Ready to serve!
Posted on 05/03/2014 8:29:06 AM PDT by kindred
Hey, kids! Come sit on Baphomet's lap! The Satanic Temple, based out of New York City, allowed Vice a sneak-peek at their crowdfunded statue that they plan to place right alongside a monument of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of Oklahoma's capitol building in Oklahoma City.
The seven-foot-tall statue includes an effigy of a 14th Century pagan figure known as Baphomet surrounded by two children gazing up at him. A throne, complete with a pentagram, is also being constructed for the figure to rest upon. After the design is complete, the statue will be cast in bronze and delivered to Oklahoma.
The statue is intended for children to interact with. The Temple states this purpose on their IndieGoGo page: "We are keenly attune to the need for a public-friendly design and plan is to make our monument an object of play for young children" -- even telling CNN people can sit in the devil's lap "for inspiration and contemplation."
Through their IndieGoGo campaign, The Satanic Temple was able to raise $8,000 more than their posted goal of $20,000. The campaign was launched in December to "complement and contrast" the Ten Commandments monument that was donated to Oklahoma's capitol by Rep. Mike Ritze using private funds. The Temple wants the same thing.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against the Ten Commandments in August of 2013 because "the monument stands alone, with no other monuments or memorials in the immediate vicinity." The ACLU says this sends a "self-evidently exclusive" message of an endorsement of religion by the state. The Temple hopes to "appease the ACLU's concerns" by adding their monument alongside the Ten Commandments.
They state: “
By accepting our offer, the good people of Oklahoma City will have the opportunity to show that they espouse the basic freedoms spelled out in the Constitution. We imagine that the ACLU will also embrace such a response. Allowing us to donate a monument would show that the Oklahoma City Council does not discriminate, and both the religious and non-religious should be happy with such an outcome. Our mission is to bring people together by finding common sentiments that create solutions that everyone can appreciate and enjoy.
It is expected that the Oklahoma commission will reject the statue. The Temple has a back-up plan to use the funds to contest the rejection or they will attempt to place the statue in "another relevant location."
Speaking to Vice, Temple spokesperson Lucien Greaves said, "[T]he idea that the Ten Commandments are foundational to US or Oklahoman law is absurd and obscene…I would argue that the message behind our monument speaks more directly to the formation of US Constitutional values than the Ten Commandments possibly could. It especially does so when it stands directly beside the Ten Commandments, as it affirms no one religion enjoys legal preference.”
All in all, The Satanic Temple hopes this monument will send "a clear and distinct message to the world that pluralism is alive and well in the United States."
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]
Ready to serve!
Beware of FALSE prophets.
BEWARE of false STATUES.
A true symbol of the Democratic-Progressive Party. This should replace the donkey.
Amen.
Notice that young children are depicted, rather than teens. What young child would want to sit on that hideous creature's lap? OTOH, how many teens will be sufficiently intrigued to have "selfies" taken.
Thanks for the ping.
I’m going to ping some again. Can’t/don’t want to/no one could read all the articles fit for the lists.
I am not actually a satan believer - I have a different understanding about evil. But to influence people, and especially children, to trust what many consider the very emblem and personifcation of evil is - EVIL!
If they are so against religion, why would they erect an object of veneration?
That thing is an insult to goats.
Lol .. and sheep!
Seriously, though, do you know of any other nation on the face of this earth that has erected a statue to satan? I know the Indians worship some strange gods but I don't think satan is one of them.
God has blessed this nation .. how did we arrive at this juncture?
Yep.
It would make sense though to put this "thing" at the front doorstep of every Planned Parenthood in the country.
I see your point. It really angers most Americans to see such antiquated religious laws instructing them on how to get along with one another while living decent, moral lives.
Well somebody could “do a Bart Simpson,” dress up like a ninja, take a hacksaw and cut off the goat heat. Another idea, get various colors of paint and doll up the statue in a rediculous manner.
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