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January 7th, 2014
10:00 AM ET
Satanists unveil design for OK statehouse statueBy Daniel Burke, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN) - Satanists have unveiled their design for a proposed statue at the Oklahoma state Capitol, including a place for people to sit on the devil's lap "for inspiration and contemplation." The New York-based Satanic Temple submitted its proposal to Oklahoma officials this month after applying for a spot on Capitol grounds late last year. The Satanists say their statue would "complement and contrast" with a Ten Commandments monument placed at the Capitol in Oklahoma City in 2012. The Satanists' proposed monument depicts Baphomet, a goat-headed pagan idol sitting on a 7-foot-tall throne inscribed with an inverted pentagram. In an artist's rendering provided by the Satanic Temple, smiling children look adoringly at the devilish figure. "The statue will serve as a beacon calling for compassion and empathy among all living creatures," Lucien Greaves, a spokesman for the Satanic Temple, said in a prepared statement. "The statue will also have a functional purpose as a chair where people of all ages may sit on the lap of Satan for inspiration and contemplation.” According to its Indiegogo page, the Satanists have raised more than $16,000 toward their goal of $20,000 for the monument, which Greaves said would "be a historical marker commemorating the scapegoats, the marginalized, the demonized minority and the unjustly outcast.” The Temple of Satan is less a religious body organized around rituals and regular meetings than a roving band of political provocateurs, according to Greaves. They believe Satan is a "literary construct," the spokesman said, not an actual being with horns and hooves. READ MORE: Satanists want statue next to Ten Commandments The proposed statue includes quotations from poets Lord Byron and William Blake. “Prisons are built with stones of Law, Brothels with bricks of Religion” runs the Blake quotation. The 18th-century poet was a Christian, albeit one with a mystical bent and little use for traditional morality. The statue's main figure, Baphomet, has long been associated with Satan, Greaves said. In the 12th century, the Knights Templar, a group of Christian crusaders, were accused of worshiping Baphomet in their secretive rituals. "From the mythology created by these accusations against the Templars, we now have a symbol for Satan pictured as a goat-headed beast," Greaves said. Since the 1960s, a variation of the horned goat head has been the official symbol of the Church of Satan, which is not affiliated with the Temple of Satan. The head of the Church of Satan has told CNN he does not approve of the idea of a Satanist statue on public grounds. Oklahoma state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft told CNN that he doesn't think the Satanists' statue will be approved. “What will disqualify them has really nothing to do with Satan as such; it's that it has no historical significance for the state of Oklahoma,” he said. Trait Thompson, chairman of Oklahoma's Capitol Preservation Committee, said he has not received the Satanists' proposed design yet. He also said that no applications will be considered until a lawsuit over the Ten Commandments monument is settled. The American Civil Liberties Union has sued over Oklahoma's Ten Commandments monument, calling it an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. After news broke of the Satanists' proposal, the state was flooded with requests from religious groups seeking to erect monuments to their own faith, including Hindus and Pastafarians, a satirical religion that "worships" the Flying Spaghetti Monster. An Oklahoma lawmaker told CNN that the Satanists' message wouldn't fly in the Bible Belt state, where nearly two-thirds of the population is Christian. "Any monument displayed on state property should reflect the values of Oklahoma or memorialize those who built or defended our freedom," Rep. Bob Cleveland said Tuesday. "In my opinion, this Satanist monument does not meet with the values of Oklahomans." soundoff (3,489 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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" De Debbil made me do it!"
Flip Wilson.
To truly symbolize the essence of the Justice system, here is another thing they could put in front of the courthouse: a Roulette wheel.
and mixed drinks .
Austin
oh i meant opression, not supression. I have a feeling there will be demonic oppression and wierd happenings as demons flock to this area as a rallying point. They will influence people to act out.
That's the same thing I thought about CNN
Dr. Who will probably show up there also too.
ahahha
We can only hope. Maybe several different re-generations of him will come.
Austin,
LOL. So demons will encourage Christians to destroy the demons' statue? Classic.
no it will freeze crack.
Does frozen crack get you higher than normal crack?
🙄
hey, don't roll your eyes at ME! how rude.
Write a book Austin...your stories are humorous!
well, there is joy in spiritual life so Im glad you are feeling it.
I didn't quite mean it like that. I find your stories more in lines with Grimms Fairy Tales, the original writings.
