The Satanic Temple is hoping “After School Satan Clubs” can be the newest option among elementary schools’ after school programs nationwide.
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Doug Mesner, the Satanic Temple’s co-founder, told the Post it boils down to this: If Christian evangelical groups have already staked a claim in after-school programs, why shouldn’t Satanists have a seat at the table as well? Chapter heads from Utah, New York, Boston and Arizona were in Salem on July 10 talking strategy, with others from Minneapolis, Detroit, San Jose, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Florida participating online.
The Satanic Temple is a group dedicated to bringing Satan worship into public meetings and government-sponsored organizations where religious customs are already present. Although there are no legal reasons for the Satanic After School Clubs to be treated differently than Good News Clubs, Staver believes that not many students will participate in the Satanic clubs, which would eventually lead them to fade away.
“Across the nation, parents are concerned about encroachments by proselytizing evangelicals in their public schools, and are eager to establish the presence of a contrasting voice that helps children to understand that one doesn’t need to submit to superstition in order to be a good person”, the group’s web site says.
As an alternative, “After School Satan Clubs incorporate games, projects, and thinking exercises that help children understand how we know what we know about our world and our universe”, the group says.
Children in elementary schools across US could soon be learning about Satan and be exposed to a “democratic” choice to choose their religion, the Washington Post reports.
An organization known as After School Satan says it is starting up after-school clubs at several elementary schools across the nation, including Still Elementary School in Powder Springs.
The Satanic Temple makes no secret of its desire to use that same approach.
In a nutshell, schools can not discriminate against a religious group.
“I would definitely oppose after-school Satanic clubs, but they have a First Amendment right to meet”, said Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel’s founder and chairman.
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“While the Good News Clubs focus on indoctrination, instilling children with a fear of hell and God’s wrath, After School Satan Clubs will focus on free inquiry and rationalism”, Greaves said. “We prefer to give children an appreciation of the natural wonders surrounding them, not a fear of an everlasting other-worldly horror”. Schools that allow the Good News Club to operate are “not at liberty” to deny their facilities to TST, according to Greaves, including fliers, brochures and school-wide announcements.
