A couple of weeks ago now, during an ongoing pitched and increasingly violent battle against theocratic incursions that now finds The Satanic Temple named directly as a target of both proposed rights-limiting legislation and violent threats, I was disgusted to see a group of our own ministers on Facebook denigrating the organization and myself for canceling our annual SatanCon in order to focus our resources on confronting this highly polarized election year. These particular ministers, it turns out, are dismissive at best, and openly hostile in some cases, against The Satanic Temple’s efforts to assert pluralism as a counterbalance against Christian Nationalist assaults on public spaces, including our lawfare to secure and preserve religious liberty for non-Christian religions and non-believers. Remarkably, these efforts for which The Satanic Temple is best known, were described by some of them as my own “pet legal projects,” even as others claimed that it is they who “do the work” that makes me “famous.”
This update fills me with so much joy, vindication, and more than a bit of schadenfreude. The fact that people think they have leverage to make demands or force negotiation was always laughably ridiculous. Hopefully you explaining that will be the nudge to get them to abandon their delusion and move on.
I really don't know what they think they are negotiating with, unless it really is simply the threats of theft and defamation. The worst offenders have intentionally worked to make sure nothing they do could be of benefit to the larger organization, and then they further attempted to conform others into that mentality, yet they are mystified that I can express relief at their departure.
Yup. I don't get it. I made a swath of them mad because I want to run a series of discussions on "Better Angels of Our Nature" and made it clear that if you didn't have knowledge of the book that these discussions weren't for you.
There's was a real sense of ownership and oversight that was never seceded to them which makes their accusing howls of arbitrary authority against you more than a little hypocritical.
I think their formula is simple: tyranny is only a function of somebody with "power" dictating the terms, even if the terms being dictated are drawing a hard line in maintaining principles of open inquiry, debate, and focused organizational goals. They do not see any tyranny in their mob efforts to force conformity and compliance amongst their peers through harassment, slander, threatened doxxing, or open hostility and exclusion. They feel free to do all of that while still claiming to be the victims because I have an overriding veto power that they nonetheless never seemed to suspect I would ever have the audacity to use.
Boom! I saw the language & the language they use is appalling. Entitlement through & through. It's all done out of fear of being rejected & part of the drama control triangle. Don't like being rejected? Find new friends. There's plenty of goth clubs I'm sure. They loved the control. The quote "All hat & no cattle." They never wanted any part of TST to begin with and it was glaringly obvious. And they certainly didn't mind ruining Mr Greaves' life as they attempted to turn TST into an idiot sandbox.
Hell yes! Finally we can all work together as an organization towards the same goals. The Org goals, specifically EM’s work is typically why people join congregations. New members were often disappointed to see that not happening at a congregation level. Some left, some stayed for the community aspect, a few stayed for less than honorable reasons. It will be amazing to now move forward as a team.
Yeah. I myself have been persona non grata in this organization for long enough, under the tyranny of the vulture squad, ever lurking to catch me in an offense that could help them generate public uproar and ruin my reputation, that I feel like this next chapter is an entirely new beginning that will actually finally see this become what it has had the squandered potential to be.
Ahh I’m so happy you shared that support in all ways has increased following this tough time for TST! Less talk more action 🩶last night - Liliana gave an amazing speech at the opening reception for her art - which included “take up AS MUCH space as you need to.” Do it unapologetically ❤️🔥👏🏼
I am so glad you brought up the idea of fast food franchise. I was thinking the exactly same thing. On the dot. You can choose to be a Cheap franchise or a 5-star restaurant. McDonalds serves excellent french fries but you are missing out on the lasting effects and inspiration that comes with a Michelin star review. It is not the same. It takes less efficiency to run a Michelin star restaurant & the excellence will be a part of history. And to prove that I was thinking the same thing...Here is Marco talking about his House... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmjapU29GKE
This update fills me with so much joy, vindication, and more than a bit of schadenfreude. The fact that people think they have leverage to make demands or force negotiation was always laughably ridiculous. Hopefully you explaining that will be the nudge to get them to abandon their delusion and move on.
I really don't know what they think they are negotiating with, unless it really is simply the threats of theft and defamation. The worst offenders have intentionally worked to make sure nothing they do could be of benefit to the larger organization, and then they further attempted to conform others into that mentality, yet they are mystified that I can express relief at their departure.
Yup. I don't get it. I made a swath of them mad because I want to run a series of discussions on "Better Angels of Our Nature" and made it clear that if you didn't have knowledge of the book that these discussions weren't for you.
There's was a real sense of ownership and oversight that was never seceded to them which makes their accusing howls of arbitrary authority against you more than a little hypocritical.
I think their formula is simple: tyranny is only a function of somebody with "power" dictating the terms, even if the terms being dictated are drawing a hard line in maintaining principles of open inquiry, debate, and focused organizational goals. They do not see any tyranny in their mob efforts to force conformity and compliance amongst their peers through harassment, slander, threatened doxxing, or open hostility and exclusion. They feel free to do all of that while still claiming to be the victims because I have an overriding veto power that they nonetheless never seemed to suspect I would ever have the audacity to use.
Boom! I saw the language & the language they use is appalling. Entitlement through & through. It's all done out of fear of being rejected & part of the drama control triangle. Don't like being rejected? Find new friends. There's plenty of goth clubs I'm sure. They loved the control. The quote "All hat & no cattle." They never wanted any part of TST to begin with and it was glaringly obvious. And they certainly didn't mind ruining Mr Greaves' life as they attempted to turn TST into an idiot sandbox.
Hell yes! Finally we can all work together as an organization towards the same goals. The Org goals, specifically EM’s work is typically why people join congregations. New members were often disappointed to see that not happening at a congregation level. Some left, some stayed for the community aspect, a few stayed for less than honorable reasons. It will be amazing to now move forward as a team.
Yeah. I myself have been persona non grata in this organization for long enough, under the tyranny of the vulture squad, ever lurking to catch me in an offense that could help them generate public uproar and ruin my reputation, that I feel like this next chapter is an entirely new beginning that will actually finally see this become what it has had the squandered potential to be.
Thank you Mr Greaves for all that you do. Hail Satan.
Ahh I’m so happy you shared that support in all ways has increased following this tough time for TST! Less talk more action 🩶last night - Liliana gave an amazing speech at the opening reception for her art - which included “take up AS MUCH space as you need to.” Do it unapologetically ❤️🔥👏🏼
I am so glad you brought up the idea of fast food franchise. I was thinking the exactly same thing. On the dot. You can choose to be a Cheap franchise or a 5-star restaurant. McDonalds serves excellent french fries but you are missing out on the lasting effects and inspiration that comes with a Michelin star review. It is not the same. It takes less efficiency to run a Michelin star restaurant & the excellence will be a part of history. And to prove that I was thinking the same thing...Here is Marco talking about his House... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmjapU29GKE