The Satanic Temple and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have each announced plans to pass out their “literature” in public schools in Florida.
The New York-based Satanic Temple will distribute “pamphlets related to the [Satanic] Temple’s tenets, philosophy and practice of Satanism, as well as information about the legal right to practice Satanism in school.”
While the Satanic Temple says it has consulted with the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, FFRF has released a statement putting daylight between itself and the Satanic Temple, saying,
“FFRF does not believe that satanists or Christians or even atheists should be distributing literature to public school students…FFRF does not endorse the New York based Satanic Temple’s literature any more than we would endorse the bible or think it should be given to students. However, Orange County Public Schools cannot legally prevent the temple from distributing its literature.”
So here is a question: If the Freedom From Religion Foundation does not believe “even atheists” should be distributing material to public school students, why are they handing out anti-Christian literature in Florida schools?
The very statement that says Freedom From Religion Foundation does not believe atheistic material should be distributed in public schools goes on to say, “FFRF will only distribute its own materials this January, including pamphlets such as ‘An X-Rated Book: Sex & Obscenity in the Bible.'”
So why the double-standard? If the Freedom From Religion Foundation really doesn’t think any outside groups should distribute literature in public schools, why do they plan to distribute their material? Why not lead by example and withdraw from this situation altogether?
Given the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s recent activities in Jonesboro and Searcy, I would say it is entirely possible they or a similar group might try to work their way into our public schools. It may sound unlikely, but stranger things are apparently already happening in Florida.
The Satanic Temple and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, surprisingly, have a lot in common.
- Both groups oppose traditional religion–especially Christianity;
- Both groups promote secularism;
- Both groups say they oppose distribution of outside material in public schools;
- Both groups plan to distribute material to public school students anyway;
- Both groups have claimed that their actions are “consistent” with their messages and beliefs.
I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering exactly where the “consistency” lies in all of this.