense and justice, and be directed by the human conscience to undertake noble pursuits guided by the individual will. Politically aware, Civic-minded Satanists and allies in The Satanic Temple have publicly opposed The Westboro Baptist Church, advocated on behalf of children in public school to abolish corporal punishment, applied for equal representation where religious monuments are placed on public property, provided religious exemption and legal protection against laws that unscientifically restrict women’s reproductive autonomy, exposed fraudulent harmful pseudo-scientific practitioners and claims in mental health care, and applied to hold clubs along side other religious after school clubs in schools besieged by proselytizing organizations.” Satanic Temple as they expressed their mission.
Published by Mark Lester, Lucis Philippines
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