The Satanic Temple is a non-theistic religious and political advocacy organization that uses Satanic imagery mainly as symbolism, not as worship of a literal devil. It was founded in 2013 and is best known for campaigning on church-state separation, civil liberties, and bodily autonomy.

What it believes

  • It does not require belief in supernatural Satan.
  • It emphasizes reason, empathy, scientific thinking, and personal autonomy.
  • It often uses satire and public activism to challenge religious favoritism in government.

Why people talk about it

The group often appears in the news because of high-profile legal and political actions, including disputes over monuments, school materials, and reproductive rights. That public-facing style makes it controversial, since some people see it as a serious civil-rights group and others see it as provocative performance activism.

Simple distinction

  • Not a devil-worshipping cult in the usual sense.
  • Yes to activism using Satanic symbolism and legal challenges.

A good one-line description is: it is a modern, non-theistic group that uses Satan as a symbol to push secularism, rights, and political protest.

TL;DR: The Satanic Temple is a secular activist religion/organization that uses Satanic imagery symbolically, not literally, to promote church-state separation and individual rights.