A statue of Baphomet on display in the Iowa Capitol was recently destroyed following weeks of controversy.
The display was scheduled to be shown for the weeks leading up to Christmas in the Iowa state house, alongside other religious holiday decorations like a nativity scene and a Menorah.
It soon became a lightning rod for criticism, largely from Christians, who view it as offensive to include a Satanic display near other religious symbols in an official state building. Nevertheless, it was allowed on religious freedom grounds.
Now, some Christians are rallying behind the man who "slayed" Satan, and donating to cover his legal fund, even as debate rages on over the display’s legality – and the morality of destroying it.
Baphomet Beheaded
35-year-old Michael Cassidy, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, has admitted to destroying the display.
Cassidy reportedly tore Baphomet’s head right off his body and threw it in a trash can. “It was extremely anti-Christian,” he explained after the incident.
“This was certainly a spur of the moment kind of thing,” Cassidy later explained during an interview on cable news. “I saw that this was going on, I was surprised that the legislature allowed it up and that they didn’t do anything to take it down.”
“It offended me, it touched a nerve… I call it Christian civil disobedience,” said Cassidy.
The Man Who Slew Satan
Cassidy, who was recently defeated in a Mississippi congressional race, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief.
An archived version of Cassidy’s initial campaign platform ironically called for an “automatic 10 years in jail” for anyone who destroyed statues.
Luckily for Cassidy, Iowa isn’t so strict. He faces up to a year in prison if convicted, but has raised $75,000 and counting in legal defense funds. His lawyer has described the case as a fight of “good against evil,” and his fundraising page presents it as such.
“[Cassidy] was not willing to see God reviled, especially in a building where lawmakers are supposed to honor Jesus Christ as King and look to his law for wisdom as they legislate with justice and righteousness,” reads the fundraising page.
Freedom To Be Offended
The now-destroyed display was initially erected by The Satanic Temple, a group which you know remember from the highly-fraught after school Satan Club.
By putting up Satanic displays in public areas where Christian ones are also permitted, the group says they are “[fighting] against tyrannical authority, ensuring that Satanic voices are included in our nation’s religious discourse."
Debate remains, even amongst Christians, on whether Cassidy did the right thing. Before it was destroyed, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said that she found the display objectionable, but stopped short of calling for its removal.
"In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech,” she stated, calling for Iowa Christians to pray over the Capitol.
Rep. Jon Dunwell cosigned that statement. "I don't want the state evaluating and making determinations about religions. I am guided by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution," he said.
But for Cassidy, freedom of speech and freedom of religion apparently stop short at Satanism. As he posted on X, “my deepest hope is that Americans of all political persuasions can unite and agree that: 1. Jesus Christ is Lord, 2. Satan is evil.”
What do you make of the Satan statue and its destruction? Should all faiths be allowed equal rights to holiday displays on public property?
164 comments
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Since when are lawmakers supposed to "honor Jesus Christ as King?" And it's not their job to "unite all political persuasions to agree that Jesus Christ is Lord." Is Cassidy unaware of the First Amendment? As a Jew, I will never honor Jesus as King or Lord. A lawmaker's job is to make constitutional secular laws. If he wants to make his constituency Christian he should leave politics and become a minister.
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Two generally accepted, but wrong, beliefs include the insane idea that “This Country was founded upon Christian beliefs” (and so what?), and “Hate the sin not the sinner”. North America already existed and was populated by a people with their own established spiritual beliefs, and Caucasians from Europe came for different reasons other than to force Christianity on others…the original colony of Georgia was founded as a penal colony! Religious ideology is a very personal experience and should never be permitted to permeate into citizens personal life’s. One doesn’t need an established religion to know that one shouldn’t intentionally harm others, or judge others in an eternal damnation context. Religion should never be used in a governing control environment of others. The man who took upon himself to destroy that which wasn’t his has deeper issues, and I hope he can come to terms with his fear before hurting anyone. Ps. Religion should never persecuted either as long as it isn’t used to bully or harm others.
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If Christianity didn't found this country how could they have influenced every single itty bitty thing the antichrists say they did? What, they controlled the entire country but not it's founding? You speak madness.
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Because Christians try to take things by force, they always have. Antichrists? Wtf are you talking about? Reality is reality and facts are facts. The founding fathers were occultists and nothing that this country started with, was Christian. Hell, they were running FROM being told what to do by the church. You speak densly and like you do not know how to do your research. Might I suggest not speaking on something if you don't understand it.
