# Satanic Monument for Oklahoma State Capitol **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 4, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607 "2014-05-04T01:16:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/1 "2014-05-04T01:16:06Z")
I really hope that this is for real, and not a hack: > [@](#): > > **Satanic group reveals crowdfunded monument for Oklahoma State Capitol** > > A Satanist statue cast in bronze is just months away from completion, and activists hope that it will find a home on the lawn of the Oklahoma State Capitol. Ultimately, the statue — which features the seven-foot tall, horned figure of Baphomet fawned upon by two exultant children — is intended to stand directly next to a highly controversial monument of the ten commandments that was donated by a state legislator in 2012 and subsequently placed on the grounds of the Capitol. > > The pagan Baphomet figure, complete with a goat head, angel wings, and a beard, comes from a recently-formed New York group identifying as The Satanic Temple, which raised over $28,000 on Indiegogo earlier this year to commission a sculptor and create the piece. Satanic Temple spokesperson Lucian Greaves tells ABC News that the statue is a symbol to “celebrate our progress as a pluralistic nation founded on secular law.” There are pictures at the site: > **[Satanic group reveals crowdfunded monument for Oklahoma State Capitol](https://www.theverge.com/2014/5/3/5678782/satanic-group-reveals-crowdfunded-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol)** > > The Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts. This is evidently being raised as a sort of protest: > [@](#): > > The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is currently challenging the ten commandments statue in court on grounds that it violates the Constitution’s “establishment clause” against a national religion, and Oklahoma has prohibited applications for additional statues pending the completion of that case. > > Greaves has made it clear that the group would no longer petition to have the statue installed should the ten commandments monument be removed, but he isn’t concerned about finding somewhere else to place the statue should they fail to get permission in Oklahoma. “There are no shortage of public locations across the US where religious monuments await a contrasting voice,” he tells Vice, which first published photos of the statue. And they’re prepared should demonstrators destroy the statue: they’re holding onto the cast and plan to take out an insurance policy on the statue. After all, you really SHOULD insure your Satanic statues, against intended or unintended damage. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/2 "2014-05-04T01:40:51Z")
They should remove/not build the monuments to the Ten Commandments, Baphomet, FSM, Festivus,whatever and replace it with something the people behind these monument pushes have in common: a bronze fantasy troll, sitting at a computer in his mom’s basement. > [@](#): > > The pagan Baphomet figure Well which is it? Pagan or Satanists? I’m sure some Pagans or Wiccans would _love_ to read that. I love how Baphomet is used by both Satanists and Fundamentalists as = Satan. This figure dates back to the “ancient Bible days” (AD 11th century), and was mainly used to slander the Templars so that the French King could get their gold. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > I really hope that this is for real, and not a hack Not sure what you mean by “hack,” but as far as I’ve read they’re akin to the FSM - atheist, secular, or at least non-specific in beliefs. This is the Temple of Satan, not LaVeyans and certainly not demon worshipers, I will bet. It is of no matter. They will all fall to Great Lord Cthulhu. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/3 "2014-05-04T04:12:29Z")
Earlier [story](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/devil-worship-group-unveils-satanic-statue-design-oklahoma-state-capitol-article-1.1568893) in the NY Daily News (Jan 7, 2014). In it, Greaves says “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.” As a more-or-less animist, I appreciate the goaty aspects of the statue and really hope it comes to pass. I totally want a selfie on Baphomet’s lap! I particularly liked this part of the story : “Similar requests for monuments have been made by a Hindu leader in Nevada, an animal rights group and the satirical Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.” ETA : On its website, the Satanic Temple explains that it “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,”. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/4 "2014-05-04T04:34:23Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Not sure what you mean by “hack,” but as far as I’ve read they’re akin to the FSM - atheist, secular, or at least non-specific in beliefs. This is the Temple of Satan, not LaVeyans and certainly not demon worshipers, I will bet. It is of no matter. They will all fall to Great Lord Cthulhu. They stated their purpose is to try to get the Ten Commandments removed, rather than to honor what the figure is supposed to mean according to their religion. I’d definitely call it a hack. Only the FSM is trickier, since the figure exists as a satire of religion. Baphomet is supposed to be a symbol for the literary narrative of their form of Satanism. They may not be LaVeyans, but the principles they espouse still have little to do with Satan, so I still believe their name exists as a way to troll. And I will always be against trolls, whether I think they have a point or not. If it wasn’t for such troll religions, I think we could actually have icons from multiple religious icons in public places without incident. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/5 "2014-05-04T05:18:00Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > If it wasn’t for such troll religions, I think we could actually have icons from multiple religious icons in public places without incident. Not a chance. The Christian conservatives want their religion and no other to be pushed on people. It’s the same reason you don’t see a class on religion in general in public schools; it’s not because of the evil atheists and “pagans”, it’s because the fundies will _never_ tolerate any talk of religion in school except pushing Christianity to the exclusion of all else. A general course on religion is politically unacceptable and what the fundies want is unconstitutional, so schools avoid educating kids about religion at all. The whole point of putting up Christian monuments is to rub it in people’s faces that America is a Christian country, and that non-Christians are regarded as traitors and vermin. Which means that putting up anything else both undercuts the purpose and is a slap in the face in Christianity. Which it is; Christianity is a monotheism, acknowledging other religions as anything other than something to be destroyed is a blow against it. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/6 "2014-05-04T07:03:45Z")