I'm not in support of this statue as a follower of "Christ" if this is what OK is going to put on the courthouse this statue doesnt need to have children in it. If idiot adults want to get a thrill by setting on Satans lap so be in. The children need to go off this statue they're innocent and need to let them make their own choices when they're older.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
— Exodus 20:4-6 (KJV)
Austin,
Yep. Punish generations to come for the sins of ancestors. Just another reason why the Bible is "immoral".
i am not sure that the New Covenant still has a generational curst to it though. although we have the ten commandments to live by, the curse involved is questionable due to the availability of the Holy Spirit, who indwells each of us.
We all have the promise of supernatural healing and sanctification.
You're funny atheist one, it's no different than punishing this society from what our ancestors did to gays in the past, you're not even better than God. So why do you constantly blame God when you're doing the exact same thing.
'it's no different than punishing this society from what our ancestors did to gays in the past'
punishing in what way?
By choking people of their freedom of speech and opinions and beliefs and calling them bigots or nut jobs. That's how you are punishing this society to protect your deviant behaviors.
Easy
"By choking people of their freedom of speech and opinions and beliefs and calling them bigots or nut jobs. That's how you are punishing this society to protect your deviant behaviors.'
Who are you addressing this to or are you just babbling to yourself?
It was addressed to Rapid Cedar.
'By choking people of their freedom of speech and opinions and beliefs and calling them bigots or nut jobs. That's how you are punishing this society to protect your deviant behaviors.'
really? so in what way is you freedom of speech being choked exactly? And since when is calling people bigot or nut 'punishing' them?
Are you slow to comprehend? I already answered that question. Go back and read, maybe with time you will see it.
how about you answer the question? you need to explain how calling someone a nut is punishing them, and if you cant then explain how that leads to your freedom of speech being choked.
Pretty sad deity that still is controlled by an emotion like jealousy.
So then people should not take their children to any church then. Wait till they are older to make a decision on their own.
Mike: So should parents be allowed to drag their children to church and indoctrinate them before they are of age and can make the decision for themselves?
atheists are always so butthurt. It's hilarious.
Did you happen to notice it isn't an atheist group doing this? The idiots who are trying to block this are the ones who are butthurt.
Who's butthurt???? After this display goes up I'm pretty sure it will be the christians.
So very true Blake.
oh i have trouble believing the people that would get 'butthurt' over this new statue would be atheists.
Indeed that's the result of atheism behind this story.
ah well. never mind.
going out of your way to raise money to get a statue built at a state building just to spite a religion is extreme butthurt. whatever floats your boat though. lol
moaning about the statue is butthurt as well.
It bites you back when you want christian stuffs displayed on govt property. Who decides that only Christians have the right to religious freedom???
If there was demonic freedom, then we would all die. Because Satan is a killer.
Austin,
How many people does the Bible say that Satan killed?
How many people does the Bible say that God killed?
Satan came to steal, kill and destroy..
He deceived Adam and Eve, and this has led to spiritual death of everyone. absolutely everyone .
The temptation was an attack with the intent to destroy.
'Satan came to steal, kill and destroy..
He deceived Adam and Eve, and this has led to spiritual death of everyone. absolutely everyone .
The temptation was an attack with the intent to destroy.'
Didnt god know this was going to happen? if yes then he deliberately set the whole thing up.
The God of the bible must not love scientists. This God plants (literally) mountains, galaxies, and a universe of evidence perfectly consistent with a different creation story than the bible. Those dumb scientists then believe physical evidence over the bible.
God tricks them further by having the top Christian historical leaders elaborate on the bible in ways that were later proved wrong by science, just to give the hapless scientists a false sense of confidence. Things like the earth being fixed at the center of the universe, a flat earth etc.
All the cosmological evidence of the galaxies doppler shift indicating their moving away from us, the speed of each roughly proportional to distance, standard candles in the form of type 1a supernovae to cross check results. The quantum theory predicting the age of stars. The list goes on and on. All the data confirms this fallacious scientific model of the universe.
All the physical data on earth confirms evolution, from the macro scale fossils to the direct observation of microorganisms, to the even smaller molecules of DNA and the genome records. This tricky God planted marine fossils deep into mountains in exactly the right way to mislead scientists into thinking they were there before the mountains actually rose due to plate tectonics. These fossils are found at many levels leading scientists to think they were laid down over millions of years, with species changing just like evolution would predict.
This God thought of everything, it left no smoking gun that the scientists could find to reveal the prank. Well if you're omniscient, you can do that.
