Satanic panic hits schools
Gold Coast parents are being invited to raise their hands for the prince of hell as the Noosa Temple of Satan spreads its word around the southeast
FIRST it was HOTA, now Satan is coming for our schools. Gold Coast parents are invited to raise their hands for the prince of hell as the Noosa Temple of Satan spreads its word around the southeast.
But before anyone bursts into flames of Satanic panic, the devil is truly in the detail. Solicitor Trevor Bell, the advocatus diaboli – or devil’s advocate – for the Temple, says he is only fighting for the same privileges afforded other religions. Mr Bell is challenging the State of Queensland after the deputy-director general of state schools, Peter Kelly, barred Satanists from teaching religious instruction in classrooms.
Declaring that decision as unlawful under Queensland’s Education Act, which states all religious groups have the right to teach in schools, Mr Bell sought a Supreme Court ruling that the Temple is a religious denomination or society – and therefore must be allowed in classrooms. With the court ruling coming this Wednesday, Mr Bell is inv i t ing families to join the fight for rel ig ious freedom and equality, and the fight against what he sees as state-sponsored hypocrisy.
And, given the attention the group grabbed here on the Gold Coast, interest from our city is running hot.
The Noosa Temple of Satan made headlines last week when it visited the Coast after Mayor Tom Tate’s spiritual adviser Sue Baynes had earlier warned there was a “demonic stronghold” at HOTA.
The Satanist group originally booked the council’s prayer room. However, upon further enquiries, the council later insisted it could no longer take the appointment due to safety concerns.
Instead, the Temple held a ceremony at HOTA’S green bridge to bring back “demonic spirits” to the precinct.
Mr Bell says it was just the latest example of how religion is philosophy that believes in a permeating secular circles – God-given authority to take from politics to schools. over the world in seven key
“We’ve never really had a areas of society: education, fammembership drive for the Temily, business, government, ple of Satan, but that is somemedia, arts and religion), but it’s thing we should consider. It incredibly effective – and it certainly seems like we’d get a means our lives are being ruled big reaction from the Gold by someone else’s religion.” Coast,” says Mr Bell, who preWhen it comes to the classviously ran for Senate as part of room, Mr Bell – along with the Secular Party of Australia. Temple founder and chief
“We would welcome Gold Robin Bristow – has the Satanic Coast parents to nominate lesson plan all ready. Satanism as their religion and He says it’s only fair to offer seek equality with other relithe option, considering other regions to teach about our Lord in ligions have the right to teach schools. for one hour per week to any
“And if Satanists can not members of their denomination. teach religious instruction, then He says other children are no religions should be alforced to leave and sit in the lilowed into state schools. brary as they are not allowed by
“It’s quite disturbing policy to learn anything in the how many government curriculum which would leave
rooms, facilities and time religious children at a disadvantage.arebeinghandedoverto religions to do this stuff. He says this is a special privi
“We even see it in our lege considering that the curhospitals. Christian chapriculum is still taught in the lains are lurking down the classroom even when other corridors and waiting by the children are absent in order to bedsides of the sick – they undertake co-curricular activionly have to leave if they ties such as drama or music lesare rejected – so we’re sons. going to apply to be a “Basically, we’re legitimising Satanic chaplain. Sunday school lessons in state
It’s all about highschools,” says Mr Bell. “So if lighting how inapthat’s the case, why not Satanic propriate and prejudiced these lessons? practices are. “We’ll be teaching about the
“But the most concerning asSatan you find in the Bible’s pect is seeing how far religious Book of Job. He’s the one who ideologies reach in politics. We tells God that Job is only a faithmay laugh at the Seven Mounful servant because his life is tains Mandate (the Christian good. So God then tells Satan he
can torture Job to test his faith.
“The role of Satan really is as a minister of justice, a literal devil’s advocate … he’s the one testing the faith of Christians and telling God not to be so gullible.
“Our question to students would be: who really is the good guy and who is the bad guy?
“We’re not there to smear chicken blood on the wall and make a pentagram, but the scariest thing we will do is to teach kids the truth about the Bible and its failings.
“We’ll be explaining to the kids that the gospels were not written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but some anonymous people 30 to 70 years after the death of Jesus. They are not contemporaneous accounts but based on legends and myths.
“It’s about teaching critical thinking … and it’s our hope some of our Satanist kids will tell the Christian kids some of
the things they have learnt.”
Mr Bell says the key tenets for the Noosa Temple of Satan are rebellion, compassion, enlightenment, critical thought and indulgence.
He says while he does not personally believe in Satan as a supernatural being, many in the Temple do.
And while he says he’s never had so much fun as being part of this religion, he admits it’s not always easy coming out as a Satanist.
“It can be quite uncomfortable,” he laughs.
“I am a solicitor but I haven’t practiced for 20 years, and I only do this pro bono work for the Temple of Satan.
“I have a day job that has a lot of customers, so I’ve had to tell my biggest ones the truth. They’ve been great, they all see the angle that I’m coming from.
“Some of the smaller ones and anyone who is very Christian, they don’t always get it. And they probably never will.
“It’s always a personal risk but I’ve reached the stage in my life where I’m old enough and financially secure enough to take that risk.
“It’s worth it to challenge some of these things that are happening in society. You can write all the press releases you like as the Rationalist Society or from a secular group … but nothing gets attention like invoking the name of Satan.”
For Mr Bell, it’s a case of what the hell does he have to lose?
Our question to students would be: who really is the good guy and who is the bad guy?