{"id":174,"date":"2021-07-24T12:01:33","date_gmt":"2021-07-24T19:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/queersatanic.com\/?p=174"},"modified":"2021-07-24T12:01:33","modified_gmt":"2021-07-24T19:01:33","slug":"what-the-hell-is-the-satanic-temple-ep-1-salem-art-gallery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/?p=174","title":{"rendered":"What the hell is \u201cThe Satanic Temple\u201d?\u200a\u2014\u200aEp. 1: Salem Art\u00a0Gallery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When you\u2019re a member of The Satanic Temple trying to explain what it is to someone, your job is pretty simple. You quote any number of media-guide-approved explainer articles written by a safe, TST booster.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Members of The Satanic Temple do not believe in God or the devil. Its beliefs are articulated in \u201cthe seven tenets.\u201d These tenets emphasize reason and science as well as values such as compassion and justice.<br>\u2014<em>Joseph P. Laycock, \u201c<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-the-satanic-temple-is-and-why-its-opening-a-debate-about-religion-131283\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em>What Is The Satanic Temple<\/em><\/a><em>\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, when you\u2019re <em>not<\/em> a member of TST and you want to <em>accurately<\/em> describe what \u201cThe Satanic Temple\u201d is to someone, the job is considerably more difficult. So much so, it\u2019s hard not to sound like you\u2019ve gone a bit peculiar soon after you get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/880\/0*c5kFIEsUFIfcaawP.png\" alt=\"Pepe Silvia meme. Charlie from \u201cIt\u2019s Always Sunny In Philadelphia\u201d pointing at papers on wall connected by string but they\u2019re labeled \u201c64 Bridge LLC\u201d, \u201cUnited Federation of Churches LLC\u201d, \u201cThe Satanic Temple Inc\u201d, etc\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell you see, the for-profit <a href=\"https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=United_Federation_of_Churches,_LLC\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">United Federation of Churches LLC<\/a> does business as \u2018The Satanic Temple\u2019, but the old name of the non-profit church \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=The_Satanic_Temple_Inc\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Satanic Temple Inc<\/a>\u2019 was <em>also<\/em> just \u2018The Satanic Temple\u2019, so you have to go by <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.irs.gov\/app\/eos\/detailsPage?ein=823404757&amp;name=Satanic%20Temple&amp;city=Salem&amp;state=MA&amp;countryAbbr=US&amp;dba=&amp;type=CHARITIES,%20DETERMINATIONLETTERS&amp;orgTags=CHARITIES&amp;orgTags=DETERMINATIONLETTERS\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">federal EIN<\/a> and secretary of state <a href=\"https:\/\/corp.sec.state.ma.us\/CorpWeb\/CorpSearch\/CorpSummary.aspx?sysvalue=9kp5dqzTSt0jbYQEV9kdTrdyMdQESXrgfmSeiovjbt8-\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ID number<\/a> for corporations to keep them separate, especially since they share a website and physical address&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just very normal, very cool, very on-the-level religion things, obviously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those are all real companies, and some have interesting intersections with TST, but seven in particular come up regularly: five for-profit corporations, one nonprofit, and another nonprofit church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=64_Bridge_LLC\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>64 Bridge LLC<\/strong><\/a>, d\/b\/a \u201cSalem Art Gallery\u201d<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=Spectacle_Films_Inc\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Spectacle Films Inc<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=United_Federation_of_Churches,_LLC\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>United Federation of Churches, LLC<\/strong><\/a>, d\/b\/a \u201cThe Satanic Temple\u201d<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=Reason_Alliance,_Ltd\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Reason Alliance, Ltd<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>(nonprofit)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=The_Satanic_Temple_Inc\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The Satanic Temple Inc<\/strong><\/a>, formerly \u201cThe Satanic Temple\u201d (nonprofit church)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=Cinephobia_LLC\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cinephobia LLC<\/strong><\/a>, owner of TheSatanicTemple.TV<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=Winstonian_Enterprises_Ltd\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Winstonian Enterprises Ltd<\/strong><\/a>, owner and operator of \u201cThe Satanic Estate\u201d and its TST Virtual Headquarters<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, let\u2019s see if we can make our way through all of these various, overlapping and interlocking legal entities one-by-one, and then see if we can make sense of what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because \u201cthat which can be destroyed by truth should never be spared its demise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">64 Bridge LLC d\/b\/a \u201cSalem Art&nbsp;Gallery\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>For more information, see <a href=\"https:\/\/href.li\/?https:\/\/the.satanic.wiki\/index.php?title=64_Bridge_LLC\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The.Satanic.Wiki<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is not necessarily the most prominent or most important of all entities connected to The Satanic Temple and its owners, but it has a good case for being the most <em>revelatory<\/em> of what\u2019s going on and how they really operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is because <strong>Sixty Four Bridge LLC is a for-profit corporation owned by one person that seemingly owns just one property<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/DcJqSh1eztXt8ZXm8\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">64 Bridge St, Salem, MA 01970\u20134131<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That property is the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salemartgallery.