Ok, so let me start off by saying, I studied medieval religion at a baptist seminary. Fast forward to today and I’m an engineer working in the Pharma industry, divorced, grown kid and in a 3yr relationship with a beautiful younger hot mama.
I grew up in the 80-90’s and can relate whole heartily to allot of the folks displayed in the documentary, “ Hail Satan”. I wasn’t really raised in church but I was taught to make sure I had my “fire insurance”, as Pascal taught us. I played DND, tried to listen to Queen records back-words, read heavy metal comics. I was obsessed Batman and loved the darker side of life. As a older teen I became fascinated with science and religion and the occult. But….
I grew up in the South, smack dab middle of the bible belt and evangelical christianity, so, after I got married, I started going to a conservative church and it wasn’t long before I drank the koolaid. 10+ yrs later I had graduated with a BA in medieval and reformational history, and an MA in biblical Counseling. (Leaving allot out, addiction, rehab, divorce)
I know that was allot, but stay with me, you needed to understand all that about me to be able to understand my review.
First, our tour guide, Tom. Tom was super engaging with our small group of 9. He made us laugh and taught us quite a bit. He was super knowledgeable on the subjects he spoke about and not in a script reading kind of way. He remembered things about us and brought our lives into the story he was telling.
You might be asking what about the satan thing? Guy sounds pretty professional? Thought he worshiped the devil? Welp, yep and yep. He’s both, well kinda. I don’t want to take anything away from him, go on the tour man! But yes the guy is both, he a very kind and professional tour guide who happens to be a Satanist.
I’ve been on some cool tour in some pretty cool places but Tom and the Satanic Temple deserve some serious cred for their approach to teaching Salems history of the blending commercialization and true Artistic expression to show the beauty of what a community can do when they stand by each other. The information we received wasn’t Tom’s opinion, ok maybe some of it, but mostly it was fact. When he wasn’t sure about Gallows Hill would have been, he didn’t pretend. He didn’t even offer his opinion until i asked.
We’re trying to moving here, haven’t found a place yet. I asked my girlfriend after the tour what she thought about Salem. The history, the beauty, the closeness to the water and nature, and a community that would come together to help The Temple after an stupid arson attack. Asshat didn’t get what he hoped for.
Salem might be showing the rest of the county a new way of living. If I understand them correctly, Satan represents the hated of oppression by those in authority. It’s ugly, it’s supposed to be. But it’s not without its limits. Watch the movie and you’ll understand they live by principles and some thing (7 of them) are “gospel”.
Tom I’m sorry we didn’t have any cash last night. If we see you around town we owe you a beer or 10 or at least some green. Thank you for an epic adventure.
5 stars. Watch the movie on Hulu and then go on the tour or the other way around. Whatever, it’s your life do whatever you want. Not my job to tell you what to do with your life.