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High priestess Vega, I think it is you who might not have the correct understanding of the history of our nation. The founders most clearly believed in a divine deity and most, if not all, we're in fact Christians.
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No they were not Christians, or not most of them anyway. They were Deists. Look that up. It's important to understand the difference in this conversation.
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I suppose 2 things can be correct lol. I looked it up more in depth. They were Christian but not the types of churches you see now but they were most definitely occultists. https://www.academia.edu/29338264/The_Masonic_Founding_of_The_United_States_of_America That is a free pdf explaining that part. Seems I was partially wrong, and you are correct. People can do both.
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Vega, I've read several biographies, some autobiographies of the founders. There were indeed, that is to say, practicing Christians.
As controlling as this crowd and the world says Christians are, doesn't anyone find it odd that they're responsible for everything in the country except it's founding? Nobody is able to add 2+2 anymore?
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Be careful with biographies. Some people will put their own slant to what they learn and logic in what they don't quite understand. And I don't think Christians are responsible for everything in this country sot that alone is pretty misleading.
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No, they were not all Christians. Several were Jewish and some considered themselves to be atheists.
The word "God" is not synonymous with Christianity.
The center point of the Christianity I was taught said Jesus came to replace The Law with the concepts of Love and Forgive. Wouldn't all of us be better for that?
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Not replace the law but work in conjunction with it.
A person doesn't have to be religious to have compassion and understanding for others. In fact I find more of that outside the church goers than within it most often.
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Christianity is a form of Fascism!
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The media and democratic supported burning of our cities by BLM/Woke peaceful protests is the closest this country has gotten to fascism recently. Racism is a requirement for fascism. We know the woke hive mind thinks all white people are evil, fitting the puzzle piece nicely. Christianity has a hard time plugging into fascism simply because it accepts all races which fascism does not.
I know that's not fitting into your dreams and delusions Danny but look to the woke hive mind for your fascists, you'll get lucky for sure.
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Oh, christianisms f cking god !! Rolling on floor laughing!
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Woke, for Repukes and so called repuke christians, means awake. Wake up, be awake, be woke. I have to remind myself to be nice to certain simple minded people, but, God and Goddess, it is frustratingly hard for many who refuse to use high school intelligence.
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No, Demoncracy/Republic is a form of Fascism. Look it up there are three forms and we are ruled by one. That's why Adolf Hitler was able to be elected Prime Minister (President) of Germany then take over in one step to Dictator. Why do you think Americans think the president can wave a magic wander and make all the troubles go away, forgetting the two other government bodies that can over rule him.
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Other way around. Fascism can be wedged into democracy or any republic. That doesn't mean at its core either are a form of fascism.
And no, a president cannot wave a magic wand and make all the troubles go away. That is a lack of education on the subject and people who think that need to pick up more political science books to understand each facet better.
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Lmao
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Christianity didn't found the country; mercantilism did. You had a bunch of colonies by people who had been relegated to second-class status by the Church of England and the monarch (Catholics, Puritans, Quakers, criminals, and they saw risking death crossing the ocean as a chance to improve their economic and social standing. As we all know, the colonists were basically getting a free ride and sponging off the homeland until the end of the French and Indian War, when George decided that the colonists, who considered themselves British citizens, must help contribute to the upkeep of the realm, which the colonists dubbed "The Intolerable Acts". (How dare you make us pay for our own upkeep!) After a decade of apathy by fellow colonists (a very large percentage of the population were for maintaining the status quo), the rabble rousers threw the divinity in the mix, and now it became a crusade ordained by God. Remember that Hancock was a smuggler and actively involved in the rum/sugar/slave trade, as were many of the other founders that we love to lionize.
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Amen!
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"The colonies were getting a free ride". That's hilarious. Thank you for the laugh.
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Sorry to burst your bubble, but that is the way colonies work. They are completely dependent on the colonizing country by design. There is a reason that many of the former British colonies declared themselves republics and left the Commonwealth. In our case, we enjoyed being taken care of by the Crown, but did not want to follow the rules. We were viewed as the rebellious children of the realm. Little known fact - we actually did have a representative in the British Government, but in the British system (and that of some states like Texas), you don't actually have to live in the district you represent.
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Ok…here’s one in many examples: Hitler controlled Germany, every aspect for a while, but didn’t “found” Germany, etc. What part of the truth that this land already existed with people and their beliefs/ spirituality are you not accepting? It’s kind of akin to the Chicken Little story…just because some Europeans claim to be Christians doesn’t give them Carte Blanche to enforce this belief as an entirety…just as an acorn hitting Chicken Little didn’t mean the sky was falling.
