Youth "ministry" in at least two churches in Winnipeg (and one in Providence) now includes Dungeons & Dragons

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14: 12 (also Proverbs 16:25)

I've never played or had any desire to play Dungeons & Dragons or any other fantasy role-playing game, but I remember when the game was at the peak of its popularity in the 1980s. One of the few times I ever watched Sally Jessy Raphael's tabloid television show was when she had an episode on D&D in 1989. One of her guests was Paul Valentine, founder of the World Church of Satanic Liberation, and even he said that Dungeons & Dragons could be dangerous for players if they had an evil Dungeon Master. Christians warned against the game in those days, but now there are at least two churches in Winnipeg that use D&D as part of youth "ministry."

There's an old saying, attributed to various people, "What you win them with is what you win them to," or "What wins them is what keeps them." If you use Dungeons & Dragons to attract young people to church, that's what you're winning them to, and what will keep them in church. When I read of the nonsense described in the following article, it makes me more grateful that the Lord saved me when He did. As reported by John Longhurst in the Winnipeg Free Press, October 16, 2024 (photos by Mr. Longhurst):

Fifty years ago, a new game appeared on the scene: Dungeons & Dragons.

Soon after being introduced, the fantasy role-playing game, with its magic, wizards, sorcerers and warlocks, was criticized by many Christian leaders who saw it as a portal to the demonic — a way for Satan to steal the souls of unsuspecting youth.

That was during the time of the so-called “satanic panic,” when some Christians saw the devil everywhere they looked, from heavy metal music to graffiti.

One religious tract that circulated at the time said the game — in which players embark on adventures in a fantasy setting, directed by a dungeon master — was a form of “intense occult training” that caused young people to become witches and even to kill themselves.

In at least two churches in Winnipeg, D&D is seen in a very different light.

At River East Church, which is affiliated with Mennonite Church Manitoba, the game is seen as a great way to engage youth.

That’s the view of associate pastor Aaron Thiessen, 35, who runs a twice-monthly D&D game night at the church for as many as 25 youth from grades 7 to 11.

Thiessen hadn’t played the game himself growing up.

“It’s not that my parents were against it; I just thought it wasn’t for me,” he says.

When he discovered many young people in the church were into D&D, Thiessen decided to start some informal game nights in 2017. It went so well, he made it an official youth activity in 2019.

“The first time we tried it, 10 young people showed up. Now we have trouble keeping up with all who want to play,” he says.

The pandemic put a dent in the game — though they kept playing it online — but it came back stronger than ever when COVID abated.

Many of the youth who come to game nights aren’t from the congregation.

“For some, it’s the one connection they have to a church,” Thiessen says, adding it enables him to engage youth he had not met before, in a different way.

For him, the game nights build community and provide him with opportunities to have natural conversations with youth. He especially likes to see introverts open up as they play.

As for who comes, it’s a good mix of male and female players.

“It’s not just for guys anymore,” he says.

Thiessen begins each session with a story from the Bible or a story of a saint. On an evening in October, it’s the story of Moses going up a mountain, where he saw a burning bush and heard the voice of God.

“Mountains were special places where people could run into a deity,” Thiessen tells the youth about that Bible story. “I’m curious about what stories you will tell tonight.”

For Thiessen, incorporating stories such as this is a way to include a bit of spiritual teaching.

“The Bible is a book of stories, stories that continue to impact us today, stories that shape us as people, just as D&D is about stories,” he says.

The game also gives him and the adults who volunteer as dungeon masters to run the games a way to explore issues outside the games themselves.

“It gives us chances to explore why things happen the way they do in a game, the moral choices characters make,” Thiessen says.

After the games, there can be a time to debrief and talk about what happened.

Nathan Christmas, 18, is a volunteer dungeon master at River East. For him, D&D is a core way to bring youth together in a fun activity.

“It’s a space where youth can get together and tell stories. It builds conversation, improv and critical thinking skills,” he says.

For Kiana, one of the youth playing the game, it’s an opportunity to be with friends and “be in a different world.” For Jaden, it’s about “creating new worlds and stories with friends.”

Another congregation using D&D is FaithWorks, an independent church that meets on the campus of Canadian Mennonite University.

It’s organized by Christopher Neufeld, 42, who wasn’t allowed to play the game as a child, owing to some sort of “ambiguous evil” that was said to surround it.

In high school, he started to play with friends. Today he uses it as a way to engage young adults in the congregation; he hopes to start another game for youth in the church, too.

“It’s a connecting point with the church for some of them. Something in common we can do together,” he says.

Kiana (left) and Nori play Dungeons & Dragons at River East Church.

Anton Klein serves as a dungeon master during game night at River East Church.

