The leader of The Satanic Temple (TST) saw his own followers turn on him after he posted a picture with an atheist who criticized “crazy woke” LGBT activism.
Lucien Greaves, co-founder of The Satanic Temple, posed for a photo with atheist activist David Silverman, who describes himself as “ex-Left” and “ex-woke, but still left of center.”
“Thanks to my friend @LucienGreaves for a great tour for me and [another person] at @satanic_temple_! Great to see you again and thanks as always for your activism!” Silverman wrote in a June 5 post on X.
Thanks to my friend @LucienGreaves for a great tour for me and Kris @CShellska at @satanic_temple_ ! Great to see you again and thanks as always for your activism! pic.twitter.com/uCYDI6cUEl
— David Silverman (@MrAtheistPants) June 5, 2023
Silverman frequently posts about his skepticism of transgender ideology, sometimes retweeting posts criticizing transitioning children.
In June, he argued that it is not “anti trans” to say, “stay out of women’s showers and don’t groom kids.”
The photo of Silverman with Greaves drew instant backlash.
“People immediately hated on me, but they had no idea why,” Silverman told The Atlantic. “They just knew I was an outsider and therefore a hateful, anti-trans, evil person, and Lucien was guilty for knowing me.”
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Some Satanists called for Greaves to apologize, give up power, and state his support for transgender rights, The Atlantic reported.
Several factions of the Satanic Temple expressed their strong disapproval. All 41 members of the Satanic Temple in Britain voted to leave, rebranding themselves as Satanists in the Wilderness, the outlet reported.
The U.S. Satanic Temple’s Sober Faction, which says it runs sobriety programs “free from the pseudoscience and superstitious dogma” of mainstream programs, reportedly disapproved of the photo as well, eventually splitting off and denouncing “TST and the patriarchal, white supreme [sic] structure of its leadership.”
The controversy played out on social media as well.
“Satanic Temple founder Lucien Greaves poses with transphobe. This is a perfect example of what TST really is,” posted one X user who says one of his interests is “satanism.”
Greaves himself put out a statement dismissing the concerns as a “non-story.”
“I have no desire to dignify assumptions that claim I agree with individuals simply because I have interacted with them,” Greaves said in his statement, which he posted to X. “The focus must be on the work we are doing within TST to support our members, not a photo with someone whose opinions I did not vet prior to agreeing to take it.”
“I thought this went without saying, but I disagree with Tucker Carlson’s worldview, for the record,” the Satanic Temple leader said.
Silverman dismissed the criticism as well at the time, saying he disagrees with “crazy woke s***.”
“Lol. I’ve been a civil rights activist in support of trans people for 25 years, since before anyone was looking,” Silverman posted on X. “I also love my trans kid unconditionally. But sure. I disagree with some of the more crazy woke shit so I’m in the same category as those who throw trans kids out.”
Despite its name, members of The Satanic Temple do not actually believe in Satan — rather it is an atheist group that seeks to subvert Christianity’s role in American life.
Last year, The Satanic Temple sponsored “After School Satan” clubs, saying the clubs were a response to the Christian Good News Clubs at public schools across the country.