Wouldn’t you like to take your children to sit on Satan’s lap?
If so, then you might be in luck, as the congregants of The Satanic Temple are hoping to make that a reality. The New York-based religious organization has officially submitted a design proposal for a satanic statue at the Oklahoma state Capitol to “complement and contrast” a Ten Commandments monument that currently resides on the public grounds.
The proposed statue would feature a 7-foot-tall rendering of Baphomet, the goat-headed winged Satanic deity, sitting cross-legged on a throne under a pentagram with a child on both sides of him. “The lap will serve as a seat for visitors,” read the description in The Satanic Temple’s application.
The monument, which the group states was “designed to reflect the views of Satanists in Oklahoma City and could doubly serve as a tourist attraction,” would also include quotes from poets William Blake and Lord Byron, according to Philly.com.
“The statue will serve as a beacon calling for compassion and empathy among all living creatures,” said spokesman Lucian Greaves. “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.”
The Satanic Temple got the idea to have a statue erected at the Oklahoma Capitol after a religious Ten Commandants monument was installed there in 2012, sparking protests from the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (the ACLU’s lawsuit to have the Ten Commandants statue removed is still pending). On December 8, 2013, the Satanists launched a fundraising page for their creation on indiegogo where they’ve already raised over $15,000 of their $20,000 goal, with the campaign set to end on January 17, 2013.
Not surprisingly, Oklahoma lawmakers have voiced their disapproval of the Satanic group donating a monument to their Capitol, with Oklahoma Rep. Earl Sears calling The Satanic Temple’s request “an insult to the good people of the state,” according to the AP. “I do not see Satanism as a religion, and they have no place at the state Capitol,” said the Republican House member.
The Preservation Commission recently voted to place a moratorium on considering further new statue requests until the ACLU aforementioned lawsuit is decided upon.
Along with The Satanic Temple, other groups, like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the satirical Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, have applied to have their own monument placed at the state’s Capitol. Unlike The Satanic Temple, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which mocks organized religion, ironically found more mainstream acceptance recently when their Pastafarian namesake deity was granted a space in the Tallahasee, FL, statehouse holiday display.
Here’s some details about The Satanic Temple from their crowdfunding page:
The Satanic Temple seeks to separate Religion from Superstition by acknowledging religious belief as a metaphorical framework with which we construct a narrative context for our goals and works. Satan stands as the ultimate icon for the selfless revolt against tyranny, free & rational inquiry, and the responsible pursuit of happiness.
The Satanist harbors reasonable agnosticism in all things, holding fast only to that which is demonstrably true. The cultural narratives through which we contextualize our lives must be malleable to conformity with our best scientific understandings of the material world”¦ Those understandings, in turn, must never be so rigidly codified as to themselves be inflexible to advancements yet unknown.
Community, compassion, justice, and civic responsibility: These are worthwhile values wherever they are practiced, and whoever they are practiced by, regardless of whatever arbitrary political or religious label may be attached to them in their execution. We call on all people to support the Satanic Temple in this effort to engage their community in a positive, productive manner.
The photo at top is of the group’s design for the proposed statue, which you have to admit, is pretty cool looking and so much more badass than the Ten Commandments Monument. Regarding Baphomet, you might not know him by name, but chances are, you know him by sight, as his image is not only popular within Paganism, Satanism, occultism, and The Illuminati, but he’s also peppered throughout and alluded to in music and pop culture. His symbolism has been spotted in lyrics and imagery from the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Jay Z, and Kanye West, as well as heavy metal artists like Venom, Slayer, Mercyful Fate, and Bathory.
Seeing how nicely The Satanic Temple design statues, I’m disappointed now that their Adopt-A-Highway campaign never got funded, as I’d love to see how a group of Satanists beautify a public highway in New York City.
So, what say you: Does Baphomet and his inviting, contemplative lap deserve a spot at the Oklahoma Capitol?
Baphomet, from Eliphas Levi’s “Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie”, 1854,
via Wikipedia.Follow me on Twitter.
