It shouldn’t be a surprise that we’re a fan of equal treatment in the eyes of the law (see GayRVA) so when we first read about Oklahoma’s state government placing a
It shouldn’t be a surprise that we’re a fan of equal treatment in the eyes of the law (see GayRVA) so when we first read about Oklahoma’s state government placing a monument to the 10 commandments in front of the Capitol, we were excited to see the dissent that followed.
And that’s where a group calling themselves “the Satanic Temple” comes in. To even out the use of religious symbols on state land, the group has submitted a proposal for a 7-foot monument to Satan, complete with a lap for fans to sit in.
Philly.com has more details:
The monument, said the group’s spokesman, was designed to reflect the views of Satanists in Oklahoma City and could doubly serve as a tourist attraction.
“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.”
Oklahoma state legislators in 2009 approved the installation of a privately-funded Ten Commandments monument. It was installed last year over the protests of the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. The Satanic Temple wasn’t the only group to apply for a monument; People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the satirical Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and a Hindu group have also requested a place near the Capitol steps.
“Either way you cut it, this is a First Amendment issue,” Greaves said. “Once they open that door, they can’t discriminate.”
State Rep. Mike Ritze, who spearheaded the campaign to erect the Ten Commandments and paid for that monument, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
As you can imagine, state legislators are not too keen to have a Satan on their front lawn. Something tells me this will end in a court battle – with the ACLU involved, it’s really only a matter of time.
