Atheist, satanist literature to be available for students in Colorado school district
Following the move by Gideon International to make Bibles accessible to students in a school district in Colorado, secular groups are also going to make atheist and satanist materials available.
"We do not think schools should be a battleground for religious ideas," said Freedom from Religion Foundation staff attorney Andrew Seider, in a letter to the Delta County School District. "But when schools allow the Gideons to prey on children, their message of eternal damnation for any who don't believe in their God must be countered."
According to the Christian News Network, Gideon International made Bibles available to students in December, and the FFRF reportedly tried to stop it. However, since the school district did not agree, the group, along with others like the Satanic Temple and Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers, decided to make a similar move.
Seider's letter lists the literature that they wish to distribute, including a coloring book titled "The Satanic Children's Big Book of Activities"; brochures like "It's Okay to Not Believe in God!"; and non-tracts like "Ten Common Myths About Atheists," "What's Wrong With The Ten Commandments?" and "An X-Rated Book (Sex and Obscenity in the Bible)," among others. The reading materials are expected to become available on April 1.
Says the Delta County School District website: "As a District we believe that our mission is to provide information to our students and teach them to think critically. We want to be able to get information to our students that will be meaningful and help them. With this belief come some consequences.
"Per our policy ANY noncurricular materials shall be allowed unless it is considered 'hate', promotes hostility or violence, commercial purposes by advertising a product, interferes with the schools, promotes candidacy in an election, or is obscene or pornographic."
After review, the materials are placed in a designated location in the school premises where students are free to take them.
Kurt Clay, assistant superintendent of the Delta County School District, told Christian News Network, "The way the policy is written, cannot discriminate what is handed out. We just have to follow the process."
Some parents are reportedly against the distribution.
The FFRF letter has the subject "Literature distribution and possible bullying of nonreligious students," as it also lists examples of non-religious students being bullied in school.