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Salem Art Gallery<\/a>\u201d, which is co-extensive if not identical to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/thesatanictemplesalem.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Satanic Temple\u200a\u2014\u200aSalem<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s <em>also<\/em> the official and seeming HQ for at least four of the other companies in the above image: the self-described \u201cinternational headquarters for The Satanic Temple\u201d (both for-profit <strong>United Federation of Churches LLC<\/strong> d\/b\/a \u201cThe Satanic Temple\u201d and <strong>The Satanic Temple Inc<\/strong>, the nonprofit church); <strong>Reason Alliance, Ltd.<\/strong>, the public nonprofit; <strong>Cinephobia LLC<\/strong>, owner of TheSatanicTemple.TV; and finally, it is the mailing address for Colorado-registered company <strong>Winstonian Enterprises Ltd.<\/strong>, owner and operator of \u201cThe Satanic Estate\u201d and its TST Virtual Headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the situation in Colorado shows, an unknown number of other corporations, particularly ones registered in states with tighter disclosure laws, might <em>also<\/em> do business out of the address in some way, but without being announced\u2014like <a href=\"https:\/\/manage.kmail-lists.com\/subscriptions\/web-view?a=VLExP9&amp;c=01EJ9JV32TB06Z44BHYDCGBH5A&amp;r=wx6pNb2&amp;m=TAJ4Ne&amp;k=aae58bc7e73618704533bd22008134e7\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">in a newsletter<\/a>\u2014these legal entities wouldn\u2019t just be impossible to find; they\u2019d be impossible to even know of to look for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, public records for the United States\u2019 federal <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/coronavirus\/bailouts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> (PPP) for the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic indicated that only one company at that address\u200a\u2014\u200aindeed, only one in that above image\u200a\u2014\u200aapplied for loans. That company was <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/coronavirus\/bailouts\/loans\/sixty-four-bridge-llc-8208227105\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sixty Four Bridge LLC<\/a>, which received $52,000 for four jobs. The loan was entirely forgiven, meaning the company met its requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/queersatanic.com-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1024x377.png\" alt=\"64 Bridge LLC PPP loan for $52,900 with amount forgiven equaling $53,501\" class=\"wp-image-983\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So something about this is special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The entire theory of change that The Satanic Temple pitches to members is that it uses the courts to fight and achieve \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/QueerSatanic\/status\/1419155453611810819\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">meaningful, constructive changes<\/a>\u201d; supposedly, it achieves practical victories by using the courts to take advantage of existing local, state, and federal religious liberty laws but for the benefit of religious minorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But after <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/QueerSatanic\/status\/1418107286334103554\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">endless rebellions<\/a> against the national\u2019s attempts at authoritarian control, TST\u2019s top leaders don\u2019t trust local orgs at all and have become even more centralized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Therefore, 64 Bridge LLC is absolutely essential to TST\u2019s capacity to argue in court that it\u2019s a legitimate religion (e.g. \u201cdoes this org <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universalhub.com\/comment\/848744#comment-848744\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">have standing in a local invocation matter<\/a>?\u201d); it is the owner of the physical structure that houses most TST-related entities\u2019 physical headquarters but also houses TST\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/explore\/tags\/baphometstatue\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram props<\/a> n\u00e9e <a href=\"https:\/\/roadtrippers.com\/magazine\/satanic-temple-salem-art-gallery\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">failed public monuments<\/a> like titless Baphomet, and their various gift shop kitsch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow, TST national leaders and local managers ignore and obfuscate from the lay membership the very <em>existence<\/em> of this legal entity as well as its relationship to TST, likely because the <em>sole owner<\/em> wants it that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>That\u2019s<\/strong> <strong>the second, subtler thing that makes Sixty Four Bridge LLC so important to everything else TST does<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/corp.sec.state.ma.us\/CorpWeb\/CorpSearch\/CorpSummary.aspx?sysvalue=2MoAgNlaIfj5U8.xWbuGa5GiZ4vs37jSyDu58XXDKvc-\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">per its legal incorporation documents<\/a>, the entity is owned by only one person\u2014 Cevin Soling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even for people who are quite familiar with TST, this may come as a shock. Neither Lucien Greaves nor any of his pseudonyms (or his legal name) have any right to the building that TST is based out of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words, the guy that is treated like a semi-divine philosopher-king by his most loyal adherents can only continue to come into the office at the pleasure of a guy they\u2019ve never heard of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, some of them may have heard of \u201cMalcolm Jarry\u201d before, but other than being a \u201cco-founder\u201d and popping up to <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0428\/0465\/files\/Mahanoy_School_Board_Letter.