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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums‘Jesus’ chants greet Satanists at Bremerton football game
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/jesus-chants-jeers-greet-satanists-during-bremerton-football-game/About a dozen members of the Satanic Temple of Seattle, most dressed in hooded black robes and some masked, left Bremerton High School shortly after their arrival at a varsity-football game Thursday night. They came in response to the controversy surrounding coach Joe Kennedy, who was placed on leave this week for praying on the field after games but attended the game in the stands.
Students swarmed the fence where the Satanists stood outside.The group climbed the fence, shook it, held up crosses, threw liquid, and chanted Jesus. Some yelled at the Satanists to go away.
A few of the half-dozen students and teachers who invited the Satanists to attend the game in the spirit of free expression were allowed outside the fence, where they spoke with members of the atheist and agnostic group and thanked them for coming.
Temple spokeswoman Lilith Starr said the group was invited to protest Kennedys ritual of kneeling on the 50-yard line after games and praying. We want equality for everyone, she said. If one group is allowed to pray, everyone should be.
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Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)which is not the case. The vast majority of us just don't believe in any supernatural creatures, whether it's a god or gods, Jesus, Satan, angels, what have you. (Well, except leprechauns. Those are TOTALLY real.)
"A few of the half-dozen students and teachers who invited the Satanists to attend the game in the spirit of free expression were allowed outside the fence, where they spoke with members of the atheist and agnostic group and thanked them for coming."
TlalocW
(15,358 posts)The Satanists are pretty much atheists/agnostics. They adopt the trappings of a religion (they don't actually believe in Satan) in order to make their points about separation of church and state. It's more difficult to do that as just atheists since atheism isn't a religion so some people have no problem excluding them based on that and the old canard of, "It's freedom OF not freedom FROM." By playing the game this way, they've actually had some successes such as in Florida where elementary schools worked with local churches to send Christian coloring books and other materials home with students. When the Satanists demanded their right to do it (I don't know if they actually did), the program was gotten rid of. I also would think that the removal of the 10 Commandments from the Oklahoma Statehouse was partly due to the threat of that Baphomet statue.
I do see your point though. Most people don't know - and don't want to - that they're essentially a performance-activist group disguised as a church and if the article didn't explain that then their conflating atheism with actual Satanists (if they do exist and aren't just some emo kids going through a phase) is not very good journalism.
TlalocW
cemaphonic
(4,138 posts)"We are atheistic; we do not believe in supernatural beings like God or Satan. We celebrate the literary Satan as a potent symbol of rebellion against tyranny."
Honestly, it seems like a pretty good strategy, even if it's silly and theatrical.
TlalocW
(15,358 posts)I started likening it to a performance group, which I wish they would hold auditions for, after seeing video like this featuring this scenery-chewing, community theater reject.
If it were me, I'd want my members to dress like young republicans and act completely WASP-y just to set up cognitive dissonance. I still applaud their efforts though.
TlalocW
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)but I wonder if it just gives ammunition to religious ignoramuses who equate "no supernatural beliefs" with devil worship. The article should have explained that clearly.
Oneironaut
(5,461 posts)Drahthaardogs
(6,843 posts)Per tradition, Satan is a creation of the God of Abraham that became corrupted.
It makes no send me
Rex
(65,616 posts)Satan probably is kewl with that notion so it all works out.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)They use Satan as a symbol of how they aspire to be - Satan is the ultimate rebel against tyranny, the freethinker, and pursuer of responsible happiness, to this group of Satanists. They use him as a symbol, but don't believe he actually exists.
Partially, it's also to troll the fundies. And the result is hilarious!
How do the "members of the atheist and agnostic group" figure into the story?
Answer: They don't. The person who wrote the story is an ignoramus.
NWmountainman
(19 posts)An atheist doesn't believe in ANY god. So how can they be a Satanist. That's the dumbest thing I've heard in a long time....
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)using Satanism to create counterpoints to God-based beliefs and actions by religious fundamentalists.
olddots
(10,237 posts)nobody believes they are dead .