Satanic Temple Wins Battle To Bring Lucifer Display Inside Florida State Capitol The Huffington Post

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Satanic Temple Wins Battle To Bring Lucifer Display Inside Florida State Capitol

The Huffington Post | By Carol Kuruvilla

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Posted: 12/05/2014 1:31 pm EST Updated: 12/05/2014 5:59 pm EST

This year, Satan is slated to join the pantheon of gods and agendas making a stand inside Florida’s State Capitol building.

The Satanic Temple successfully joined forces with other church-state separation advocates to pressure the Florida Department of Management Services into accepting its Lucifer holiday display, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The religious diorama, scheduled to appear inside the Capitol’s rotunda in Tallahassee on Dec. 22, features an angel falling from heaven into the fires of hell. A Biblical reference next to the scene reads, “How you are fallen from heaven, o day star, son of dawn!”

“Nobody holds a monopoly upon the celebratory spirit of the holiday season,” Satanic Temple spokesperson Lucien Greaves told HuffPost through email. “If there is fun to be had, then -- like the responsible hedonists we are -- we'll have it. We hope everybody can put their differences aside and enjoy the holidays as they see fit. We think that our holiday display sends an affirmative message of inclusiveness and plurality.”

One year ago, a similar diorama from the Satanic Temple was rejected by the state agency for being “grossly offensive,” Greaves said. The organization retaliated this year by collaborating with Americans United for the Separation of Church and State to add legal pressure.

“Free speech is for everyone and all groups,” the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said in a statement. “State officials simply can’t get into the business of deciding that some unpopular messages are ‘offensive’ and must be banned.”

The Satanic Temple describes itself an “organized religion” with a mission to “encourage benevolence and empathy among all people.”

Florida's Capitol building has become a veritable free-speech battle ground in recent years. Along with the Satanists, the Florida Prayer Network, the International House of Prayer, American Atheists, Tallahassee Atheists, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster are hoping to display their messages on government property.

Last year, a Seinfeld-inspired Festivus pole created out of beer cans also made an appearance inside the building.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/05/satanic-temple-florida-capitol_n_6277082.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

It looks like a display some kids would make in arts and crafts class. So Lucifer is a funny looking dude, floating sideways over the fire. hmmmmmm

Edited December 6, 2014 by Janelle2002

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Good stuff. They ought to have the spaghetti monster on display, too. And anything else that anyone claims to be a religious symbol of some sort.

[Operator 1,925]

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Their display is not amazingly artistic, but it isn't much worse than a lot of the nativity displays I've seen with badly papier mached figures.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Good stuff. They ought to have the spaghetti monster on display, too. And anything else that anyone claims to be a religious symbol of some sort.

It's Florida, so why not a gun dispaly too?

[decocker 7,198]

i'm a bit disappointed. christmas, satan, kids. so much to work with..

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's Florida, so why not a gun dispaly too?

Just as soon as someone creates an official church that worships the gun. It'll happen soon enough.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Just as soon as someone creates an official church that worships the gun. It'll happen soon enough.

Maybe someone here?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Good stuff. They ought to have the spaghetti monster on display, too. And anything else that anyone claims to be a religious symbol of some sort.

I believe in the spaghetti monster.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Maybe someone here?

Well, there are enough here that appear to be worshipping guns already. All that's left is to create an official religion around that.

[GandD 5,966]

I believe in the spaghetti monster.

You don't have to. Spaghetti monster believes in you.

[Ban Hammer 12,836]

I believe in the spaghetti monster.

your god is devoured in many restaurants daily

[GandD 5,966]

It's the god that just keeps giving and giving. It also gives me heartburn

Edited December 7, 2014 by GandD

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Why is bashing Christianity considered to be such a fun spectator sport these days? Even a peep about a muslim earns what?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

your god is devoured in many restaurants daily

And worshipped in every country. Who doesn't like some good spagethi? The spagethi monster will never die.