(ZENIT News / Marysville , 05.01.2025).- A Satanic temple in the United States has been authorized to give religion classes to primary school children, in response to the lack of options for non-Christian students.
The Satanic temple considers itself a non-theist church and received the permission from the tax authorities in Marysville, Ohio, to offer a religious formation program at the Edgewood primary school.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the proposal is in response to parents’ request who seek an alternative to the Christian LifeWise Academy program, which the school offers.
Joel Penton, CEO of LifeWise, suggested the opening of religious programs in once-a-month sessions outside the regular schedule of classes, explaining: “We believe that all families should have the opportunity to chooses religious studies during school hours.”
The Satanic temple’s studies program doesn’t include any subject related to the adoration of Satan, but is an alternative to the Christian religion for minors. Thus they will enrich the latter’s free choice and enable them to decide their spiritual path through programs of religious liberation, they state.
LifeWise’s program allows students to leave the school for a brief time to receive instruction in external places, such as churches or community centers. This system began in the 20th century. June Everett, minister of the Satanic temple justifies her offer: “We do not intend to close LifeWise Academy, but I believe many school districts don’t realize that when they open the door to one religion, they open it to all.” The Satanic temple proposes the basis of the program for non-Christian students.
LifeWise’s CEO Joel Penton took up the defense of other religious programs, saying: “We believe that all families should have the opportunity to choose religious studies during school hours.”
The coexistence of different religious views in public schools creates a grave conflict, when the growing religious pluralism proposes in the same educational center a creed that follows the path of the pre-eminence of the good and another based on evil.