Better yet, God set the wheels in motion that allowed for the galaxies and mountains and microbes and fossils, rather than just making them 'poof' into existence, just to trick us.
A God that foresaw evolution of life on Earth 13.8 billion years after Creation is way more impressive to me than omniscient parlor tricks.
But where did that God come from. Modern quantum physics has the answers, the Bible still has a rather fishy story.
Yours is a deist perspective not consistent with the bible. Many of the founding fathers of the US were deists with similar beliefs. I'm not there, but hat position is infinitely better than adhering to the literal bible.
It is obvious that you do not know much about God and are spouting rhetoric without any basis of facts.
Now that's a convincing counter argument.
It is obvious you know nothing about science and like to reply with "Oh yeah? My God wrote this book, so there.",
No one knows anything about god. Unless you've met him personally, his word is interpreted through us. That means god is kind of like the Schrodinger cat.
No way, not on my watch. To those who support this statue please keep in mind the USA is so wonderful because it was founded on God and Godly principles. In God we Trust. One Nation under God. So Atheist or Satanist you have the right to be what you choose, but this is an abomination that should not happen. It is a slap in the face of our founding fathers. The Ten Commandments belong in front of the courthouse because that is how we were developed and founded as well as It defines how we are as people. Can you imagine this country if it was founded on Satanic principles? This just gives me the creeps!
you don't understand what religious freedom means. you must not be american.
Again, no one is saying they can't worship Satan.
And that they have every right to erect a monument to Saran right next to the 10c.
The right? Maybe. But should they? Clearly not. Why endorse evil?
'Clearly not. Why endorse evil?'
well the obvious answer is why not if they want to? Its their right to do so. (not that they do of course but that isnt the argument)
Because it's a promotion of evil. I wouldn't want my child to see a statue like that.
'Because it's a promotion of evil. I wouldn't want my child to see a statue like that.'
ah well, freedom of religion and all that.
So true.
... was founded on God and Godly principles. Sorry but that is a failing history grade.
In God we Trust. Nope – Coins 1864, paper moneyy 1957.
One Nation under God. – Nope – the pledge was composed in 1892.
These are not "founding values"
Please start instead with "We the People..."
...'under God' wasn't added to the pledge until 1954.
And against the original authors wishes
Thanks Momberry, I should have used 1954.
Bull. The US is a secular state, and the FF were VERY clear about keeping it that way. If you want a theocracy, move to one. The US isn't it.
The 10C monument should never have been put up on goverment land. Period. OK opened the door; deal with it on your watch, buddy.
First of all, learn some manners. My opinion is as valuable as yours and you come off like a pompus new graduate student. Second it is my opinion that the Ten Commandments do belong in front of the courthouse as the Framers were Godly men. And lastly, I will keep watch to make sure evil does not prevail. You clearly have never had to fight against it, but your ideoligy is swell.
And of course you are ent.itled to your opinion.
The founders may even have been Godly men. I am quite sure that at least some of them really were just that.
They did not however form a government based on religion of any kind and took pains (in the 1st amendment) to make sure things stayed that way.
Snap,
In case you missed this post from the previous page:
Thou shalt have no other gods (not a law)
No graven images or likenesses (not a law)
Not take the LORD's name in vain (not a law)
Remember the sabbath day (not a law)
Honour thy father and thy mother (not a law)
Thou shalt not kill (hit #1)
Thou shalt not commit adultery (not a law)
Thou shalt not steal (hit #2)
Thou shalt not bear false witness (sometimes a law 1/2 marks)
Thou shalt not covet (not a law)
2.5 out of ten. Nope America isn't based on the laws of the 10 commandments
Thank you, AtheistSteve, for putting that list together.
"On your watch"? Who made you responsible for what can be put up and what cannot be put up.
NotOnMyWatch: You have obviously been sleeping on watch. Our "founding fathers" made One Nation Under God our national motto way back in 1954 when Thomas Jefferson was a mere lad of 211 years old. And In God We Trust? 1956. God bless our very old founding fathers.
The quotes from the legislators confuse me... if the monuments on state ground need to have historical relevance to be erected, why would the Ten Commandments fall under that guideline? Maybe I misread something in the Bible, but I don't think Moses received the Tablets in Oklahoma, or anywhere in the USA for that matter...
stupid, i hope somebody destroys it.
Should we hope for the same thing to happen to the 10 commandments monument?
it would not make a difference. The kingdom of God is within the heart. I would think this statue would offend God and might even provoke Him. I would not be suprised if there was some random crime caused by supression around this statue within proximity.
