Similar names can make distinct organisations look more closely related than they are. The Church of Satan, The Satanic Temple, and The High Satanic Church are separate bodies with different histories and theological positions.
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan was founded by Anton LaVey in 1966. It is non-theistic and treats Satan symbolically rather than as a literal deity. Its public philosophy emphasizes individualism and its own Satanic tradition.
The Satanic Temple
The Satanic Temple is also non-theistic. It is widely associated with public advocacy, religious-liberty disputes, and its Seven Tenets. It is organisationally separate from the Church of Satan.
The High Satanic Church
The High Satanic Church is a theistic, fully online congregation founded on 15 March 2026. It worships Satan as a real spiritual being and focuses on devotion, ritual, study, and online community. It does not claim endorsement, succession, or organisational continuity from the two organisations above or from the Order of Nine Angles.
How to compare them
Start with each organisation’s own public materials. Ask whether Satan is treated as a deity or symbol, what members are expected to do, whether money or attendance is required, how leaders are accountable, and what the organisation says about legal status and conduct. Those concrete differences are more useful than deciding which group is “the real one.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these three organisations affiliated?
No. They are separate organisations.
Which of the three is theistic?
The High Satanic Church is theistic. The Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple are non-theistic.
When was The High Satanic Church founded?
15 March 2026.
Is the High Satanic Church connected to O9A?
No organisational relationship, lineage, succession, or endorsement is claimed. Some theological vocabulary overlaps with older esoteric currents, and the Church states that overlap openly while rejecting extremist politics, coercion, abuse, violence, and illegal activity.
Related Pages
- About The High Satanic Church
- Our Beliefs and Tenets
- Devotional Practices
- Join Our Community
- Frequently Asked Questions