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">shit on public schools<\/a> now and again, what does that guy even do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fact that Soling is actually \u201cJarry\u201d (and the single most important person within TST from a financial perspective) is not something he likes to have known about him, for whatever reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.villagevoice.com\/2014\/07\/22\/trolling-hell-is-the-satanic-temple-a-prank-the-start-of-a-new-religious-movement-or-both\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a 2014 Village Voice article<\/a> about The Satanic Temple, Soling has been identified as using the pseudonym \u201cMalcolm Jarry\u201d, and there\u2019s plenty of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2015\/07\/11\/us\/a-mischievious-thorn-in-the-side-of-conservative-christianity.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">suggestive<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/theaither.com\/2019\/07\/14\/culture-talk-shane-bugbee-discusses-satanism-his-latest-books-new-podcast-and-the-upcoming-days-of-rage-part-2-event\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">direct<\/a> photographic evidence as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/880\/0*sHZp9VQcYKy_B6ro.png\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Cevin Soling (a.k.a. \u201cMalcolm Jarry\u201d) exhibit \u201cWe\u2019ve Become What We Parody\u201d, July 7\u200a\u2014\u200aSeptember 19, 2021, at 64 Bridge St, Salem MA&nbsp;01970<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recently, Soling even began an exhibit(?) at The Salem Art Gallery under his own name called (with absolute self-awareness or none\u200a\u2014\u200ayou decide), \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20211127231601\/https:\/\/www.salem.org\/event\/cevin-soling-weve-become-what-we-parody-at-the-satanic-temple\/all\/?tribe-bar-date=2021-07-01\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">We\u2019ve Become What We Parody<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210707030021\/https:\/\/www.salemartgallery.com\/products\/cevin-soling-live\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cevin Soling\u200a\u2014\u200aLive!<\/a>\u201d, the one day, hour-and-a-half event (only $15, tickets non-refundable), this is how Soling describes himself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>In conjunction with <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210721085715\/https:\/\/www.salemartgallery.com\/pages\/exhibits-new\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em>We\u2019ve Become What We Parody<\/em><\/a><em>, join renowned writer, filmmaker, musician, academic, and artist Cevin Soling for a conversation about his process and practice, including a special musical performance featuring works from his band, The Love Kills Theory. Soling\u2019s artistic and academic work is ultimately about transcendence. His debut film, A Hole in the Head, documented a sub-culture who drilled holes in their heads to expand their state of consciousness. The troubling aspect was not so much these people\u2019s willingness to violate their own body in a dramatic manner. Rather, the procedure might work and the subsequent questions this raises about potentially improving brain function and how far one should go.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bio then goes on to list a bunch of other projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remarkably, none of those projects include The Satanic Temple or the fact that he owns the building everyone else will be sitting inside of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which probably is more relevant in terms of transparency (\u201cWow, Cev! How\u2019d you manage to get an exhibit of your art in here?\u201d) than letting people know you produced a film about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idfa.nl\/en\/film\/1c002491-1e9f-4153-9fdb-4f046c0b5f8b\/urine-good-health\/docs-for-sale\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">urine therapy<\/a> back in the late \u201990s, don\u2019t you think?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For all the importance that Lucien Greaves has as a recognizable figurehead, trotted out to talk about how great TST is and how it isn\u2019t your grandpa\u2019s bigoted ol\u2019 Church of Satan, it\u2019s important to remember that, while Cevin Soling trusts Lucien to handle <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20200307103037\/https:\/\/satanicliving.com\/for-satanists-a-new-lupercalia-tradition-is-born\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">soliciting nudes on Twitter for TST holidays<\/a>, Cevin still doesn\u2019t trust him enough to give him the legal keys to their professional home, which is a property assessed to be worth more than half a million dollars on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So when we ask, \u201cWhat is The Satanic Temple?\u201d, keep in mind that \u201cLucien Greaves\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/uspto.report\/TM\/88574615\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">is a trademark<\/a> shared by Soling and Doug Misicko through the next entity on our list: United Federation of Churches, LLC. But the address \u201c64 Bridge St, Salem, MA 01970\u20134131\u201d is owned by Soling solely, and almost no one who supports TST knows it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(Which may be part of <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@queersatanic\/why-you-havent-left-the-satanic-temple-4ad5c79a15e8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">why they haven\u2019t left The Satanic Temple<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Editor\u2019s Note: Added list of TST corporations Nov. 3, 2021<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you\u2019re a member of The Satanic Temple trying to explain what it is to someone, your job is pretty simple. You quote any number of media-guide-approved explainer articles written by a safe, TST booster. Members of The Satanic Temple do not believe in God or the devil. Its beliefs are articulated in \u201cthe seven&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[621,622,719,911,1048,15,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-64-bridge-llc","category-64-bridge-street","category-cevin-soling","category-malcolm-jarry","category-salem-art-gallery","category-the-satanic-temple","category-what-the-hell-is-the-satanic-temple"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qs.gehenna.ynh.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}