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No, the "madness" is your not being able to understand. And, your unwillingness to believe all the different words saying the same thing, from different "founders" of the US, that this Nation was not established as a christian Nation. The founders did not want the tyranny of religious authority, stemming from bigotry, and hate, so establishing the religious freedom act. Today, christianism reads religious freedom as their own only. No, it is religious freedom for all. And, it is not spoken of, but, at the time, there were many different religions already being established in different parts, and christians were not liking it. So, the establishing the freedom OF religion.
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No you don't have to but if you don't you will surely die a second death.... Crazy how so many Jews refused to believe their own scripture back then and refuse to believe now
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So why would the enemy of Jesus or God be honored? It's either all or nothing at all.
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There were displays for other religions as well. "The display was scheduled to be shown for the weeks leading up to Christmas in the Iowa state house, alongside other religious holiday decorations like a nativity scene and a Menorah."
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The Navtity scene to be moved to the trash to equalize things. Do unto others...
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Let's hear an "amen" from christianism's crowd !
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As a Messianic Jewish Minister who does accept Yoshuah as Messiah (Jesus The Christ) as King of kings, I also except YHWH our Father's warning in Samuel against human kings and what they'll do to us, which they do and everyone whines as they continue to pretend to elect the next king the Pope in Rome already picked for us. I'm also a veteran that saw my friends die and injured and took bullets allegedly to protect those Rights you bring up. The First Amendment only provides that "Congress" not make laws for or against any particular "Religious Exercise Thereof". A citizen is a member of the public and has every right to free religious exercise thereof on public property. As long as that action does not harm another person or property. If that same man saw two persons of same sex kissing in public would be rip their heads off because it offended him and their actions goes against the scriptures? He'd be arrested for murder Even though the scriptures command him to kill homosexuals. I got "put out the synagogue" at 15 because I asked the Rabbi why we don't sacrifice as the scriptures command and he said "because the United States government won't allow animal sacrifices." I replied "So, The United States government is above YHWH?" Still don't explain why Israel doesn't and Hebrews in other countries. The United States founders were mostly Christians with two Atheist in the mix. "Religion" meant "Christian denominations" or "non-christian" other Faiths were not even considered at that time. Being a non-christian other religion (ruled being a witch/Satanist) was hangable offence in the United States until 1918. And in some areas off the books until today.
You say you a Jew, but I doubt you could state the First Commandment correctly. 99.99% people only know 9 of the 10 of they know those even. #1 never mentioned, as pagan-Christians don't want to be reminded they are Hebrew only commands and Hebrews don't like reminded What YHWH did for us. Commandment #1 is too Politically Incorrect for today's people. -
There is no such teaching from Yeshua, or his disciples that he is to be anyone's king !!!! And, furthermore, many fled England and elsewhere to escape from a ruling king who had complete autonomy over any and all issues, including what belief system should prevail. And, now, modern, so called christians want to make Yeshua a king ! Wonder what he would say to them if he were here ? I can hear them now, "but the old testament".... But what did Yeshua teach, himself ? ("But, the old testament....) CRAP
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There is no such teaching from Yeshua, or his disciples that he is to be anyone's king !!!! And, furthermore, many fled England and elsewhere to escape from a ruling king who had complete autonomy over any and all issues, including what belief system should prevail. And, now, modern, so called christians want to make Yeshua a king ! Wonder what he would say to them if he were here ? I can hear them now, "but the old testament".... But what did Yeshua teach, himself ? ("But, the old testament....) CRAP
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Aww another America hating christian intolerant of others beliefs. SMH. Charge him, and since he’s so strong in his belief of rightousness, let’s see him plead guilty. Then put him away with rest of those sick body & blood drinking followers of jesus.
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Some taxpayers worship Satan. Others worship Christ. There's absolutely no reason that Iowa should favor one group over another, unless they want to exempt Satanists from paying taxes.
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Ooooooooo snap!
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Sorry Dimwheel, were a nation born and raised upon christian Judaeo beliefs, you don't have to like it but thats just too bad
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That is an outright lie!!! The constitution, which is the base of U.S. law, was modeled after the Gayanashegowa of the Iroquois confederacy. Do some real research instead of blindly accepting religious superiority theories!!!
