Culture Wars: Satan vs. Christ in the primary school

An interesting article in the Virginian-Pilot reports on a consideration of allowing an After School Satan Club at Chesapeake’s B.M. Williams Primary School. The school board held a public meeting and lots of folks showed up to express righteous opposition to the idea. The V-P writes:
The club is organized by The Satanic Temple [TST], a nontheistic religious organization formed about a decade ago. Members say they do not believe in Satan as a real entity, but rather as a literary symbol of standing up to tyrannical authority. Club organizers said among their club activities included such things as arts and crafts, puzzles and science projects.  
But many of those opposed to the club said even if the organization does not believe in Satan, the very name is indicative of what it stands for. Several said that Satan has never been regarded as a “good” figure in any sense.

One speaker asked, “Would we allow a club to use Hitler as a symbol?”

A few of the speakers mentioned the recent mass shooting at a Chesapeake Walmart, and the shooter’s “manifesto” that mentioned being led by Satan.   
The After School Satan Club was originally launched as a direct response to the Good News Club, a religious club for kids run by the Child Evangelism Fellowship. A Good News Club started at B.M. Williams Primary this fall.  
Several board members expressed concerns about safety, and whether there needed to be additional security present during the club’s meeting.

Superintendent Jared Cotton said he would conduct a safety assessment before moving forward with the club’s application for building use.

Christians praying in opposition 
to the After School Satan Club 


TST is a legally recognized religion under US law. It is eligible for tax breaks like all other officially recognized religions. For context, TST refuses to take tax breaks out of core belief that no religion should be entitled to any tax breaks.

The school board has three options. First, it can deny TST permission to form its club and then go to court and lose. The TST does file lawsuits in cases like this and so far it always wins. US law requires all religions to be treated equally as part of religious freedom. Second, it can ban all after school clubs and probably face a lot of irate parents. Third, it can allow the TST club to use the school and definitely face a lot of very irate parents, and maybe some violence.

Should TST be stopped from forming a club and using the school for arts, crafts, puzzles and science projects? Does it matter that some people do not believe in Satan or that Satan did not start World War II, unlike Hitler?

Conflict of interest statement: I financially support TST.


By Germaine: The fun-loving non-theologian

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