Posted on 08/16/2018 7:57:05 PM PDT by Simon Green
The Satanic Temple unveiled its statue Thursday of a goat-headed, winged creature called Baphomet during a First Amendment rally at the Arkansas State Capitol to protest a Ten Commandments monument already on the Capitol grounds.
With Satanists, atheists and Christians among those in attendance, several speakers called for the removal of the Ten Commandments monument or for state government officials to install Baphomet as well. The Satanic Temple said the Ten Commandments monument violates constitutional freedom of religion rights and that installation of their statue will demonstrate religious tolerance.
Satanic Arkansas cofounder Ivy Forrester, who helped organize the rally, said "if you're going to have one religious monument up then it should be open to others, and if you don't agree with that then let's just not have any at all."
The statue of Baphomet, who is seated and accompanied by two smiling children, can't be installed under a 2017 law that requires legislative sponsorship for consideration of any monument.
The Satanic Temple has said it will sue the state, claiming religious discrimination. But when the Satanic Temple tried to join a case the ACLU had already brought against the state, the ACLU asked the court to bar the intervention. A judge has not yet ruled whether the Satanic Temple can join the case.
The Ten Commandments monument was sponsored by Republican Sen. Jason Rapert and installed quietly in 2017. Less than 24 hours after its installation, a man drove his car into the monument, smashing it to pieces. The same man also destroyed a Ten Commandments monument outside of Oklahoma's state Capitol. The Satanic Temple had originally tried to install its Baphomet statue there, but Oklahoma's Supreme Court ruled the Ten Commandments monument was unconstitutional and it was taken down.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
“Go to Hell” used to be a curse. Now it is a preferred destination for idiots among us.
Un-fricking-beleivable
Well that needs a good smashing with a sledgehammer, and the people who pulled this stunt need a good @$$ whipping for annoying people with it.
Childhood's End.
Not even the ACLU wants the Satanists to join the case.
*PING*, ransomnote, bitt, Swordmaker.
Little Rock, eh? So Q is a LARP?
I thought they already had one...
Ya know, I’ve read the book on this and it does not go well for these guys but I guess they are going to have “their time”.
We are way, way down the cultural slope. This wouldn’t have flown in 1990. Can’t see it stopping at this point.
Freegards
Its basically a hate monument. The only reason it exists and the creed behind it is to mock Christianity so by liberal standards it shouldn’t be there.
Gee, it kind of looks like a Trump Star of Fame . . .
Who will hit it with a pick-axe?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
When written "Congress" meant the federal legislature. The Courts ruled that the 14th Amendment expands these restrictions to State governments (incorrectly I'm afraid).
The Ten Commandments has historical significance in the development of law in Western civilization. Thus there is a reasonable purely secular case that could be made for displaying them on government properties where law's are being legislated or adjudicated. I am not aware of any similar case that could be made for the demon statue. Its purpose as far as I can tell is to simply insult religion.
If the First Amendment is to be taken very broadly, then I think the case for banning the Demon statue from government property is far better than that of banning the Ten Commandments.
But I would not take it that broadly. Rather I think freedom of Religion is like freedom of Speech, those in government are not forbidden from speaking or from practicing or expressing religion. Rather, they are forbidden from making laws that force others to say one thing and/or not say another, or to compel people to worship or not worship, either God or even some stupid demon statue. Indeed, they are allowed to encourage people to pray for the Nation, as has been demonstrated by Congress doing so right around the same time the First Amendment was written. There is no "separation of Church in State" any more that there is a "separation of Speech and State".
I am surprised there isn’t a pizza box and a I’m With Her decal included on the sculpture.
As if to say, “We know God is real, but we’re going to worship this devil idol instead.”
I wouldn’t want to be in their place.
Why would you worship somebody with a goat head? Worst god evah!
Next stop . . . the anti-Christ’s image in the 3rd Temple in Jerusalem. We are right up against the 70th Week of Daniel. Today is the day of Salvation . . . just sayin’
and now I'm confused. If the ACLU is against them, then I should be for them, but I don't want to be on the side of satanists. I suppose I could argue that the ACLU are the real satanic cult and the "satanists" are just idiots in need of attention who will never accomplish any real evil.
Doesn’t this “offend” anybody? I guess not.
childhood’s end was freaky movie on SYFY.... very creepy....
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