I remember the "satanic panic" in the '80s, which included accusations of "backmasking" in rock music recordings in the early years of the decade, and accusations of satanic ritual abuse and murder toward the end of the decade. The latter peaked from about 1988-1992, and faded away when evidence mounted that many of the accounts were the result of false memories. I believe the concerns about Dungeons & Dragons, however, are legitimate. A good book on the subject from a Christian perspective is Playing with Fire by John Weldon and James Bjornstad (1984).

December 30, 2024 update: This isn't happening only in the capital of Manitoba, but also in the capital of Rhode Island; as reported by Jonny Williams of the Providence Journal, December 28, 2024 (bold, links, photos in original):

PROVIDENCE – On a recent overcast afternoon on the second floor of a brick building on Bassett Street, a fierce battle raged. Fireballs soared across the room, magic zipped through the air and sharp claws ripped at people’s clothes and flesh.

This was, of course, no ordinary battle. Fire was not actually involved – no sprinklers went off, thankfully – and though spells were chanted, no supernatural forces invaded the space.

This was Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), a tabletop role-playing game where players suspend reality and for a few hours take on a fantastical identity as a barbarian, a bard, a ranger, a rogue, a warlock or a wizard – to name a few of the classes players can choose – and go on intrepid adventures.

A few minutes into the battle, however, the group paused the game and did something unusual: They bowed their heads and prayed. One of the party’s members had to step out of the skirmish to help care for a family member who was sick. Before he left, the group wanted to pray for him and his family.

Origins of Dungeons & Dragons 50 years ago

If the battle was unusual, the setting was odder still. The venue was not a crowded kitchen table but the administrative offices of an evangelical church in Providence. D&D, created 50 years ago in the basement of a game designer in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, has not always enjoyed a cordial relationship with Christianity.

The game began as a niche pastime among war gamers – people who played battle simulations with figurines – but it exploded in popularity during the Satanic Panic, a period of time in the 1980s filled with paranoia over rumored satanic rituals. D&D got swept up in the panic, gaining notoriety among conservative Christians who associated the game with the occult. What was often left out of the discussion was the fact that D&D’s creators, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, were both Christians themselves.

These days, however, D&D has shed much of the stigma associated with it, and some churches are turning to the game as an outreach tool to bring in nonbelievers.

Sanctuary, a church that meets at 15 Hayes St., is one of them. Mike Valdes, a lay leader at the church, says he and others were – in this case truly – supernaturally compelled to experiment with D&D as a form of ministry.

“We felt like God was actually kind of leading it. It wasn’t merely an idea, but something he wanted us to pursue,” Valdes said.

From left, Hannah Enos, Dungeon Master Mike Valdes, David DiPilato and Autumn Beaudoin play a game of Dungeons & Dragons at the Sanctuary church office in Providence. (Photo credit: Kris Craig, The Providence Journal)

An entry point for those uncomfortable with religion

For some people, church may not be a place where they feel comfortable or welcome, but a D&D game can break some of those barriers.

“Seeing that there are many people who would not want to step into the walls of a church but would totally be down to play D&D, we just saw a couple pieces coming together,” Valdes said. “This could be a way to create a community space for people to be in the room with people of faith but in a way that felt safer or more accessible.”

The ministry is still in a beta-testing phase, though about 50 people have expressed interest in participating. Valdes and other dungeon masters – who organize the game sessions, play side characters and guide the story – hosted two separate campaigns with a few players this year. The storylines eventually merged in a Marvel Cinematic Universe-style grand battle in the feywild, a parallel plane infused with magic and inhabited by sylvan creatures.

Dungeons & Dragons game pieces in play on the board. (Photo credit: Kris Craig, The Providence Journal)

An ogre game piece in Dungeons & Dragons. Providence's Sanctuary church is beta-testing the game as a way to welcome people who might not be comfortable in a traditional church setting. (Photo credit: Kris Craig, The Providence Journal)

Not just fun and games

People who play the game often see potential for more than just a fun time.

Jocelyn Bell is one of the players who has been beta-testing the idea. She plays as a level-four water genasi, a type of elemental genie. Like many Christians, she grew up in a religious community where D&D was taboo.

“I was in a church environment as a kid that equated Dungeons and Dragons with [the] demonic,” Bell said.

Bell is now a fan of fantasy, and she even found a way to incorporate D&D in her work. A sociology professor, she uses D&D and fantasy as tools to teach her students about social justice.

Gabrielle Neel is another player who has helped Valdes with the beta-testing. A librarian, Neel has used D&D as a therapeutic tool to help children with autism and special needs express themselves. Research has shown that playing D&D can have salubrious effects on a person’s mental health.

Some Christians may still not feel entirely comfortable playing D&D. The game has fiendish monsters and dark magic, elements that have been frowned upon in more conservative religious circles.

But Valdes said the group has taken its time to explore these aspects of the game in a safe way, and the leaders are always praying for wisdom on how to best use D&D as an opportunity for ministry.

