The latest buzz over the suspected prevalence of “satan worship” in Kerala reminded me of a similar fear among people over a new church that was being built in the heart of Chennai a few years ago. Besides emails alerting faithful to watch out for Satan setting up shop, whispers about the huge building coming up on a sprawling campus, a prime real estate property, were heard everywhere.
So, a reporter, who had received an email that came with a map of the construction site, and I began surfing the net for information to follow the story. An official website of a certain Church of Satan claimed it was the first “above-ground organisation” openly dedicated to acceptance of Man’s true nature. But it did not lead us anywhere close to the people behind the construction of the church as it said that the US-based outfit had no branches anywhere else. Another post in the Internet mentioned that people like us (journalists and researchers, particularly) are not encouraged to poke their noses into the secret affairs of Satan worshipers.
We hit a cul-de-sac otherwise as everyone who firmly asserted that the building was indeed a Church of Satan had only heard it from someone. Either at the “church shop”, incidentally close to the construction site, from someone having his cuppa over a cigarette or from a dedicated “church member” in the locality. Yes, the locality is even otherwise known for its churches of all denominations. The “church shop” where the gossip took place is just outside the Little Mount Church, a holy place for Roman Catholics as St Thomas is believed to have lived in a cave on the premises. It is also adjacent to the “Satan Church” under construction.
Then across the bustling arterial road, off which is both St Thomas’s abode of yore and devil’s new home situated, is another evangelical protestant church that attracts faithful in thousands for its Sunday services, and half a dozen other churches within 2-3km radius.
So was it the location or satan worship itself that was a matter of concern? Whatever it was, many wondered where the satanists were lurking. They should be huge in numbers, going by the size of the building under construction. Or will there be conversions? A list of Eleven Satanic Rules of Earth sounded modern and progressive, too. One of the rules went like this: “Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.” Contradicting popular notions about devil worshippers, another rule said, “Do not harm little children.” Another belied the image of gore linked with satanic rituals saying, “Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.”
But many faithful were concerned and wrung their hands helplessly until the building was completed in the middle of 2012. It was a church, but for Mormons and called the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints. Well, then everyone asked: Are there Mormons in Chennai?