The Satanic Temple to unveil 'Baphomet' monument in Detroit

Detroit Metro Times ^ | Thu, Jun 18, 2015 | Lee DeVito

[nickcarraway]

Atheist activist group The Satanic Temple is apparently making good on its mission to erect a statue of Satan, intended for an ultimate destination next to the Oklahoma State Capitol's monument of the Ten Commandments. In fact, TST plans to unveil the completed statue for the first time in Detroit next month.

Why Detroit? Last year, the group chose Detroit as the location for its first national chapter house. "Detroit is our first and primary chapter," spokesman Doug Mesner says by email. "We feel at home in Detroit."

The group of culture jammers pushes for a separation of church and state by distributing Satanic literature and fighting to be included alongside displays of Christianity on state grounds. Last year, the group erected a small temporary holiday display on Lansing's Capitol lawn when it was announced that a Nativity scene was being proposed for the location.

The finished Oklahoma sculpture depicts "Baphomet," Satanism's winged, goat-headed icon. In a press release, TST calls the bronze monument — which weighs one ton and stands at nearly nine feet tall — "already the most controversial and politically charged contemporary work of art in the world."

While Oklahoma's Ten Commandments statue was destroyed last year after being run over by a car, it was swiftly replaced in January. Meanwhile, the group's request to place the Satanic monument on the same grounds has not been granted. Mesner tells us that the Satanic Temple is currently gearing up for a lawsuit against Oklahoma; it is expected to be officially filed before the unveiling event.

In the meantime, the statue will get an unveiling party on Saturday, July 25 at Bert's Warehouse Theatre on 2739 Russell St. in Detroit. The party starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $75 for VIP and available for purchase online.

VIP ticket holders get an exclusive opportunity to be photographed with the statue, receive a limited edition poster, and "an opportunity to meet and greet with TST Executive Ministry," according to the flyer. "Cocktail attire" is encouraged — "dress to impress the devil."

[MeshugeMikey]

Im guessing things will be heating up post haste.

[cripplecreek]

Detroit is a lot of things but socially liberal and “tolerant” is not one of them.

Between the black Baptists, the Catholics, the Copts, Assyrians, Marronites, Chaldeans etc, I’m guessing there will be a few complaints.

[MeshugeMikey]

from what Ive gathered he is sort of the “dark side” of a firebrand

[Terry L Smith]

Dear nick, re:"<> Not necessarily. St.Thomas said evil is the absences of God, so I think it follows." Do you mind explaining what you meant by that? I said NOTHING about 'evil', so don't go putting suppositions in my mouth. Are you suppositing that anything that aint christian is 'evil'? Are you suppositing that you did NOT pick up on that line that i further explained, which to you is 'evil'? You have done this before, with your one-liners, that you think EVERYBODY gets, and goes nod, nod, wink, wink. Yet, a first-time reader will see your one-liners, and think 'wtf'. Explain, son. Teach, dude.