This much was evident in the upper room on Bassett Street. As the game started, Valdes prayed, “[God], be another player at the table, and we dedicate this time to you and invite you to be present and active among us.”

The Dungeons & Dragons player handbook. Once condemned by conservative Christians for its association with the occult, the game has since shed much of its former stigma. (Photo credit: Kris Craig, The Providence Journal)

I don't know if Dungeons & Dragons has changed over the last 40 years--I suspect not--but what has changed is that Evangelicalism has noticeably become more worldly and less discerning.

Residents of small town in Delaware triumph over ban on nativity scene

An item of apparent good news, for a change; first, the bad news, as reported by the Dover Delaware State News, December 5, 2019 (bold in original):

GEORGETOWN — Unattended displays, such as nativity scenes that sparked debate in Rehoboth Beach, are no longer permitted on The Circle in Georgetown.

A 2019 change in town code regarding The Circle’s usage policy now prohibits standing or unattended structures or displays in the picturesque heart of the town.

“No unattended displays are permitted on The Circle any longer,” said Georgetown Town Manager Eugene Dvornick. “It could be anything that is unattended — posters, signs or where somebody comes up and sets up a display or a table and leaves information. It would have to be attended the entire time.”

Town code authorizes the town manager to remove any display that violates this provision.

“Most of it is from a safety standpoint, as we have been seeing more and more winds, stuff blowing out from The Circle in the traffic lane,” Mr. Dvornick said. “Most of it’s for protection and safety.”

During the 2018 Christmas season, a nativity scene was placed in The Circle by the Georgetown Wesleyan Church, Mr. Dvornick said. It was permitted at that time, but, under the revised policy enacted by council earlier this year, is no longer allowed unless it is attended.

About a year ago, controversy arose in Rehoboth Beach when the city ordered the removal of a nativity scene on the Boardwalk Bandstand because it does not permit religious displays on city property.

In late November, more than 150 people, mostly Catholic protesters, assembled outside Rehoboth City Hall to request city officials reverse the ban and allow the display. Rev. William Cocco of St. Edmond Catholic Church asked city commissioners to let the nativity return to its “proper place” at bandstand.

As of Tuesday morning, Mr. Dvornick said there has been no backlash regarding Georgetown’s policy change.
“I’m sure that it’s like anything, that there will be people that support it, people that oppose it and some people that aren’t impacted either way,” he said. “So far, I have not had any feedback.”

Georgetown’s revised code states it “is unlawful for any person to place or maintain an unattended display in The Circle (any item, including a picture, statue, symbol, or similar item, that is intended to serve or be seen as a visual depiction or expression where the person sponsoring or responsible for the placement or maintenance of the display is not in attendance or in close proximity to the item displayed).”

As a result, a person may not affix any poster, sign or other object to trees, monuments, street signs, benches and other objects in The Circe.

Georgetown’s prohibition for unattended displays does not apply to displays placed by the town or other government entities for government purposes or to signs authorized by town code. However, approval of the town manager must be obtained prior to any placement.

Elsewhere in Kent, Sussex

In a sampling of downstate Delaware, municipalities reported they have not encountered any controversy associated with religious displays on government-owned property.

Millsboro Town Manager Sheldon Hudson does not recall grappling with an issue like the one Rehoboth Beach saw.
“That has never really come up since I’ve been here. We’ve never had to deal with the issue,” he said. “Certainly, the town understands why other cities take a different approach. We tend to take the ‘more versus less’ approach.”

All displays at Millsboro Town Center are provided by the town, Mr. Hudson noted.

If the town were approached about placing a religious display on town property, Mr. Hudson said he would probably present the request “to council and have town attorney review, especially with it being such a hot potato right now and so sensitive.”

Dagsboro, Seaford, Bridgeville and Ocean View each reported no laws or past problems with religious displays.
“We just have an internal policy that we don’t allow anyone to put any signage on town property, without prior approval,” said Bridgeville Town Manager Jesse Savage. “Since I have been here no one has ever attempted or requested to put that type of display. There is no ordinance, nothing in our code that prevents it or addresses it currently.”

Kent County Levy Court does not a formal policy on religious displays, according to a spokeswoman, who said she was unaware of any related problems arising at county headquarters.

A spokeswoman for Dover wrote in an email the city has or will put up decorations for the upcoming Christmas holiday, such as lights and a Christmas tree, but lacks an official ordinance.

“Living in a diverse community we are fortunate enough to have representation from almost all organizations and churches and have confidence that they depict our community very well as a whole for the City of Dover,” Kay Sass said.

Controversy in Rehoboth

According to Rehoboth Beach Mayor Paul Kuhns, part of the issue with the nativity scene stemmed from a misunderstanding and misinformation.

“Going back to last year there was a miscommunication between the parties as far as being able to put the nativity scene — I think it was the Catholic church that put it up, St. Edmond’s — at the bandstand,” Mayor Kuhns said. “There was a conversation, and the next day the nativity scene just appeared.

