The Satanic Temple scored a free-speech victory in its quest for equal representation among the Florida state capitol building's religious-themed holiday displays.
The Satanic Temple — not to be confused with the Church of Satan, with which TST is not affiliated — describes its mission as "facilitating the communication and mobilization of politically aware Satanists, secularists, and advocates for individual liberty," as well as "to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people. In addition, we embrace practical common sense and justice. As an organized religion, we feel it is our function to actively provide outreach, to lead by example, and to participate in public affairs wheresoever the issues might benefit from rational, Satanic insights."
The group's causes are quite progressive; current campaigns advocate for women's reproductive health rights and same-sex marriage, among other causes. But the media-savvy organization (check out themerch) gets the most attention for its freedom-of-religion efforts, like that time they argued that if a statue of the Ten Commandments could be displayed in the Oklahoma State Capitol, it was only fair that a statue of Baphomet (along with any other religious representation that anyone cared to donate) be allowed to hang out, too.
It's in this spirit that TST took on Florida's government, which has a seemingly open-door policy on religious displays during the holidays.
According to Slate, in 2013 the state "allowed Christians, Jews, secular humanists, atheists, and Pastafarians [i.e., Flying Spaghetti Monster devotees] to construct testaments to their faith. [They also allowed a Festivus pole made of beer cans.] But Florida forbade the Satanic Temple from placing its own display in the capitol, labeling it 'grossly offensive.' So this year, the temple reapplied, with some additional legal backing: Americans United for the Separation of Church and State threatened to sue Florida for violating the temple's free speech rights if the state refused to permit its display."
"LOOK AT ME" attention seeking morons. I hope there IS a hell so they get what they are asking for.
ReplyDeleteI am not a Christian. I think it's a sick idea to celebrate Satan. By the way Satan comes from the Christian Bible. So Satan belongs to christian religion. However, western countries are falling down.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, I rather hangout with any religion except Christians. they are ugly to the core.
ReplyDeleteThey're not nearly as bad as liberals.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't condemn anyone dumbass. He just wished that they would get what they are asking for.
ReplyDeleteif you don't stand up for those opinions you oppose, then you are inherently un-American. Free speech is for all, not just the T wearers.
ReplyDeleteA great many people mistakenly conflate Satanists with Wiccans or Goddess-worshipers. Satan is a Christian invention and can be dated in Christian writings. Goddess worship in various forms is the oldest human religion, with similarly-shaped Goddess figurines or drawings appearing in virtually all human archeological sites over a period spanning 30,000 years.
ReplyDeleteWiccans tend to keep their celebrations low key and avoid publicity, the opposite of these publicity-seeking Satanists, if for no other reason than to limit the death threats they get from Christians, who willfully mistake Wiccans for Satanists.
I've always thought it would be okay for the Christians to have their Ten Commandments on display in public places if they granted the equal right for all the other religions to do the same -- religion is a marketplace of ideas and how can people choose if they don't know? They best summation I've read of Wiccan philosophy would stand well beside the Ten Commandments: "Her only law is Love."
How very bigoted of YOU to make such an unwarranted assumption!!
ReplyDeletehttp://vimeo.com/110188393
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