The Temple of Satan gains ground in Chile as faith in traditional religions wanes

SANTIAGO, Chile — It’s Friday night in Downtown Santiago, the capital of Chile, and a group of 15 people gather around a table, sharing a bottle of wine as the smell of tobacco and incense fill the air. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Haborym and other members of the Temple of Satan in Chile spoke on condition their real names not be used, particularly with many hold public-facing jobs, citing growing threats. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print A media frenzy followed, unleashing a heated debate and causing a stir among Chile’s main religious denominations. “They don’t let you do certain things, they tell you how to dress, what to do, how to behave, whether or not to grow a beard.” Satanist Kali Ma, a dentistry student who was born and raised in the heart of a Jehovah’s Witness family, reads verses after taking part in The Temple of Satan: Satanists and Luciferians of Chile’s monthly ceremony in Santiago, Sept. 27, 2024. “So there would be no reason to reject us beyond the fact that we’re a controversial figure.” Azazel, founder of The Temple of Satan: Satanists and Luciferians of Chile founder, who is seeking legal recognition for his group as a religious association, waits inside the Ministry of Justice building, in Santiago, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.