“Unfortunately, the group that put up the nativity scene did not get permission and did not get a permit. Because we have a policy about religious displays on public property, we asked them to take it down and it was taken down. A lot of people were up in arms about it last year and certain facts got lost in translation.”

As a follow-up, the city met with local religious leaders in attempts to plan for 2019.

“It turned out they wanted to have the opportunity to share and be inclusive. The only thing that we heard of was that the manger, or this creche, would come up again,” said Mayor Kuhns.

Most of the leaders that met with Rehoboth City Manager Sharon Lynn “really had no inclination to go one way or the other,” according to the mayor.

For the second year in a row, the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce offered to host the nativity scene in front of a building it leases.

“The city manager made that offer from the chamber to St. Edmond’s Church back in October. They did have a protest vigil, very peaceful out in front of city hall a week or so ago,” Mayor Kuhns said. “And again, there has never been any kind of answer coming out of St. Edmond’s to the offer that was made by the chamber that was signed off on by the city.”

“What is interesting is the property that the chamber has offered is right next door to where the creche was placed for probably 12 or 13 years,” he said adding the city offered to stop parking permit in front of the chamber “so it would be very visible as you drive into town on Rehoboth Avenue.”

Before 2018, the display had not been at the bandstand for more than a decade, the mayor said.
“A lot of people have been throwing out the false facts, if you will, about historically of how it’s always been at the bandstand. That is just not the case,” said Mayor Kuhns.

“Factually, the city has never said there can’t be any kind of religious displays in the city of Rehoboth.
“I’m all for it on private property. People are entitled to do whatever they’d like on private property. However, on public property the city needs to remain neutral.”

The town's action sparked an immediate and large negative reaction, as indicated by the following comments:

• So there won’t be any display for any holiday, got it. — Erik Pepper

• Kinda goes beyond holidays, the ordinance says “no standing or unattended structures or displays.” — Brian P Slattery

• It should include political signs. — Chuck Mankin

• Just put it on visible private property. Problem solved. — Tyler Beguiler

• Remember this on Election Day. — Gene Hansen

• Then there shouldn’t be a “Christmas” tree anywhere on pubic property either – after all there is “Christ” in this display!!! — Lynne Bassett Spear Bonfiglio

• Next “In God we Trust” will be erased off money. — Anthony C. Willey Jr.

• Grabbing at straws aren’t we — looking for reasons why we can’t have a nativity scene. Of all the stupid reasons “something might be blown into the street!!” Let’s just tell it like it is: We are catering to the hateful few — Mary Grampp Brown

• People are still acting like this is going to hurt their Christmas. Christmas isn’t being canceled. You’ll still overspend for people you don’t even like. You will still go about your day-to-day life. — Paul Kennedy

• So they’re no longer going to put flags up for Memorial Day? — Monica Prettner

• Overload your homes with Christmas cheer. — Toni Thomas Bergfelder

• And people ask why I moved to Florida. Besides the great weather we have “In God We Trust” on our license plates! — Beth Rosebrooks

• Do a live one. — Tim Shockley

• Other banned under this rule should be Santa house, wreaths, pole decorations, Christmas tree, lights — this can too blow into ongoing traffic since not under constant supervision like the nativity scene. — Robert Ray

• Live nativity scenes are attended. Local churches, lets fill the calender up until Christmas. — Mack Townsend

• The “safety” issue is a coverup! Unattended displays have never been a problem before. The nativity scene has been up for years! It’s the unhinged left that pushed the mayor into a corner where they got their way. He has got no backbone. People need to start standing up for Christ! You deny Him, He will deny you! This is so sad! — Abby Fink

• So, any unattended item should be considered abandoned properly right? — Allen Cramer

• Boycotting the Georgetown celebrations, that is the only way to show this elected officials we are not happy with their decisions, then vote this people out of office. That is our problem today. No one bothers to vote and this idiots hold office for years and start to feel powerful and no longer care what we the people think or want. — Marie Cutillo Thompson

• I say we ban any Delaware official from putting up signs for their reelection campaign. — Reddy Hannum

• But they are still having a parade and the Santa house. Why is Santa OK and Jesus is not? So sad and hypocritical. I will be at the live nativity instead. — Daun Benussi Crane

The residents of Georgetown responded with more than words, as reported by the Delaware State News, December 9, 2019:

GEORGETOWN — Thanks to an avalanche of response and support spurred initially by the Good Ole Boy Foundation, The Circle in the heart of Georgetown will host nativity scene after all.

It will be a live nativity, as unattended displays of any kind on The Circle are now prohibited under a town of Georgetown policy revision approved by council earlier this year.

“It’s a ‘go’ for sure,” said Josh Wharton, Good Ole Boy Foundation spokesman.