LOL! Love this quote: “Oklahoma Rep. Earl Sears calling The Satanic Temple’s request “an insult to the good people of the state,†according to the AP. “I do not see Satanism as a religion, and they have no place at the state Capitol,†said the Republican House member.”
Ummm, I don’t see your beliefs as a religion, either and think they have no place at the state capitol. So what? They have their beliefs and so do you, only you expect yours to be taken seriously and everyone else to go hang. Screw you! I am a complete atheist in all things, don’t believe in God or Satan, so I say put a Christian monument up, put up something for everyone… or NO ONE.
Pull up your big boy panties, Christians. Your time of dominance is nearing its end.
Comment by mcquestion5000 — January 7, 2014 @ 10:24 am
That’s not true at all. The vast majority of Hispanics are Catholic, so as they invade the United States, it will simply be the rise of Catholic Imperialism within the borders of the USA, instead of the traditional Protestant views that have been held by the majority of White Christians in the USA.
Comment by Tim Brown — January 7, 2014 @ 11:04 am
They may identify as Catholic, as do many white folk when asked, but like so many they only identify that way and are more secular in their views. America is not the Christian nation the right wing proclaims it is. Atheism is exploding because this hatred and bigotry spewed by people in the name of ancient myths, not to mention education of the young, is ensuring that mankind if finally shaking off the shackles of myth and at last growing up. We are still comparatively young as a species. I think that, at last, we are growing up as a race.
Comment by mcquestion5000 — January 7, 2014 @ 11:08 am
Have you seen the original image from which this statue
is modeled after? Those who designed this statue know exactly what this original image of Baphomete looks like…well, I wouldn’t want my son or daughter sitting in that lap.
Never mind religion: from a psychological perspective Satanism (which I have studied deeply for many years): from a strictly psychological NOT a scriptural or religious perspective) promotes absolute cruelty in a narcissistic, competitive way. It promotes absolutely no respect for other people and especially any spiritual perspective that
promotes relationship, mutuality and prosperity in unity. In fact Satanism and Baphomet are appropriate expressions given the absolutely selfish and intolerant natures of the PC crowds that have made it very
plain in video after video. Hippocrates is dead, ethics are a bother and
hindrance to profits. Wow, just in time for AI/human physiology
interface and genetically modified human produce…I mean human beings.
The metaphysical definition of hate is separation and disunity. The definition of love is unity. Go figure (if satan hasn’t gobbled your brain).
Comment by Paul Mitchell — June 11, 2017 @ 3:23 pm
Well, thank goodness no one is going to force you to sit on anything.
The bible endorses slavery, so I’d say that’s pretty cruel, too.
“That theft of masculine energies???” What kind of ridiculous word salad is that?
I agree. Take the Satanic statue down… AND the Christian statues and monuments, off government owned sites. Take them all down… or allow them all. Those are the choices.
Comment by mcquestion5000 — June 14, 2017 @ 6:24 am
I guess the simple way to compare – and most practical – is to actually look, listen and observe the actual affect each perspective currently endorses and practices (not what was written 2000 years ago); and to do this using actual research rather than billboards, monument descriptions and absolutely fraudulent motivational fronts for after school “Satan Clubs” utilizing current marketing techniques (obvious propaganda). Mass produced, irrationally motivated and emotionally distorted ideological catch phrases do not provide the same supportive evidence as actual research.
Comment by Paul Mitchell — June 16, 2017 @ 8:49 pm
It makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. You either allow ALL or you allow NONE. Christianity has endorsed slavery and is responsible for thousands of years of suffering. I never hear ANYTHING about satanists, other than challenging monuments such as these. They certainly do NOT wield power the Catholic Church does.
It could be Hinduism, Christianity (or its many, many flavours), Islam, Satanism, Sikhism, Shintoism or The Monkey God Hanuman…. whatever. You either include ALL or NONE. Preferably none.
Comment by mcquestion5000 — June 17, 2017 @ 2:57 pm