'After School Satan'?! The Satanic Temple Could Be
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The Satanic Temple will begin petitioning this fall to set up after-school programs at public elementary schools around the country.
The Satanic Temple’s co-founder, Doug Mesner, who goes by the name Lucien Greaves, told The Washington Post that their goal is to counterbalance Christian after-school programs.
"It’s critical that children understand that there are multiple perspectives on all issues, and that they have a choice in how they think," Mesner said.
The After School Satan website - which features the slogan "Educatin' With Satan" - says that the programs will focus on free inquiry, rationalism and science.
Despite the organization's name and imagery, the Satanic Temple does not believe in a literal Satan or supernatural beings of any kind.
According to the temple, Satan is merely a "metaphorical construct" to represent the rejection of all forms of tyranny over the human mind.
The Washington Post reported that the planned curriculum for the after-school programs includes a healthful snack, a literature lesson, creative learning activities, a science lesson, puzzle solving and an art project.
The group intends to roll out the clubs at a limited number of schools in districts that also host the evangelical Christian Good News Club.
"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," Mesner said. "We prefer to give children an appreciation of the natural wonders surrounding them, not a fear of an everlasting, other-worldly horror."
Satanic Temple chapter heads from Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington D.C. are hoping to roll out After School Satan programs at schools in their states.