Good Ole Boy Foundation member K.C. Conaway, with Dagsboro Church of God’s youth ministry, said, “It is going to be an awesome event from our community. We’ve got an awesome community. It is just one of those things where it is time to come together … and let the community speak for itself.

These are some of the beliefs and traditions that we hold dear.”

So, beginning Wednesday, the game plan is to have the live nativity on The Circle from 6 to 8 p.m. each night through Christmas Eve.

As of Sunday, about a dozen churches from throughout Sussex County had pledged to participate in staging the live nativity. Organizers anticipate participation requests will only grow.

“We thought that we would have enough community support. It seemed like the support was there already and they just needed somebody to take action,” said Mr. Conaway.

The live nativity idea arose after word spread through media and social media last week that unattended displays and structures, such as nativity placed on The Circle previously by the Georgetown Wesleyan Church are prohibited following the town’s revision of The Circle Use Policy. Georgetown Town Manager Eugene Dvornick said revision is primarily geared toward public safety and protection.

“We fully understand the decision made by the town of Georgetown, and after hearing the backlash of that decision, we felt our community wanted this … and we accepted that challenge,” said Mr. Wharton.

“It was a matter of just people responding to a difficult decision. We don’t know the circumstances upon which the decision had to made. We are not in their shoes,” Mr. Conaway said. “But we just decided that, ‘Hey, if you can’t do an unattended display, then we can make it attended.’”

Permission has been granted from the town.

“We are really humbled,” said Mr. Conaway. “We are appreciative of the town giving us the opportunity to do this. We had to file a permit and get it approved. We went through the proper chains. We’ve been in communication with town officials and the Georgetown police. We’re just trying to do it the right way.”

The structure – which resembles a typical stable, Mr. Conaway said – was built over the weekend. It will be broken down and totally removed from The Circle after each nativity night.

Some nights may be pending, based on weather. “But we’re going to try to get out there as many nights as we can. So, we’re looking at about 14 nights,” said Mr. Conaway.

Nativity-type clothing and costumes are in the works for participants.

Mr. Conaway emphasized that is not a protest, but an alternative, one that hopefully will bring churches of different denominations and people of all ages, races and nationalities together as participants and nativity audiences.

The GOBF opted to go through the church route for nightly staffing, which is ongoing online.

“We’ve had a lot of churches as far as membership and individuals from churches reach out to us wanting to get involved,” said Mr. Conaway. “We knew this was going to be a pretty massive effort just to try to coordinate everyone being there. So, we decided that we would just try to reach out to churches first, because they can bring a group of people.”

“We are trying to make this an opportunity where we can do something together to benefit the community. You’ve got Methodist church, Baptist church, Pentecostal churches … you’ve got all of these different denominations all coming together,” Mr. Conaway said. “We’re going to have an online signup to kind of organize the masses.”

In keeping with the season in conjunction with the live nativity, the GOBF is promoting the opportunity to give back. Each week, the plan is to feature two “real good organizations in the community,” Mr. Conaway said.

“We figure this is about Baby Jesus, so we’re going to see what we can for do for the Sussex County Pregnancy Care Center, and we’re looking at doing the Sussex County Foster Parent Association,” said Mr. Conaway. “We are asking for people to bring out donations.”

The kinds of donations needed will be posted on the Good Ole Boy Foundation Facebook page, Mr. Conaway said.
Additionally, plans are to include traditional cold-weather holiday refreshments.

“We are hoping to have cookies and hot chocolate,” said Mr. Conaway. “So, if people come by and if they want to drop off a donation, we’ll grant them with a friendly cup of hot chocolate and cookies. It’s a win for the community.”
The live nativity materialized in about seven days.

“It has been about a week birthing the idea,” said Mr. Conaway. “There was a series of phone calls that were made by a group of guys and ladies that sparked this idea. We realized very quickly that this is something that people are very passionate about. We, Good Ole Boys, are here to help our community when we are in need.”

As reported by Glenn Rolfe in the Delaware State News, December 12, 2019 (link in original):

GEORGETOWN – In what is being hailed a spectacular production, the birth of Baby Jesus was brought to life Wednesday evening on The Circle in Georgetown with the first of 14 planned live nativity events.

The live nativity became a reality in less than a week through a massive community effort spurred initially by the Good Ole Boy Foundation.

Local churches with members in costume have pledged to participate in the nativity showings, scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each evening through Christmas Eve – weather permitting.

The live nativity comes in response to a recent town of Georgetown code change governing The Circle Use Policy that prohibits all unattended structures and displays, such as the nativity scene that was previously placed on The Circle by a church in Georgetown.

The revision was in the realm of public safety and protection, according to town officials.

The huge stable/manger – which has wheels allowing for easy movement – was built last weekend through Duke’s Lumber and a crew of skilled volunteers.

