Tennessee after-school Satan club holds first meeting despite protests

‘the Satanic Temple was a non-theistic religion that views Satan as “a literary figure who represents a metaphorical construct of rejecting tyranny and championing the human mind and spirit”.

“After School Satan Club does not attempt to convert children to any religious ideology. Instead, the Satanic Temple supports children to think for themselves. All After School Satan Clubs … emphasize a scientific, rationalist, non-superstitious world view,” ‘

The satanic temple was created specifically to counteract the damaging effects of organized religion. I see nothing objectionable in what they do. I’d have joined it as a kid (once i figured out what they were about). I’d have no problem sending my kid to a club that supports thinking for yourself and a scientific and rationalist approach to life.

Keep in mind that the satanic temple does not believe in the literal existence of satan.

Which, is not the type of organization that puts it's obligation to after school activities at the top of it's list, and I'm not sure it's beneficial for anyone other than like minded ideologues who would rather engage in intentionally pugnacious protests rather than in any remedial civil actions.

Finally, what action are they protesting exactly? That a public building is being used by religions organizations in an after school setting? Are students being forced to participate in any way? So, why then involve the students in your federal funding protest? The whole thing seems gaudy and desperate for attention.

But then they choose a weird mascot. Satan as a metaphor for the rebel is drowned by the other metaphors, like the ultimate evil, the liar who corrupts you, who will happily look nice and friendly if that's what is needed for the job. Especially if you then insist you don't believe in any supernatural, Satan included.

It's a bit like an art movement in Hitler's name, insisting it's nothing to do with Nazism, and only his painting style.

If you want to preach kindness and rational words thinking, but your symbol is a ram's head in a pentagram, then you can't be surprised people are terrified.

I have no personal experience with this organization.

Different countries, different social problems, different styles of bigots, and different solutions.

Today there are on the order of a 100 or so committed Satanists in the UK according to:

Journal of Contemporary Religion: Satanism in Britain today (1995) - Graham Harvey

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/1353790950858074...

https://sci-hub.ru/10.1080/13537909508580747

    This paper discusses the views and activities of self‐identified Satanists in Britain, especially the Temple of Set, the Church of Satan, the Order of the Nine Angles and Dark Lily. It also comments on ad hoc, adolescent and multi‐generational Satanism.

    Satanism is a series of techniques for allowing individuals to affirm, develop and express themselves, and to do what they wish to do in the context of a spirituality.

    It does not require belief in the Satan of the Christian pantheon although thriving on the sinister image and the hostility it can evoke in Christians and the media.

    Satanism is an adversarial form of self‐religion.

    There are Satanists in Britain.

    There are six groups who between them have less than 100 members.

    There are more people who read Satanist magazines or have bought books by Satanists, e.g. Anton LaVey's

    Again they are few in number compared to the scare-estimate.

    A larger number of people—some adolescents—name themselves Satanists, but belong to no formal or organised Satanist group.