Hey kids: 'Satan' is coming to a school near you
For many children, elementary school is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out new hobbies, whether it's sports, art or Satanism.
The Satanic Temple, a humanist and social justice organization which incorporates Satanic imagery in its mission, made waves this weekend when the group announced their plan to roll out after school clubs in elementary schools all across the United States. While the Satanic Temple already has clubs in several schools, they're seeking to open chapters in schools with 'Good News' Clubs, highly conservative evangelical clubs that operate in the public schools.
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"We're directly in contrast with these evangelical school clubs," Lucien Graves, spokesman for The Satanic Temple, told Mashable.
For Graves, many of these Good News clubs stigmatize children who don't belong to the faith — kids who don't believe are told that "they're sinners, or that they're going to go to hell."
The Satanic Temple operates on different principles. To attend the Satanic Temple after school club, children don't need to identify with any religion, or even worship Satan, despite what the organization's title may suggest. Instead, the Temple is guided by multiple overlapping values: secularism, evidence-based science and civil liberties.
The Temple's after school curricula, Graves told Mashable, sends a "clear and positive message" of inclusiveness:
"We have a general philosophy of inclusiveness," Graves said. "This is a non-religious zone."
Curricula for the club will change seasonally, but the Satanic Temple club will teach science, art and, best yet, a Satanic snack. While the Satanic Club sounds like pure kid-friendly fun, fear not: their promotional video features a goth soundtrack, some vaguely nightmarish black and white imagery and your favorite demonic tropes.
Since making their announcement, Graves said he's been flooded with support.
"We're actually surprised by how few negative responses we've gotten," Graves said. "People are coming up to us to volunteer to start their own club, certified teachers, grandparents . . . people who are fed up with the Good News Club."
There are currently nine After-School Satan Clubs operating across the United States, and Graves is confident the group will be able to open more. The same laws that protect religious clubs 'Good News' clubs from operating in the schools should protect Satanic Clubs as well. In 2001, the Supreme Court ruled that schools can't discriminate against clubs because of the club's expressed religious values.
All hail after school Satan.