As a backdrop, the nativity also features the Christmas Star and an angel raised in the heavens above the stable.

There will be free hot chocolate and cookies nightly, plus chances for youngsters to win a special prize each evening.

In the spirit of giving, organizers welcome donations to support the Sussex County Pregnancy Care Center and the Sussex County Foster Parent Association.

For more information and updates, visit the Good Ole Boy Foundation Facebook page.

To sign up for the nativity, visit the newly created website: www.nativityonthecircle.com.

Local Satanists decided to stage their own event, as reported by the Delaware State News, December 13, 2019:

GEORGETOWN — The First State Satanists group has received permission from the town of Georgetown to hold a vigil on The Circle Dec. 21, the same date and time as a live nativity spurred by the Good Ole Boy Foundation.
Georgetown Town Manager Gene Dvornick said he received a “Circle Use Permit” request from the Delaware-based group and it has been reviewed and approved.

First State Satanists, a non-theistic modern satanic group, plan to hold a public candlelight vigil in observance of the winter solstice, the group announced in a press release Friday.

Per the request to the town, First State Satanists plan to have a vigil “celebrating their deeply held religious beliefs and religious diversity in Southern Delaware.”

The First State Satanists’ permit for The Circle was requested for Dec. 21 from 5 to 9 p.m. The group’s release lists the time for the winter solstice gathering from 6 to 8 p.m.

The First State Satanists’ vigil would coincide with an ongoing live nativity also planned on The Circle that evening. Nightly presentations began there Wednesday, Dec. 11, and are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. through Dec. 24.

According to the First State Satanists’ release, “the winter solstice, also known as midwinter, has historically been celebrated as the last major feast before the freeze of winter to celebrate the new solar year and is a time of light and bounty. A wide variety of ancient religions have for centuries celebrated holidays marked by midwinter, including Yule and Saturnalia.

This event will serve as an opportunity for the group and the community to come together with love and light on the longest night of the year, in celebration of the longer days to come, the closing of the current year, and the beginning of a new decade.”

The live nativity effort was spurred by the Good Ole Boy Foundation stemming from community reaction to a recent town of Georgetown policy revision that in the realm of public safety and protection prohibits unattended displays and structures on The Circle. In past years, a church had put nativity on The Circle.

In a statement the Good Ole Boy Foundation said it “is proud to have pulled our community together to bring the first ever live nativity scene to the Georgetown circle over the last few days. The community response has been tremendous, and it has been enjoyable to see everyone come out to celebrate the true reason for the season. We certainly understand that other groups with different views have the same right to express their beliefs on public property. We look forward to continuing to bring joy to Delawareans with our display each night through Christmas Eve.”

Mr. Dvornick said both organizations were notified that “should the town receive a request for other events during the same timeframe as your event, after appropriate review, approval may be granted for use of another area of The Circle.”

In both instances, as part of their permits, The Circle is to remain open to the public at all times, not to block any pedestrians, to allow people that want to come up and take pictures of the Christmas tree, walk around the Circle, etc., Mr. Dvornick said.

“It is an open public space,” he said.

I always find it amusing that atheists and Satanists can never come up with anything original of their own, but can only come up with a counterfeit variation of Christian practices.

The nativity presentation turned out to be a success, as reported by Mr. Rolfe, December 25, 2019:

GEORGETOWN – A Sussex County community was united by the presentation of the living nativity on The Circle – a nightly two-week production spurred by the Good Ole Boy Foundation and its outreach network.

“We pray the Living Nativity has blessed your family this Christmas,” the Good Ole Boy Foundation stated in a Dec. 24 posting.

It wrapped up with a candlelight Christmas Eve service.

The overall production drew requests for the live nativity’s return in 2020.

“We’ll just say this: ‘Stay tuned! Something bigger is going to happen next year,” said Good Ole Boy Foundation spokesman Josh Wharton. “We planned this in a week. Give us year.”

“We’ll see how next year plays out, but I’m sure that there is going to be pretty good public cries for us to do something again,” said Good Ole Boy Foundation member K.C. Conaway, who proposed the living nativity idea following community response to a new Georgetown ordinance that prohibited placement of unattended displays, such as a nativity, on The Circle...

...And it far exceeded expectations of organizers.

“The support from the community has been phenomenal,” Mr. Wharton said. “When you go out to public places and you overhear conversations of people talking about it, it really lets you know that you hit home.”

“Our expectations have been blown out of the water,” Mr. Conaway said. “It has just been an incredible showing of the community. And not only that just the different churches, different organizations coming together. Different cultures, different denominations, all coming together for one thing, and that is to celebrate the real reason of season – Jesus Christ.”

“It has been a fantastic event for the community,” said Mr. Wharton. “It is really nice to see our community come together not only for Jesus Christ, but just to come together in general. We live in a time … where we feel as if we have different opinions, we can’t get along. And that is not the case. You might like red, I might like blue, but we can still be friends.”

