The Rise of Anti-Religious Bigotry

Anti-religious bigotry is on the rise in America. This is not a new phenomenon. But while previous surges of anti-religious bigotry were rooted in sectarianism — one religious group against another — the scourge we are witnessing today is driven by people who claim not to profess any religion themselves. ...Across the country, the Satanic Temple organization, which boasts 700,000 members, is sponsoring after-school Satan clubs as an alternative to religion-based student groups. The same Satanic Temple organization has sponsored a demonic statue in the Illinois Capitol rotunda alongside the official Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah. And this year, a satanic group in Green Bay, Wisconsin, sponsored a satanic tree at a museum’s annual Christmas tree festival — during one of the most sacred seasons for Christians. Satanic Temple members swear that they don’t actually believe in a literal Satan or anything supernatural and says that Satan is merely a metaphor for their followers. Yet despite these assertions, satanists are organizing to claim they are entitled to the legal protections of religious freedom laws. Read Full Article »