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A Nation changed during the cold war - to appear overtly more Christian by amending as much institutional readings and pledges as possible to include mention of one specific religion.
Remember - the nation was FOUNDED by colonists in the 1700s - not by McCarthyism in the 50s.
"One Nation, INDIVISIBLE, with liberty and justice for all."
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So, physically torchuring, mutilating, killing babies, children, elderly, and other Native People in the name of christianism was what your so called god wanted, and still trying to kill and suppress those of other beliefs. I spit on your god, and you.
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So, physically torchuring, mutilating, killing babies, children, elderly, and other Native People in the name of christianism was what your so called god wanted, and still trying to kill and suppress those of other beliefs. I spit on your god, and you.
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These Christian's have mental issues needing to be seen by professional psychiatrists
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I am a devout Agnostic - - Secular Buddhist and am upset that any ANY Christian thinks he or she has the power that the young man had to destroy a statue - - I am a USMC veteran and thank him for his service - - not for his "choice" to destroy someone elses choice.
Yes I do not believe in any god from Zeus and Odin to Jesus and find RELIGION - in general to be humans most imprtant thing to not let it into what we do to others and their belief system GROW UP ! I find "Religion is the opiate of the masses" and does far more harm than good Shalom Edward Calhoun-
Romans 10:9 to you...Here's your chance, good luck
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@Daniel Ginther
Why be deliberately obtuse? For all the rights christians claim above the rights of others, do you not understand what Mr. Calhoun referred to by 'choice'? If you joined the military, I expect you understand what that entails.
If not, it should be said that those who join the military first lose choice and freedoms, so the rest of you can have those. My personal opinion is when someone doesn't fight for their choice, they give that up. Fortunately for people like you, most of the rest of society decided it's okay to lean on others to fight for them. That is partly how life became less valued in general, because the privilege to live is not earned by the majority of people who live in this country.
Is it too scary to stand on your own every day without a religion or God to dictate its twisted version of common sense to you? Religions do have a reputation for forging people into lazy, petty, non-critical thinking co-dependents.
Why anyone would choose that is beyond me. Nonetheless, if you need a God, gods, or religions to help you be less than your full potential, go for it. Remember though, that quoting verses is unlikely to do much for you.
Wasn't Jesus a do-it-yourself kind of man? Who did Jesus lean on? Who does God lean on? And aren't we made in his image? So many paradoxes in religious writings, I can't see how anyone gives those attention.
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And of course those that want to turn this nation into a brutal Theocracy are celebrating it. It's a holiday display, leave it alone. Would they destroy a jewish display, or a wiccan one? Answer? Yes, yes they would.
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Christians seek to destroy everything that doesn't entirely fit their own, specific, beliefs.
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Apparently no one knows anything about what The Satanic Temple (TST) believes! They do not believe in or worship “satan.” They live by their 7 Tenets which make so much more sense than the christian commandments.
It’s understandable that people think they believe in “satan” given the name of the organization but no.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN SATAN? No, nor do we believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural. The Satanic Temple believes that religion can, and should, be divorced from superstition. As such, we do not promote a belief in a personal Satan. To embrace the name Satan is to embrace rational inquiry removed from supernaturalism and archaic tradition-based superstitions. Satanists should actively work to hone critical thinking and exercise reasonable agnosticism in all things. Our beliefs must be malleable to the best current scientific understandings of the material world — never the reverse.
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Elizabeth,
Swimmers don't swim, bicyclists don't bicycle, painters don't paint, singers don't sing, carpenters don't work with wood, geologists don't study geology, pianists don't play the piano, hikers don't hike, a Bob Seeger tribute band doesn't play any Bob Seeger and the followers of the Satanic Temple don't worship Satan. Gotcha.
If you're selling it I ain't buying it. If you're eating it, spit it out.
Satan is the Lord of deception, apparently he's able to even fool the atheists and that's saying something.
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Their specialty is getting Christians, that are so amazingly self centered that they often don't even realize that not all people within their own religion agree on fundamental aspects of faith, that are so self centered they often forget that other religions exist and aren't just flavors of satan worship, that are so self centered they assume everyone believes in their christian cosmology wherein a satan even exists, that are so stupid they don't bother to look into anything that might shatter their selfish world view and all their own personal biases, that are so full of themselves that they play silly childish word games in the comments and think that the self satisfaction they feel when they reread their own comment over and over means they actually speak to the truth of a given matter - to walk right into the trap of showing their true colors; that when they say they believe in the religious freedom set forth as the reason for the country's founding, they ignore the numerous quotes from the founding fathers explicitly saying this isn't a christian nation, and assert that no faith but their own (and not just christianity broadly, but their specific brand of it) gets the freedom of expression. They take that view, which depends on the believer himself, not a god, being the center of it, and push against it by showing how absurd it is that christians insist on shoving their faith down everyone's throats all while claiming that merely knowing different beliefs exist somehow constitutes an affront against their expression. And congrats, you're their target audience and showed that here.
