The Satanic Temple (TST) of the United States is seeking to expand their presence by hosting After School Satan Clubs in public schools around the country, including in Alabama, according to a report by the Washington Post.
“It’s critical that children understand that there are multiple perspectives on all issues, and that they have a choice in how they think,” said Doug Mesner, the Satanic Temple’s co-founder.
The Washington Post explains that the group’s name is apparently a bit of a misnomer, because “the group’s plan for public schoolchildren isn’t actually about promoting worship of the devil.”
The Satanic Temple doesn’t espouse a belief in the existence of a supernatural being that other religions identify solemnly as Satan, or Lucifer, or Beelzebub. The Temple rejects all forms of supernaturalism and is committed to the view that scientific rationality provides the best measure of reality.
According to Mesner, who goes by the professional name of Lucien Greaves, “Satan” is just a “metaphorical construct” intended to represent the rejection of all forms of tyranny over the human mind.
Here is an excerpt from a letter the Satanic Temple is sending out to local school superintendents:
TST’s ‘After School Satan Clubs’ are led by caring Satanists from local chapters in the community near the school. These teachers receive specialized training from TST and a background check is performed on every teacher we approve.
The After School Satan Club (ASSC) meets once a month immediately after school for one to one and a half hours. The meeting day will be determined in accordance with the schedule of existing after school activities. ASSC meetings typically include a healthy snack, literature lesson, creative learning activities, science lesson, puzzle solving, and art project. Every child receives a membership card and must have a signed parental permission slip to attend.
The group introduced its clubs on Monday and is petitioning schools around the country to allow them to get up and running ahead of the fall semester.
As a part of the effort, they have also launched a website — Afterschoolsatan.com.
They are seeking donations for their efforts.
“Fundamentalist Christian organizations are trying to turn public schools into indoctrination camps for children,” TST say on its site. “With millions in funding and a team of aggressive lawyers, they have been successfully eroding the separation of Church and State. Your donation will allow us to expand our campaign to undermine their efforts and enable us to continue to advance campaigns that protect religious pluralism and defend personal sovereignty.”
The group also released a promotional video, which is as creepy as you probably expect.
