UC Irvine

This dissertation presents an 18-month ethnographic study of The Satanic Temple’s Sober Faction, a non-theistic recovery community that challenges dominant narratives of addiction, recovery, and stigma. Drawing on in-depth interviews, field observations, digital ethnography, and content analysis, this research critically examines the intersection of Satanism, addiction recovery, and social justice. The first chapter interrogates the relationship between stigma and recovery capital, introducing the novel concept of Satanic Recovery. This framework explores how individuals within Sober Faction transform stigma into recovery capital through radical acceptance, a principle grounded in the tenets of The Satanic Temple. By embracing an identity often marginalized by mainstream recovery spaces, members cultivate resilience and self-empowerment, illustrating how stigmatized relationships can serve as sources of strength rather than barriers to recovery. The second chapter expands traditional understandings of addiction and recovery by incorporating harm reduction and controlled use. Rather than adhering to the rigid abstinence-based models prevalent in dominant recovery paradigms, Sober Faction fosters a more fluid and individualized approach. Through this reframing, recovery is conceptualized as an ongoing process of self-determination, aligning with broader harm reduction principles that prioritize agency and autonomy over moralistic conceptions of sobriety. The third chapter examines Sober Faction as a social structure that facilitates identity renegotiation away from the label of “addict.” By fostering a supportive, nonjudgmental community, members are able to redefine themselves outside of the pathology of addiction. This shift challenges the moral and punitive frameworks embedded in mainstream recovery models, offering an alternative space where individuals can construct identities based on self-acceptance rather than shame. By resisting hegemonic narratives that pathologize addiction and stigmatize non-traditional spiritual identities, Sober Faction not only provides a recovery model rooted in autonomy and self-empowerment but also contributes to broader discourses on equity and liberation. Finally, policy implications and future research directions are discussed, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and flexible recovery frameworks that challenge dominant ideological constraints.