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Anyone who starts quoting our founding fathers thinking they were not christian is Ignorant....Ever been to D.C. ? Bible quotes are etched in granite everywhere.......The founders were christian, they did not want to put one groups ( Anglican, Congregationalist, or Presbyterian ) views as a final authority but they were all united in Jesus Christ as lord and savior !
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Oh, the f cking christianisms god! They never shut up. Like little kids talking non-sense.
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What Christine said, double!
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Triple to Infinity what Christine said! The fragility of Christians is laughable. The scary part is how intertwined in our government these Christo-fascists are. The National Prayer Lunch is not what you think it is.
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Joyful people don't feel joy, tall people aren't tall, smugglers don't smuggle, poker players don't play poker and satanists don't worship Satan.
Joy, you keep riding that gator, good luck. Don't worry though, gators don't bite.
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Since when does the logic of skill titles have anything to do with religious titles? Seriously, learn how and why Satanists got started.
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They're descriptors amber. Satanists worship Satan, otherwise they wouldn't use the descriptior of Satanist.
It's all very easy to see if you've not been deceived. It's like, black and white.
Yes some Christians don't follow the teachings of the Christ but they think they are. All Christians think they're following The Christ. Non think they're not. If they say they're a Christian that doesn't worship the Christ then they're not a Christian, they're something else. It is self defining from within the very core of our language. Satanist worship Satan or they're not a Satanist.
Why is this so impossible to see unless one is deceived, as Jesus said would happen. A prophesy Jesus made is unfolding right in front of you right now. It's happening live.
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I actually live in Florida and LOVE gators!! I respect gators. And I am quite joyful. Thank you so much for taking time to respond to my post.
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Welders don't weld, teachers don't teach and satanists don't worship Satan. Lol, keep your face straight if you can. I sure can't. Dancers don't dance, rappers don't rap, lol.
Funny stuff to the immune!
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And, unironically - Most "Christians" don't follow the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Your word games are cute - I hope it staffs off the mental fatigue you must face on a daily basis. What with all the righteous gymnastics going on in your head...
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Freedom of religion means ALL religions. There is no religion more hateful than an Abrahamic. Even Satanists care more about people then a Christian.
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Freedom of Religion, it's in in Constitution...look it up!!
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At the very least, that hooligan Cassidy should be jailed for the maximum allowed by law and ordered to pay compensation to the value of the statue. That way his supporters will be paying for another statue of Baphomet - true justice!
He and his fellow Christians should consider themselves lucky that Satanists have far more respect for others than Christians do. Otherwise a lot of Chrisitian displays would be lying in ruins.
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Destroying a religious artifact in condemnation of those who follow that religion...According to the laws of the United States, doesn't this constitute a Hate Crime? It needs to be charged as such.
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That's a good idea !! Everytime a so called "Christ-like" says something stupid (ALWAYS!), sue their hell out of them !!!!
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How can they worship a golden trump and not this?
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We worship Yahweh, not Homosexuality like you do
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Last I heard the Jewish folks worshiped Yahweh not JC. Sorry to hit the "uncle that touched me button" was not aware golden idol mention activated that.
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YOU might, but definitely NOT me!! Your demiurge superiority fantasy is all a lie!!
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Who in christianism's hell worships homosexuality ? It is not a thing. I rest my case. Nothing intelligent ever comes out of any so called christ-likes mouth !!!!
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HA HA HA HA HA!!!! Now that's funny, I don't care who you are. (But, they probably don't get it)
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Baphomet doesn't necessarily represent Satan. I've read it also represents balance in mankind. If we all demonstrated a little more tolerance of all beliefs the world would be a better place. You don't have to agree with another's views, just understand them and accept their right to have them. I think we'd be better off if we looked at all faith based holiday decorations as an extension of our own. However you celebrate the season, be safe and enjoy.
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I wonder if Mr. Cassiday believes in the existence of Lucifer. If so, a year in prison should be the least of his worries.
