Abstract
While historically blasphemy laws have been a weapon for those in power to limit the critique of dominant religions, particularly Christianity, blasphemy itself is a form of resistance rhetoric. This essay examines how The Satanic Temple (TST) utilizes both direct and indirect blasphemy as a form of uncivil obedience in order to disrupt Christonormativity and, by proxy, Christian privilege and Christian nationalism. Such blasphemy emerges in TST's articulation of its group as a religion, its legal battles of access to the public sphere, and its engagement with charity work. TST's blasphemous tactics draw public attention and call on audiences to reconsider the standards and norms espoused within a Christonormative culture. Such strategies offer insight into how both direct and indirect blasphemy can be utilized by marginalized groups that are restrained by Christonormativity.
