Posted on 12/15/2023 8:13:39 AM PST by Morgana
A recent petition by the Satanic Temple of Iowa, under the guidelines of the Iowa legislature, allowed Satanists to place an idol of Baphomet, a winged, goat-headed, trans-human figure, on display in the vicinity of nativity displays on the first floor of the Iowa Capital.
The display drew the ire of many Christians, who lamented the blasphemy of placing an idol in the capitol as a sign of the impending judgment of God upon the nation. Many conservative Republicans, while lamenting the statue as blasphemous, defended the existence of the display on the grounds of constitutional freedom of religious expression.
Republican State Representative and former pastor Jon Dunwell defended the statue’s presence, arguing that the Christian battle is not physical and that he didn’t want the state to evaluate and determine the validity of religions.
“As I continue to hear from Christians on the issue of the Satanic Temple display at the Iowa Capitol, I have found myself shocked at what I believe is a misunderstanding of basic Biblical concepts of the Kingdom of Jesus. It is not a physical kingdom defined by boundaries and nationality….. It is a spiritual kingdom led by Jesus, filled with those who have been transformed by His Spirit’s presence in their lives. The concepts in the Old Testament regarding the nation of Israel, we are called to incorporate in this spiritual kingdom. For example, we tear down the places of idolatry in our hearts. We are not called to physically tear down false places of worship. The battle we fight is primarily spiritual and not physical. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. Therefore, our primary response needs to be spiritual and not physical…. As an American I reject the concept of Christian nationalism on constitutional grounds. As a Christian I reject the concept of Christian nationalism on Biblical grounds.”
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, a self-described conservative Christian, echoed the sentiment of Dunwell, praising those who joined a vigil around the nativity in response to the Satanic display while defending the free speech rights of Satanists.
The statement by Reynolds shows the tension between Biblical Christianity and the kind of “principled pluralism” espoused by many Republican politicians who adopt this position to gain the mass appeal of voters. Less than a week before the nativity vigil, Reynolds wished the Jewish community a Happy Hanukkah, making another vague reference to good triumphing over evil.
On Thursday, December 14, Michael Cassidy, a Christian, Navy Reserve Instructor Pilot and self-described America First Conservative, walked into the Iowa capital building and smashed Baphomet, decapitating the idol before stuffing its head into a nearby trashcan.
Cassidy promptly turned himself into capital police and was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, as charges were pressed by the Satanic Temple. In an interview with The Sentinel, Cassidy explained his motive for wrecking Baphomet.
“The world may tell Christians to submissively accept the legitimization of Satan, but none of the founders would have considered government sanction of Satanic altars inside Capitol buildings as protected by the First Amendment. Anti-Christian values have steadily been mainstreamed more and more in recent decades, and Christians have largely acted like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot of water.”
In a statement given at the time of his arrest, Cassidy answered the charges:
“I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged… My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.”
Cassidy’s actions, while in defiance of the Radical Two Kingdoms Ideology of many American evangelicals, are reminiscent of those of the 8th-century missionary Boniface. When confronted with the fact that the Saxons had cultivated a type of syncretism that allowed for the worship of Jesus as one of the many gods in the pantheon, Boniface took an axe to their theory, chopping down Thor’s tree, a pagan shrine, in an act that showed the impotence of the pluralistic pantheon of the Saxon’s. Rubbing the noses of the pagans in their idolatry, Boniface used the wood of Thor’s tree to construct a church.
While many of the “mostly peaceful protestors” of 2020 who destroyed statues escaped prosecution, it is likely that Michael Cassidy will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for his actions. The act of smashing idols in the Iowa Capital will undoubtedly be at the center of the “Christian Nationalism” debate in the days to come. However, one thing is certain: Baphomet, a mere creation of idolaters, is just as weak as Baal, and he won’t be defending himself or his adherents.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them.
Psalm 135:15-18
Righteous
He should have dragged the whole thing outside and set it on fire
Another goodie.
By BETHAN SEXTON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM, Dec 2023
NYC’s ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ garnered national outrage
mosque opened near WTC after 9/11
Faces FORECLOSURE for defaulting on $7.5 million loan
Lenders Blueberry Funding claim developer Sharif El-Gamal owes at least $7.5 million after ‘repeatedly’ missing mortgage payments The site was at one point due to be turned into an Islamic center which became known as the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ A backlash saw El-Gamal pivot to constructing luxury condos which remain unfinished
snip
Good on ya, buddy! Merry Christmas!
As a juror, I will never convict anyone of any crime for taking out the trash.
either you support free speech or you do not.
I cannot support what this guy did.
I may not agree with the satanic temple, but I believe they have a right to express their opinion.
He’s living up to the example of his namesake.
Has he set up a defense fund?
Beheading an idol of satan is therefore also protected under "freedom of expression". He's being charged with destruction of property. As a juror, I would acquit.
What about a pornographic temple with lewd images on the capitol, would you have supported that “free speech”?
What you don’t realize is that this is a hundred times worse.
Not sure what you are talking about.
Are you saying that depictions of natural procreation are bad ?
The sole purpose of putting the satanic statue in the Capitol was to offend and Mock Christians. Tearing it down therefore would be an expression of free speech. Nothing of value was destroyed so therefore no crime was committed. He took out the trash.
I see your point but what does it have to do with Christmas?
Not a darn thing.
I remember a time when comedy was funny, when you could mock christians, jews, satanists, gays, polish, irish, italians etc
hell, the scene in Airplane! where the pilot had to kick some ass on the all the cultists was hilarious
Today we have weaponized outrage and I do not find that funny at all.
You are not alone.
It isn't religious. Not a one of these sh*tty people who put that there believe in Baphomet. It's only intended as an insult and provocation to Christians.
The people who did it need to get a severe @$$ beating to teach them that it is not a good idea to deliberately insult and provoke people.
And Republicans who pretend to fall for the "it's religious" lie, are cowards.
Nobody believes in Baphomet. He's make believe just like the tooth fairy.
I support it in the original context for which the right was incorporated into the US Constitution.
For the purpose of criticizing the government without fear of retaliation from the government.
This @$$wipe putting that statute there is not "speech", it's just an attempt to provoke people with paganistic themed nonsense.
I may not agree with the satanic temple, but I believe they have a right to express their opinion.
They aren't expressing an opinion. None of them believe in their bullsh*t fake pagan god, they are only doing it to piss people off.
I personally think these people need to be knocked down to the ground and their faced punched multiple times until they learn to keep a civil tongue in their head.
This isn't freedom of speech, and it's not freedom of religion. It's provocation of the rest of us by a collection of @$$holes just trying to make trouble.
The downfall of the Republic began when we abandoned the practice of Tar and Feathers.
This reminds me of the time when the satanists erected a monument on the Arkansas State Capitol grounds, and a guy in a pickup ran it down a few hours later.
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