Mr. Conaway would like to see this effort expand throughout the area.

“Hopefully, some of these other churches, some of these other organizations … we’d love this to offshoot to different towns. Not just us doing it, but other people just kind of seeing the model that we have done and put together,” said Mr. Conaway. “We can have a peaceful time together. We can enjoy each other’s company, meet people that we have not seen in 20 years.”

As expected, one of the largest attended nights for the live nativity was Dec. 21, the same evening a group, First State Satanists, with permission granted by the town, held a candlelight vigil on The Circle in observance of the winter solstice.

“You know what? We love them. And Jesus loves them. We’re going to pray for them,” said Mr. Wharton. “We don’t agree with their message but we 100 percent support them being here. They can do what they want so long as it’s peaceful, just like we can. And that’s why we live in the greatest country in the world – and the greatest county.”

Estimates of 800 to 1,000, attended the Dec. 21 live nativity.

“Seeing this tonight, seeing everybody show up just kind of charges us up to do even more possibly next year,” Mr. Conaway said.

Ironically, this shining chapter in 2019 probably would never have occurred had it not been for the backlash and criticism of Georgetown officials following word of a new town ordinance governing use of The Circle that prohibits unattended display and structures.

A local church, Georgetown Wesleyan Church, had previously placed an unattended creche on The Circle.

As an alternative, Mr. Conaway approached the town with a live nativity proposal and a permit was granted. The GOBF network swung into action, support grew, a plan was put in place and within a few days, it was showtime.

But the plan was to do more than just a live nativity.

Two organizations with connections to infants and young children – Sussex Pregnancy Care Center and Sussex County Foster Parent Association – were designated as recipients of requested donations.

“It’s all about a baby. These last two weeks of December are all about a baby, Baby Jesus, and we wanted to help the babies in our community,” said Mr. Wharton...

...So, come December 2020, Sussex Countians may have an even better reason to stay in Sussex.

“Especially,” said Mr. Conaway, “if you give us a year to plan.”

“Words can’t describe how much this has meant to us,” said Mr. Wharton.

“We never imagined when we started this three weeks ago that we’d have the following and the support and the lives that would be touched through this little act that we’ve done. It was worth every minute when you come out every night and give your time during the holiday season just to show support for the true meaning of the season.”

“So, stayed tuned for next year,” Mr. Wharton added. “Because we can guarantee you it is going to be bigger and better.”

While the result of this seems like good news, there's a danger of the fellowship becoming too broad, and that real Christian churches might become unequally yoked with unbiblical churches, and that the event will become merely a community service event. I pray the Christians of Sussex County, Delaware will exercise discernment in their fellowship and actions.

The Satanic Temple seeks to establish a student group at the University of Alberta

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come...
...Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away...
...But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. II Timothy 3:1,5,13

The evil that has been prophesied to be characteristic of the last days is increasingly out of the closet, and university campuses provide ample evidence. From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (bold in original):

secular adjective
sec·​u·​lar | \ ˈse-kyə-lər \

Definition of secular (Entry 1 of 2)

1a: of or relating to the worldly or temporal
// secular concerns

b: not overtly or specifically religious
// secular music

c: not ecclesiastical or clerical
// secular courts
// secular landowners

As posted on Reddit late in July 2019 (bold, link in original):

Posted byu/shinygoldhelmet

Would anyone else be interested in helping start a new student group as a chapter of the Satanic Temple?

Ooooo, Satanism. I know. It's scary! Those are the people who put subliminal messages in rock music, and who sacrifice goats! Aaaahhh!

Before you run off clutching your pearls and turning pale, have a read through the actual philosophy of the group:

There are seven fundamental tenets:

1. One should strive to act with compassion and empathy towards all creatures in accordance with reason.

2. The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.

3. One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.

4. The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend.

5. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one's own.

6. Beliefs should conform to our best scientific understanding of the world. We should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit our beliefs.

7. People are fallible. If we make a mistake, we should do our best to rectify it and remediate any harm that may have been caused.

Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought.

The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.

The mission of The Satanic Temple is to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense and justice, and be directed by the human conscience to undertake noble pursuits guided by the individual will. Politically aware, Civic-minded Satanists and allies in The Satanic Temple have publicly opposed The Westboro Baptist Church, advocated on behalf of children in public school to abolish corporal punishment, applied for equal representation where religious monuments are placed on public property, provided religious exemption and legal protection against laws that unscientifically restrict women's reproductive autonomy, exposed fraudulent harmful pseudo-scientific practitioners and claims in mental health care, and applied to hold clubs along side other religious after school clubs in schools besieged by proselytizing organizations.

You may have heard of TST in the news lately as they've just been granted tax exempt status as a religion from the IRS, the first satanic organization to do so!

