A national satanic group is hoping they will soon be able to offer after-school programs for children across the country.
The Satanic Temple is launching the program called “After-School Satan.” The group already has a promotional video and while it may look creepy, members said they are not looking to get children to worship the devil. Instead, members said the program is meant to counter evangelical programs that teach the Bible to children in public schools.
“We don’t worship the devil, we don’t believe in any god, let alone the devil,” said Travis Lasaffre, a member of the Boston chapter of the Satanic Temple. “We are based on rationalism and science.”
Lasaffre said he was concerned about religious programs in public school, calling it a “lack of separation of church and state.” A 2001 Supreme Court decision does allow groups like the “Good News Club” in schools, run by Child Evangelism Fellowship.
“Well obviously, we disagree with their point of view,” said John Luck, of Child Evangelism Fellowship. “We don’t believe what they’re teaching would be true and they would probably say the same thing about us.”
The Satanic Temple met in Salem last month to work on their roll-out of After-School Satan. They aim to offer the program in schools that already have Good News Clubs. Since no schools in Massachusetts offer this program, After-School Satan will be getting its start in other states.
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