- The Satanic Temple says if Good News Clubs, an Evangelical Christian after school program, is allowed in schools then it should be too
- The Massachusetts-based activists' After School Satan Club would teach critical thinking and plurality
- It says the Good News Clubs are indoctrinating children into Christianity
- Group doesn't worship the devil but uses an extremely creepy video to promote its club
A Massachusetts-based group of political activists that fight against religion in elementary classrooms will begin petitioning in the fall to set up after school programs to counterbalance Christian after school programs.
A 2001 Supreme Court decision allowed Good News Club, an after school Christian club, to continue to operate in schools, and the Satanic Temple, which has 20 chapters across the US, says this is indoctrinating children into evangelicalism.
The temple's co-founder Doug Mesner, who goes by the name of Lucien Greaves, says: 'It’s critical that children understand that there are multiple perspectives on all issues, and that they have a choice in how they think.'
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The temple doesn't believe in supernatural beings or a Satan however it uses devilish images in its marketing materials
The Satanic Temple, cofounded by Doug Mesner (above, with hooves), aka Lucien Greaves, wants to be in all schools that allow in Good News Clubs, which teaches Evangelical Christianity
Good News Clubs teaches Evangelical Christian gospel and Bible scripture in elementary schools across the nation. Children must have parental permission to attend the club, which is in 3,560 schools, over five percent of all schools, according to The Washington Post.
Mesner added: 'If Good News Clubs would operate in churches rather than public schools, that need would disappear. But our point is that if you let one religion into the public schools you have to let others, otherwise it’s an establishment of religion.'
The after school program will teach children about 'the natural wonders surrounding them, not a fear of everlasting other-worldly horrors' says the group
Despite the group's distinct demon-themed materials, including a promotional video for its school program that rivals The Blair Witch Project in creepiness, the group says it is not about worshiping Satan but spreading 'a scientific, rationalist, non-superstitious worldview' and doing away with the Christian 'preoccupation with sin, fear of Hell, and aversion to critical thinking.'
The group does not believe in supernatural beings of any kind. According to the temple, Satan is merely a construct meant to overturn superstition and tyranny of the human mind.
The children will be asked to do exercises to help them understand the world and the universe from a science-based, rationalist view, says the group on its website.
The group seems confident that schools will allow them to set up shop.
'As it is illegal for the schools to discriminate against specific religions or preference others, cannot be denied wherever Christian, or any other religious clubs, operate,' it says on its website.
The temple says it is only interested in operating in schools that have Good News Clubs in existence but hopes to eventually be in more schools.
'The Satanic Temple does not advocate for religion in schools. However, once religion invades schools, as The Good News Clubs have, The Satanic Temple will fight to ensure that plurality and true religious liberty are respected,' the group says. 'We prefer to give children an appreciation of the natural wonders surrounding them, not a fear of everlasting other-worldly horrors.'
#1: misterwhite To: cranky (#0)
Ah. It's to "counterbalance" Christian programs. Sounds fair. I say let them.
Then let's offer an anti-gay program. An anti-black program. Anti- women, anti-disabled, and anti-Jew programs.
You know. To "counterbalance" the others.
misterwhite posted on 2016-07-31 09:37:31 Reply Private Reply
#2: Justified To: misterwhite, cranky (#1)
This is a truly mentally distorted person.
Then let's offer an anti-gay program. An anti-black program. Anti- women, anti-disabled, and anti-Jew programs.
Try just having an European only group and see the progressive lose it!
60's counter culture is alive and doing well in America. You would have to go to Russia to see old American values!
Justified posted on 2016-07-31 10:33:44 Reply Private Reply
#3: BorisY To: cranky (#0)
After
School
Satan
... Club
would
teach
... critical
thinking
... plurality
Make
America
secular *
great
again
love
boris
* non
atheist
* non
liberals
* non
satanic
BorisY posted on 2016-07-31 13:27:34 Reply Private Reply
#4: VxH To: misterwhite (#1)
VxH posted on 2016-08-01 10:38:10 Reply Private Reply
#5: misterwhite To: Justified (#2)
Fast talkin' guys
with strange red eyes
Have put things in your head
and started your mind to wonderin'
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-01 10:59:29 Reply Private Reply