Editing Satanism (section)

==== Temple of Zeus ====
{{Main|Temple of Zeus (organization)}}

The Temple of Zeus (ToZ) is a [[Western esotericism|western esoteric]] [[occult]] organization that combines Satanism, the [[Ancient astronauts|ancient alien astronaut "hypothesis"]], and [[antisemitism]].<ref name="JPLS2023:sect.5-Other">[[#JPLS2023|Laycock, ''Satanism'', 1981]]: 5 The Temple of Set and Esoteric Satanism. Other Esoteric Groups</ref> It was originally founded as the Joy of Satan Ministries in the early 2000s by Maxine Dietrich (pseudonym of Andrea Maxine Dietrich),{{sfn|Asprem|Granholm|2014|pp=144–146}}<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last=Petersen |first=Jesper |date=27–29 August 2012 |title=Bracketing Beelzebub: Satanism studies and/as boundary work |url=https://contern.org/cyberproceedings/papers-from-the-1st-international-conference-on-contemporary-esotericism/jesper-aa-petersen-bracketing-beelzebub-satanism-studies-andas-boundary-work/ |access-date=25 January 2021 |website=ContERN}}</ref> wife of the [[National Socialist Movement (United States)|National Socialist Movement]] of the United States' co-founder and former leader Clifford Herrington.{{sfn|Introvigne|2016|pp=370–371}} With its inception, spiritual Satanism was born—a current that until recently was regarded only as "theist", but then defined into "Spiritual Satanism" by theistic Satanists who concluded that the term ''spiritual'' in Satanism represented the best answer to the world,<ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=Twilight |first=Jennifer |date=25 January 2021 |title=Analysis on the Joy of Satan |url=https://www.unionesatanistiitaliani.it/index.php/analisi-del-progetto-joy-of-satan |access-date=25 January 2021 |website=Italian Satanist Union}}</ref> considering it a "moral slap" toward the earlier carnal and materialistic LaVeyan Satanism, and instead focusing its attention upon [[spiritual evolution]].<ref name=":5" /> Joy of Satan presents a unique synthesis of theistic Satanism, [[Nazism]], [[Gnosticism]], [[Modern Paganism|Paganism]], [[Western esotericism]], [[UFO conspiracy theory|UFO conspiracy theories]], and extraterrestrial hypotheses similar to those popularized by [[Zecharia Sitchin]] and [[David Icke]].<ref name=":4" />

Members of Temple of Zeus are generally [[polytheists]], believing that Satan is one of many [[deities]].<ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=McBride |first=Jaemes |title=The Divine Province: Birthing New Earth |publisher=Ed Rychkun |year=2013 |isbn=978-1927066034 |location= |page=84}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite news |last=ATLANTA |first=J.F. |date=9 January 2014 |title=What do Satanists believe? |url=https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2014/01/09/what-do-satanists-believe |access-date=25 January 2021 |newspaper=The Economist}}</ref> While Satan and demons are considered deities within ToZ, the deities themselves are understood to be highly evolved, un-aging, sentient, and powerful humanoid extraterrestrial beings.<ref name=":03" />{{sfn|Introvigne|2016|pp=370–371}}{{sfn|Dyrendal|Lewis|Petersen|2016|pp=144–232}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paniccia |first=Enrico |date=17 January 2021 |title=The dark side of Christianity |url=https://www.consulpress.eu/il-lato-oscuro-del-cristianesimo/ |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=Consul Press}}</ref> Satan and many demons are equated with gods from ancient cultures, some of which include the [[Sumerian religion|Sumerian]] god [[Enki]], and the [[Yazidism|Yazidi]] angel [[Melek Taus]] being seen as Satan, borrowing their theistic Satanist interpretations of Enki from the writings of [[Zecharia Sitchin]], and Melek Taus partially deriving from the writings of Anton LaVey.{{sfn|Introvigne|2016|pp=370–371}} Satan is seen not only as an important deity but a powerful and sentient being responsible for the creation of humanity.<ref name=":03" />{{sfn|Introvigne|2016|pp=370–371}} Satan is also revered by ToZ as "the true father and creator God of humanity",<ref name=":22" /> the bringer of knowledge, and whose desire is for his creations, humans, to elevate themselves through knowledge and understanding.<ref name=":03" /><ref name=":22" />

In their beliefs, [[Yazidism]] (a pre-Islamic religion of about one million members found mainly in northern [[Iraq]], that holds that Melek Taûs/''Tawûsî Melek'', "the Peacock Angel", is the leader of the archangels and functions as the ruler of the world; but who Muslims believe is a fallen angel), is in juxtaposition with Satanism as they consider the two share similar elements, such as Yazidi devotees being defined by Muslims as "devotees to [[Shaytan]]" and regarded as Satanists.<ref name=":5" /> It is also believed that the figure of Melek Taus, the peacock angel, may derive from much older pagan deities, such as [[Saraswati]], the Hindu goddess of wisdom who rides a peacock, or even the god [[Indra]], who transforms into a peacock.<ref name=":5" /> The story of Melek Taus itself is also considered by ToZ to have many satanic elements, such as being described as the angel who rebelled against the Abrahamic God.<ref name=":5" /> The sacred text of the Yazidis, the [[Al-Jilwah]], is claimed by the ToZ as the word of Satan.<ref name=":5" />

While maintaining some popularity as a theistic Satanist sect, the group has been widely criticized for its association with the National Socialist Movement and its racial [[anti-Jewish]], [[anti-Judaic]], and [[Criticism of Christianity|anti-Christian]] sentiment, as well as its [[anti-Semitic conspiracy theories]].{{sfn|Dyrendal|Lewis|Petersen|2016|pp=144–232}}<ref>{{cite web |date=27 September 2019 |title=Satanism |url=https://www.history.com/topics/1960s/satanism |access-date=25 January 2021 |website=HISTORY}}</ref> Much of their beliefs on aliens, meditation, and telepathic contacts with demons have become popular in a larger milieu within the currents of recent non-LaVeyan theistic Satanism.{{sfn|Introvigne|2016|pp=370–371}}