SatanCon

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Not to be confused with SantaCon.

SatanCon is a convention organized by The Satanic Temple, offering traditional conference-style educational panels alongside social events, arts, and a marketplace focused on Satanism, egalitarianism, social justice, and the separation of church and state.

Background

The Satanic Temple is a

corporal punishment in schools, and other causes.[1] It does not believe in a supernatural Satan, but uses the idea of Satan and the public's reaction to the concept as a metaphorical or satirical tool to challenge religious authority and advocate against what it views as injustice.[2][3]

History

The first SatanCon, with about 300 attendees, took place February 11–13, 2022, at the Saguaro Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona.[4][1] The location was chosen based on a 2016 incident in which a member of the Satanic Temple requested to deliver an invocation for the Scottsdale City Council and was denied. The Temple filed a legal challenge alleging religious discrimination, but lost the case and subsequent appeal. The convention was dedicated to the former mayor, Jim Lane, and former councilmember Suzanne Klapp.[5] The convention's theme was "Lupercalia in Scottsdale" and sessions focused on human rights, social justice, and the organization's activities and programs.[5]

The second convention, marking the organization's 10th anniversary, took place April 28–30, 2023, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place in

Hexennacht in Boston".[10] Programming included panels, mixers, a "Satanic Marketplace", and music, combining traditional conference panels with arts and community-oriented social events.[8][7][11]

Protests

At the first year's event, hundreds of Christians protested the convention holding crucifixes, crosses, and signs denouncing Satan, although the Satanic Temple does not involve belief in the supernatural Satan.

anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion, anti-blasphemy, and other messages.[2][11] Following the convention, the Associated Press reported on viral disinformation spread on social media in the form of AI-generated images depicting children learning about Satanism at SatanCon, where there were no such events.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c "SatanCon: World's 'largest gathering of Satanists' hails diversity, fellowship". USA Today. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  2. ^ a b c Swezey, Victor (2023-04-29). "Masked Neo-Nazis Crash World's Largest Satanic Event". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  3. ^ "SatanCon, poking at religion and government, opens this weekend in Boston". NBC News. 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  4. ^ a b Pitts, William (2022-02-12). "Satanic Temple holds inaugural convention in Scottsdale". KPNX. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  5. ^ a b "The Satanic Temple to hold 1st conference, SatanCon 2022, in Scottsdale". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  6. ^ Mutasa, Tammy (April 28, 2023). "SatanCon, the Satanic Temple convention, comes to Boston this weekend". CBS News Boston.
  7. ^
    WBUR
    . Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  8. ^
    Boston Globe
    . Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  9. ^ Matthew, Zoe (2023-04-26). "Satanic Temple co-founder on reclaiming Satan, and Boston's SatanCon this weekend". GBH News. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  10. ^ Rodriguez • •, Irvin (2023-04-29). "SatanCon 2023 Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary in Boston This Weekend". NBC Boston. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  11. ^ a b "The Satanic Temple: Think you know about Satanists? Maybe you don't". BBC. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  12. ^ Lewis, Kaitlin (2023-04-28). "Christians plan "ambush" of Satanic Temple's convention". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  13. ^ CNA. "Call to 'intense' prayer: Boston Archdiocese responds to Satanic Temple's convention". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  14. ^ Ramirez, Leon (2023-05-08). "AI-generated images of satanic kids' event misrepresented as real". Associated Press. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
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