On Being Post- vs. Ex-

Integration instead of rejection

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In 2017, I converted directly from Christianity to Nontheistic Satanism. Shortly thereafter, I became a publicly visible member of The Satanic Temple, and religious nontheistic Satanism became the lifeblood of my day-to-day existence for six years. Eventually, I was ordained as a Minister of Satan and was elevated to a leader in the Temple. I, along with 5 other people, oversaw the international body of Ministers of Satan which makes up TST's clergy.

Early this year, I decided it was time to expand beyond Satanism. I no longer identify as a Satanist. But it would be wrong to say I reject Satanism, or that I am an ex-Satanist. It is also wrong to say that I reject Christianity, that I am an “ex-Christian”, or that my Satanism was an expression of hatred against Christianity. No, something more complicated is happening beneath the hood of my religious life. For others navigating their religious identity in our complex modern landscape, an examination of what is happening beneath the hood might be helpful.