Austin,
"I would not be suprised if there was some random crime caused by supression around this statue within proximity."
Good point. And we'd know which SIDE was likely responsible.
You really went out on a limb with that prediction of crime in Oklahoma City in the future.
Yeah, you probably do think that. How sad.
By "good" Christians? Breaking the vandalism laws? Oh, say it ain't so!
oh i meant opression, not supression. I have a feeling there will be demonic oppression and wierd happenings as demons flock to this area as a rallying point. They will influence people to act out.
So god allows demons to violate the free will of his creations?
My invisible pink unicorn is already in front of the courthouse.
You just have to believe.
All religions should be represented or none.
It's not going to change anything. For you are doomed Satan.
If you are going to violate the separation of church and state by promoting religion on state property, you must promote all religions.
Where is that law written? I want to read up on it.
If the satanist's statue went up first, you'd be the first to howl about the 1st Amendment. Hypocrite.
They can worship Satan if they want to. I'm not trying to stop them from doing that.
Then you should have no problem with putting a monument right next to the 10C, right?
Of course I have a problem with it. It would be endorsing evil. Why should I want that?
Endorsing evil. That's what you do when you worship a 2,000 year old cult and post to CNN.
So because it's old it's evil. You sure you want to make that argument?
First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...."
No religion is being established here.
So the ten commandments are not religious then? I'm ripping that page out of the bible right now!
Not the point. No one is making you be a Christian. It wouldn't help you if they did.
I'm not a Christian and someone is pushing their Christian beliefs on me by making me see a statue depicting Christian laws and beliefs upon my entrance to a state run judicial center. I'm in favor of no religion in government or in public.
'No one is making you be a Christian.'
As you said 'not the point'.
The concept comes from the First Amendment, however, it does not state it in that exact way. For further, information try the "Lemon test" or the "endorsement test" in relation to Consti.tutional law.
Topher
It is called the Establishment Clause, look it up yourself and the dozens of court cases involved. Why do you feign ignorance all the time? Oh right...
Funny, Satanists, Evangelicals, its all the same to me.
This is actually an amusing story.
More than amusing – it's hilarious.
This is amusingly an actual story.
(sorry)
That is not Satan, that is Baphomet.
He's even doing the "as above, so below" gesture. Gee, I wonder who's REALLY behind this?
Oh my you are right. Wow. You'd think that would have been mentioned in the article.... oh... right.
No one needs ANY religious (or non-religious) monuments on any gov't grounds. Atheists, christians, muslims, jews, ALL of them don't need any monuments. This is all pathetic how people behave when it comes to stuff like this. Atheists start bashing Christians when this has nothing to do with Christians and the Satanists dissapear from the picture.
You seem to not understand that Atheists are on your side; they also don't want any monuments. Atheism is not a religion.
Atheism is indeed a religion.
What is the doctrine of Atheism?
Faith in what you believe in, that is your doctrine. Therefor having faith is also religious.
Easy
"Faith in what you believe in, that is your doctrine.'
Pointless. So everyone has HUNDREDS of religions.
@Easy,
"Faith in what you believe in, that is your doctrine. "
doc·trine noun \ˈdäk-trən\
: a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true
: a statement of government policy especially in international relations
pretty nutty, but I understand their point.
If you move the letter "n" around, Satan becomes Santa.
If you change a few letters from atheist to hateist, they both pronounce the same.
Easy,
Good example of HYPOCRISY from someone who trashes gays.
Observer? Are you having fun reporting other people opinions as abusive? Something i never do, now who's the hypocrite?
Easy,
In your IGNORANCE you said that gays are mentally ill. Sound abusive to you?
Are you an expert at determining what mental illnesses are?
Er... atheists tend not to hate anyone. Recent studies have shown that atheists and agnostics are actually more charitable than their Christian counterparts. Beyond that, we don't have a doctrine that promotes discrimination or vitriol... of which the same cannot be said for Christians.
Most atheists are like most Christians: We believe what we believe, and we respect the rights of others to do the same. Unfortunately individuals like yourself simply can't just live and let you... you need to espouse your beliefs in a negative fashion and belittle the opposing viewpoint. I'm sorry, but that's seems to me to be very... er... Un-Christian.
You can rearrange letters in the word idiot, and end up with "itoid". I don't think this word means anything, but might be a fun new way to refer to someone like you.