Somehow I’ve managed to never hear or see the name Baphomet until I saw that article. So I googled it of course, to get some background on the subject. [Here is what I learned.](http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1074/1074_01.asp) Uhhhhh… Ignorance fought, I guess. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/7 "2014-05-05T02:56:30Z")
Here in Alabama, we’ve had our own “Satanic” sculpture since 1991. 😉 [http://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Storyteller\_fountain](http://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Storyteller_fountain) > **[Birmingham, AL - Ram-Headed Southern Storyteller](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/8101)** > > Visit reports, news, maps, directions and info on Ram-Headed Southern Storyteller in Birmingham, Alabama. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/8 "2014-05-06T04:54:47Z")
[Previous thread](Satanists propose monument to the Dark Lord on Oklahoma State Capitol grounds) from this January. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/9 "2014-05-06T16:42:52Z")
As both a Christian and a foe of religious monuments on public property, I wholeheartedly approve. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/10 "2014-05-06T17:07:20Z")
The guy’s name is “Lucian Greaves”? Seriously? Sounds Hollywood to me. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/11 "2018-12-06T15:02:36Z")
Bumped. Something similar in Illinois: [The Illinois State Capitol is ringing in the holidays with a Satanic statue | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/06/us/satanic-statue-illinois-trnd/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/12 "2018-12-07T10:57:23Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Bumped. > > Something similar in Illinois: [https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/06/us/satanic-statue-illinois-trnd/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/06/us/satanic-statue-illinois-trnd/index.html) I like that one. It’s elegant and thought-provoking. It expanded my consciousness, which is something great art can do. ---
**Author:** ![JB99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JB99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JB99)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/13 "2018-12-07T14:48:44Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > If it wasn’t for such troll religions, I think we could actually have icons from multiple religious icons in public places without incident. And who gets to decide what is a “troll religion” and what is legitimate? Mike Pence? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/14 "2018-12-07T16:34:37Z")
On a somewhat related note, [this](http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/12/06/mark-steyn-blasts-sprankle-saying-god-impregnated-mary-jesus-without-consent)looks an awful lot like Satanist trolling as well. > [@](#): > > Dr. Eric Sprankle, a professor of clinical psychology, wrote that “the virgin birth story is about an all-knowing, all-powerful deity impregnating a human teen. There is no definition of consent that would include that scenario. Happy Holidays.” > > Tucker Carlson said the professor, whose Twitter profile includes the phrase “Ave Satana” or ‘hail, Satan’, also tweeted a photo of a Christmas tree decorated with Satanic ornaments. Happy Holidays indeed. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/15 "2018-12-07T20:36:25Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > On a somewhat related note, [this](http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/12/06/mark-steyn-blasts-sprankle-saying-god-impregnated-mary-jesus-without-consent)looks an awful lot like Satanist trolling as well. > Happy Holidays indeed. > > Regards, > Shodan Everyone knows that the boss is not supposed to screw around with subordinates. And who is a bigger boss than God? Zeus doing it doesn’t make it right. Happy Holidays also. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/16 "2018-12-07T23:59:29Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Everyone knows that the boss is not supposed to screw around with subordinates. And who is a bigger boss than God? Zeus doing it doesn’t make it right. > > Happy Holidays also. I fully support the #MeToo movement. And while we all must support Mary and applaud her courage, we need to consider all sides here. Let’s not be too quick to Judge. God has worked in his current position for a long, long, time. Abuse, assault, torture, rape, and murder of women was commonplace back when he started . So please consider that he is merely a “man of his times”. Also, God has a _ **lot** _ of Children to support. If he was fired how would they survive? Are we really going to allow our Eternal Creator to be taken down by accusations of a teenager? Without a fair trial? Will Facebook posts and the court of public opinion" destroy yet another white Man? #MeGod ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satanic-monument-for-oklahoma-state-capitol/687607/17 "2018-12-08T02:16:55Z")
ETA: > [@a35362](#): > > The guy’s name is “Lucian Greaves”? Seriously? Sounds Hollywood to me. It is. His real name is Doug Misicko. He adopted the pseudonym “Lucian Greaves” when he co-founded The Satanic Temple, to protect himself. However, he mentions his real name on his website, which is why I gave it here. I’ve heard him interviewed - he’s an articulate and intelligent advocate for skepticism, church-state separation, and secularism. The Satanic Temple does good work. ETA: Brilliant, **I Love Me, Vol. I**.