A group of so-called scientific rationalists takes issue with religious after-school programs.
So this is a new one to me. A place called the “Satanic Temple” is trying to bring an “After School Satan” program to a grade school near you. While it doesn’t appear that any clubs are currently operating, the group has listed nine potential start-up locations from L.A. to Atlanta to Washington, D.C.
What is an “After School Satan” club you may ask?
Well, it’s not where children are taught the religion of Satan. I suppose one has to thank God for small favors.
“The after-school program would emphasize the Satanic Temple’s ideology of ‘Scientific Rationalism,’ described as ‘a scientific, rationalist, non-superstitious worldview,’” according to a CBS News report. The Satanists want to teach your child that neither Satan nor God exists, I guess.
I’m puzzled a bit how to respond because it’s not like I would prefer these were honest-to-goodness open devil worshipers seeking to propagate their anti-faith. Instead, the Satanist Temple’s view is that – given how Christian and other religious groups are allowed to use public schools after hours on the same basis as other community groups – well something drastic must be done.
“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 on its website.
They then went on to make clear that what they actually are is an anti-Evangelical Christian hate group:
“Twisted Evangelical teachings of The Good News Clubs robs children of the innocence and enjoyment of childhood, replacing them with a negative self image, preoccupation with sin, fear of Hell, and aversion to critical thinking,” the group proclaimed. Instead of devil worship children will be taught: “critical reasoning, independent-thinking, fun, and free thought,” according to the website.
#share#The issues the Satanic Temple cares about are an odd grab-bag, according to its website: Satanists apparently oppose corporal punishment, support same-sex marriage and abortion, and favor placing statues of Baphomet on public grounds wherever the Ten Commandments are displayed. (I personally think a statue of Baal opposite the Ten Commandments might be a more historically appropriate reminder of what Moses had to deal with.)
The PR value of standing for Satan instead of Reason is obvious.
They appear to be a group of satirists who have no religion (who, indeed, encourage atheists and secularists to join their ranks) but who want to pose as belonging to a religion and claim religious liberty. Which is strange and totally unnecessary because you know Reason and Fun clubs would be welcome to use public schools after hours on an equal basis with other community groups.
But such a club would not generate much valuable publicity, obviously, nor smite those evil Christians. The PR value of standing for Satan instead of Reason is obvious.
The “Satan After School” programs (if they exist at all) would be held one hour a month, again underscoring that offering a service to children of any kind is the furthest thing on these folks’ minds.
#related#Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman Ellen Morgan said that despite the public announcement, to date no Satanists have approached the district asking about starting an after-school program, nor are there any “After School Satan” clubs at LAUSD schools.
The Satanic Temple appears to be the Left’s answer to the Westboro Baptist Church, a tiny group skilled at making ugly publicity claims to raise money.
According to their self-proclaimed mission, the Satanic Temple’s aim is “to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people.” Attacking millions of decent, loving, law-abiding Christian families might seem to be an odd way of going about that goal.
But then, among this particular group of so-called scientific rationalists, neither logic nor empathy appears to be their strong suit.