Book SummarySpeak of the Devil, by Joseph P. Laycock

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Speak of the Devil

Origins, Growth, and Dynamics of the Satanic Temple

Founding and Early Development of the Movement Around the Satanic Temple

This section focuses on the genesis of TST, from its somewhat humorous beginnings to its evolution into a genuine social and religious movement, spurred by events that highlighted the growing political power of conservative evangelicals in America.

The Satanic Temple, Founded in 2013 by Doug Mesner (aka Lucien Greaves) and Malcolm Jarry, Critiques Christian Privilege

Laycock introduces us to the founders of TST, Malcolm Jarry and Doug Mesner (who later takes on the pseudonym Lucien Greaves). Both men, graduates of Harvard, shared a growing concern over the escalation of political influence by evangelical conservatives during the George W. Bush era. Their first collaboration, called "The Satanic Temple," stemmed from Jarry's anger about Bush's executive order creating the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which funneled federal money to religious organizations for charitable work. Jarry's central critique was that this system would never allow a group representing Satanism to participate and that many evangelicals would likely prefer to shut down the program altogether rather than see federal money go to Satanists.

This insight prompted their first political action, conceived by Jarry and executed with Mesner and film director David Guinan, in early 2013. They traveled to Florida, where Governor Rick Scott had signed a bill permitting students to read "inspirational messages of their choosing" at school events, and held a rally praising Scott for inadvertently promoting Satanic beliefs in public education. They donned Satanic garb, distributed parody religious tracts, and delivered speeches extolling Satanism's virtues. Their intent was to highlight the contradiction of a statute that purported to welcome all viewpoints while implicitly intending to privilege the dominant Christian majority.

Practical Tips

• Create a personal manifesto that outlines your core beliefs and values, drawing inspiration from the clarity and purpose you see in organizations like The Satanic Temple. This exercise can help you articulate what you stand for and guide your decisions. You might include stances on social issues, personal goals, or ethical guidelines you want to live by.
• Create a peer mentorship group with a focus on academic excellence and professional development. By gathering a group of like-minded individuals who aspire to the standards of top-tier university graduates, you can collectively work on projects, share resources, and motivate each other to achieve high levels of success in your respective fields.
• You can start a reading group focused on political history to better understand the context of evangelical conservatives' influence. Gather a small group of friends or community members to read and discuss books that cover the political landscape of different eras, including the George W. Bush era. This will provide a broader perspective on how political groups rise to influence and the impact they have on policy and society.
• You can express your stance on political decisions by writing to your elected representatives to share your concerns or support for specific initiatives. When you write, be clear about the issue, use personal stories or data to support your position, and ask for a specific action or response. For example, if you disagree with a policy similar to the creation of a government office that you feel oversteps certain boundaries, articulate why you believe this and what you think would be a better approach.
• Engage in local community meetings or public forums to voice concerns about religious favoritism. By presenting well-researched arguments and proposing policy changes that promote religious neutrality, you can contribute to the dialogue and advocate for a more equitable approach to all religious organizations.
• Volunteer for a local political campaign or advocacy group that aligns with your values to gain hands-on experience. Even without specialized skills, you can contribute by doing tasks like phone banking, canvassing, or helping with administrative work. This will give you a better understanding of the political process and how grassroots movements can influence change.
• Volunteer to serve on your school district's curriculum review committee to directly influence the educational content. As a member, you can advocate for a balanced and inclusive curriculum that reflects a wide range of beliefs and perspectives, ensuring that inadvertent promotion of specific beliefs is minimized.
• Create a "viewpoint diversity" book club with friends or colleagues. Choose books or articles that present perspectives different from your own or the dominant cultural narrative. Discussing these works in a group setting can foster understanding and appreciation for different viewpoints.

The Temple of Satan: A Mock Religion Becomes a Serious Movement

Initially, their rally drew accusations of being a publicity stunt or a "hoax," particularly after Guinan announced he was casting a "parody documentary about the world's friendliest Satanic Cult." The event's humorous aspect, intentionally crafted to expose legal and social inconsistencies, contributed to this image. Laycock argues that this type of critique makes a genetic fallacy, claiming that although TST's origins may seem farcical, this doesn't rule out its later evolution into a serious, sincere movement. In fact, he points out that TST's foundational objective, articulated in that first rally—to highlight and challenge Christian privilege within systems purported to be neutral and universal—remains aligned with all their subsequent activities.

A turning point in TST's trajectory occurred in July 2013 with their "Pink Mass," a deliberate act of retaliation against Westboro Baptist Church's practice of picketing funerals....

Speak of the Devil Summary Satanic Temple's Impact on Religion's Meaning and Boundaries

This section analyzes how TST is challenging traditional beliefs about religion, particularly the notion that religious liberty applies only to those who hold supernatural beliefs. Through its provocative lawsuits and political campaigns, TST has sparked a national debate over what “religion" means within the context of First Amendment rights.

The Satanic Temple's Provocative Claims to Religious Status

Laycock examines the way that TST's insistence on being classified a legitimate religion—despite its rejection of supernatural beliefs and an embrace of parodic elements—has prompted public discourse on how "religion" is defined in America and who deserves religious freedom.

The Satanic Temple Asserts Its Legitimacy as a Faith Despite Public and Religious Skepticism

TST's insistence that it is a "real religion" despite its rejection of supernatural beliefs has been met with significant pushback and skepticism from society and from other Satanic organizations, such as CoS. Critics frequently highlight TST's provocative stunts and legal campaigns, accusing the organization of being political rather than spiritual, or of merely "trolling" to get attention. According to...

Speak of the Devil Summary The Satanic Temple's Tactics to Assert Religious Identity and Legitimacy

This section unpacks three different "ideal categories" of activism that TST employs to advance its goals. Laycock argues that while these categories do not neatly encapsulate all of TST's strategies, they provide a template for understanding the theoretical framework that guides the organization's choices and actions.

The Satanic Temple's "Culture Jamming” and Transgressive Performance

The most impressive social actions deployed by TST involve artistic performances that shock audiences and challenge established norms. According to Laycock, these tactics are particularly effective in revealing the hypocrisy of a dominant group that claims to be more moral and tolerant than the marginalized group. However, Laycock notes, these actions could inadvertently reinforce dominant narratives, particularly because art is polysemous.

Controversial Rituals Challenge Christian Dominance

Laycock presents this mode of activism as a modern evolution of what theorists in the 1950s called “détournement” - a French term encompassing methods of “de-turning” and re-purposing cultural material and institutions such as museums, billboards, newspapers, and political slogans. A key element...