Satanists plan statue to stand alongside Ten Commandments in Oklahoma

theguardian.com ^ | December 8, 2013

[ilovesarah2012]

In their zeal to tout their faith in the public square, conservatives in Oklahoma may have unwittingly opened the door to a wide range of religious groups, including Satanists who are seeking to put their own statue next to a Ten Commandments monument outside the statehouse.

The Republican-controlled legislature in the state known as the buckle of the Bible Belt authorised the privately funded Ten Commandments monument in 2009. It was placed on the Capitol grounds last year despite criticism from legal experts, who questioned its constitutionality. The Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit seeking its removal.

But the New York-based Satanic Temple saw an opportunity. It notified the state's Capitol Preservation Commission that it wants to donate a monument and plans to submit one of several possible designs this month, said Lucien Greaves, a spokesman for the temple.

"We believe that all monuments should be in good taste and consistent with community standards," Greaves wrote in letter to state officials. "Our proposed monument, as an homage to the historic/literary Satan, will certainly abide by these guidelines."

Greaves said one potential design involves a pentagram, a satanic symbol, while another is meant to be an interactive display for children. He said he expects the monument, if approved by Oklahoma officials, would cost about $20,000.

[ilovesarah2012]

Isn’t that the democratic party platform?

[ilovesarah2012]

I read a lot of the comments following the article. I was shocked at how many people seem to prefer satan over God.

Jesus, come quickly!

[James C. Bennett]

So it will be a statue of the qu’uran?

The highest office of law in this nation, the Supreme Court, already has that covered, nearly a century ago:

Courtroom friezes: The South Wall Frieze includes figures of lawgivers from the ancient world and includes Menes, Hammurabi, Moses, Solomon, Lycurgus, Solon, Draco, Confucius, and Augustus. The North Wall Frieze shows lawgivers from the Middle Ages on and includes representations of Justinian, Muhammad, Charlemagne, John of England, Louis IX of France, Hugo Grotius, Sir William Blackstone, John Marshall, and Napoleon. The Moses frieze depicts him holding the Ten Commandments, although only commandments six through ten, usually considered the more secular commands, are visible. Further, Moses' beard obscures some of the words so that instead of reading "Thou Shalt Not Steal", it says "Steal", and similarly appears to command viewers to kill and commit adultery.

In 1997, the Council on American-Islamic Relations asked for the image of Muhammad to be removed from the marble frieze of the façade. While appreciating the fact that Muhammad was included in the court's pantheon of 18 prominent lawgivers of history, CAIR noted that Islam discourages depictions of Muhammad in any artistic representation. CAIR also objected that the prophet was shown with a sword, reinforcing long-held stereotypes of Muslims as intolerant conquerors. Chief Justice William Rehnquist rejected the request to sandblast Muhammad, saying the artwork "was intended only to recognize him, among many other lawgivers, as an important figure in the history of law; it is not intended as a form of idol worship". The court later added a footnote to tourist materials, calling it a "a well-intentioned attempt by the sculptor to honor Muhammad".

[exit82]

Hmmm.

1 Samuel 5 comes to mind, and this statue should share the same fate:

Footnotes (a-z)Cross references (#)One verse per line
The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron
1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon.

3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place.

4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold. 6 The LORD’s hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors.

7 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god.” 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?” They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.

9 But after they had moved it, the LORD’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.”

11 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy upon it.

12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

[Fresh Wind]

A statue of King FUBO?

[ilovesarah2012]

I had forgotten about that. Thanks for the reminder.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks ilovesarah2012.

Dear Christians, We Hate You. Sincerely, Atheists
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3099611/posts

[jsanders2001]

Let God strike it with a thunderbolt. Might make a believer out of them. No sense wasting time arguing with fools. A moron can see what their game is.

[dhs12345]

Exactly. It is certainly their right to do it but I would be worried about them.

Anyone advocating murder should be of a concern.

[Gritty]

Seems like some really bad folks. Maybe the police should keep an eye on them.

It's not hard to find them. They are called "politicians"...

[Venturer]

Is there a difference between satan and mohammed.

[windcliff]

The local high school goths will steal after the first night.

[ilovesarah2012]

Not that I can tell.

[dfwgator]

Or the condensed version, “Do What Thou Wilt, Shall be the whole of the Law.”

[jsanders2001]

> I read a lot of the comments following the article. I was shocked at how many people seem to prefer satan over God.

Jesus, come quickly!

Just simply parroting what others say. They say this as spoiled, coddled children that have never really endured any hardships which are on their way. Once they have had to endure the brutal reality of living without love under Satan and hardships their eyes will be opened and they will understand the stupidity that rolled off their tongues earlier.

[berdie]

Not in Oklahoma. In fact...it makes me chuckle thinking about it.

[Arthur McGowan]

Yes.

[dhs12345]

LOL!

[BykrBayb]

Yeah, like I said, it’s too complicated for liberals. I was able to teach my son the difference between good and evil, but I don’t know how to teach it to a stranger over the Internet.

[Insigne123]

“Who decides which is which?”

The one with an excess of more than five brain cells. Go away Lurch