Anyways, I just thought I'd see if anyone else out there would be interested in forming a new student group. We need at least 10 members to register with the SU and receive official status and be able to apply for grants and funding.

A subsequent post, also from late in July 2019 (bold, link in original):

Posted byu/shinygoldhelmet

Meeting to form a new student group - Secular Students for Reason and Justice. Please come out and see what it's about!

Hello folks!

Some of you may recall my previous post about starting a group as an unofficial chapter of The Satanic Temple. This group is still that, however after speaking with representatives of TST, I have been told that while they approve of the group forming and are excited for us to do so, we cannot use their name or logos or call ourselves an official chapter or say we're affiliated ... yet.

I know a few people on this sub were very interested in joining up, and we need 10 altogether in order to do so. Since I am a grad student, I also need two others to be on the executive. Well, probably one other, as /u/delciopp already expressed interest in being part of the founding executive.

What the group will be about

We cannot call ourselves a part of TST, but we are able to state that we follow the 7 Tenets that are the guiding principles of life as a Satanist...

...Our mission will be to promote these tenets, but it's not like we're going to go door knocking or riding around on bikes. We will promote them by being examples of reason and justice in our daily lives. We will advocate for those who have no voice, we will show up at protests, Pride parades, and charity events and show that one can be good without a god or religion in one's life. We will also be active in promoting debate and free speech on campus, potentially sponsoring or bringing in speakers at some point in the future.

There is an unofficial chapter of TST in Edmonton called Friends of TST Edmonton Chapter, and I've spoken with them. They're overwhelmingly supportive of us forming, especially since there are student groups on campus for pretty much all other religions. Anyone who wants to join this group would be more than welcome to also join that group, I've been told. We are welcome to go to their events and to join in on their charity drives. Once they become an official chapter (the process for which could take a year or so), then we would be free to officially affiliate with them.

Do you have to call yourself a Satanist in order to join? No, not at all. You must, however, agree to abide by the tenets to the best of your ability.

Who can join? Anyone! We will welcome anyone, from lifelong atheists to those who've left a religion, to agnostics or people who don't give a fuck about religion and just want to do some good in their life.

When and where is the meeting? I'm a little open on this one, but I have time from 1p - 2p on Saturday the 27th, and anywhere from 1p - 5p on Sunday the 28th. I haven't decided on a location yet, but somewhere on or near campus. Specifics to come once there are people interested!

In the first post, the group claims affiliation with the Temple of Satan, which claims to be "the primary religious Satanic organization in the world." In the second post, however, they call themselves "Secular Students for Reason and Justice." The Temple of Satan's own claims don't fit the definition of "secular" given by Merriam-Webster. How can this group be both "religious" and "secular"? To quote Sherlock Holmes out of context, "Most singular! Most remarkable!"

20 years ago: Good riddance to Anton LaVey

On October 29, 1997, Anton Szandor LaVey, who founded the Church of Satan in 1966 and published The Satanic Bible in 1969, died at the age of 67. Mr. LaVey, born Howard Stanton Levey, was mainly a con man and a showman, and often seemed to do things in order to generate publicity; many aspects of his biography that he claimed for himself have apparently been proven untrue. Anton LaVey was already largely forgotten by the time of his death, and with the further passage of time, I suspect he will increasingly be regarded as a footnote character in the culture of the 1960s.

The book Selling Satan: The Tragic History of Mike Warnke (1993) by Mike Hertenstein and Jon Trott contains an appendix titled Reality is a Sometime Thing: A Strange Evening with Anton LaVey. As part of the research for their book, Messrs. Hertenstein and Trott were dinner guests circa 1991-1992 at the home of Mr. LaVey and his longtime companion Blanche Barton, and provided the following commentary on Mr. LaVey:

If our quest had been to discover the "real" Anton LaVey, here at last he was: a human being on the edge of eternity, grasping after immortality and significance. he seemed very much alone and quite deluded...

...the interplay between Anton LaVey's barricaded Kingdom of Evil and the rest of the world was full of contradictions. The Satanic Bible, which purported to be a celebration of will, was actually a celebration of LaVey's will, full of "oughts" and "shoulds" that any real nonconformist would have thrown out the window. The Black Pope, hater of humanity--who has praised such isolated "joys" as masturbation--worries about being forgotten, his own icon smashed by time. One had to wonder if perhaps LaVey's entire masquerade was just one long whistle past the graveyard, an attempt to tame evil and take the sting out of death by reducing them to mere objects of "kitsch." But the last laugh was coming.

Jon shook the iron gate--Blanche had insisted we make sure it was locked behind us. We waved to her on the porch and she pulled the front door shut, securing the black house from the violent world of homicidal nuts that LaVey, with his bubble gum nihilism, had helped to create. As we headed down California Street toward our car, my partner and I felt a great sadness for Anton LaVey. It was clear that his chain-link fence against the darkness wasn't going to hold out for much longer.