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Lucifer started out being the ancient Greek god of light, before evil Christians came along and twisted everyone else's beliefs, to make it seem like they were good and everything else was bad.
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A few points I'd like to make. 1. Baphomet is not Satan. It is a lesser deity. 2. I have no idea who or what Satanists worship. Nor do I care. 3. A mere statue does not threaten my God or my faith. 4. Recognizing that others belive differently does not threaten my faith. 5. Cassiday was wrong to destroy the statue 6. I have read THE BOOK and I know the ending. One day everyone will bow to Jesus and His father God.
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In reality, Lady Colleen, you’re only quoting from what you’ve read in a book as though you know it to be true, which of course you actually don’t. I think what you should have said is that you like to believe the knee bending thing is true, even though no one really knows for sure.
It’s like me saying “I know” there are three degrees in heaven, Celestial, Telestial, and Terrestrial. All beliefs of the Mormon faith, because I’ve read it in a book. Do you see how silly that sounds from your perspective, but it’s not silly to Mormons.
You might say in your defense that your god has confirmed the truth to you through the Holy Spirit, but then again, that’s exactly what Mormons say about what they believe, or JW’s, etc,. Weird…right? I wonder how many Holy Spirits there are that are confirming all these different things for all these world faiths? I bet yours is the real one….right? 🤔
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Lionheart you are wrong as usual. I have read what I posted in many more books than one. I have read the holy books of different faiths. I was raised Mormon and can assure you that a vast majority of them do think the writings are silly. My beliefs are based on what I read, see, and experience. Ultimately time will show us the truth. And when you finally bow your knee I will be there laughing.
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I'll never bow to your evil god.
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I'm a ULC God, and her god should bow before me!
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This right here is a beautiful demonstration of the contempt, arrogance and ignorance of far too many Christians.
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I too have been Mormon. I have no problem with what you like to believe is true, Colleen. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs no matter what book(s) they have read, or feelings they have had, or seen, that got them to where they are in their belief structure.
Many people, like yourself, need religion to get through life, and in many cases that’s wonderful if that’s what is needed. However, the dogma/claim of insisting they have the truth, doesn’t need to be pushed onto others that believe different to them, unless of course, they have the demonstrable evidence to back up their claims. So again, telling someone “… when you finally bow your knee I will be there laughing” is not only fallacious, but rather rude, don’t you think?
If you say I am wrong in my narrative replying to your post, please let me know where you think my error is. In the meantime thank you for your reply. May you truly have a wonderful festive season. 🤗 🎅
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No, I don't think so. Jesus has been dead for 2000 years, so there really isn't much left, except maybe the bowing you are referencing are the archeologists that have to kneel at the dig sites. Since there is no God, why would I bend a knee to something nonexistent? Christian arrogance, yet again.
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Coleen, Baphomet is not a deity. It's a concept in physical and spiritual form. Similar to what we currently know the swastika for. The symbol represents a set of ideals. Baphomet represent several very nasty and universally evil human practices. Some of those practices are considered good by many today.
Satanists worship Satan who is in full opposition to Jesus. Anything Jesus has taught you, Satan opposes. Anything Satan has taught you, Jesus opposes.
Consider this: The Jews of WW2 did not believe what the Nazi believed. That didn't stop the Nazi from doing what they believed to the Jewish population, not one bit. The satanic forces of WW2 had nothing to do with losing faith, rather losing life.
Our Lord said you and I would have a target on our back, it's wise to stay alert.
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Baphomet is a deity. Hence: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baphomet explains it. Again, do your due diligence before trying to sound intelligent. Not all Satanists worship Satan or anything else for that fact. Nope. It isn't about Jesus, at all. Try reading the 9 Satanic commandments. You are severely ignorant.
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And singers don't sing. Not sounding intelligent, I st using basic logic even a idiot can understand. You can understand that can't you Vega?
Lol, Satanists don't worship Satan. Haha, children of the father of lies actually believe that silly talk. Painters don't paint, lol.
Wow, just wow.
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Again, trying to use skill set titles to religious titles. Not all religions are what you think they are. How many people call themselves Christian but do not have the slightest idea what Christ taught or believed? You might be surprised.
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Cassidy’s action was definitely unchristian.
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Unchristian and UnAmerican. Christianity wasn't originally about violence. It's in the bible, Jesus was quite clear what he believed and early Christians did try to follow it. Few seem to understand what any of it is these days. Thank various governments getting into bed with the Christian religion and decided to use it to control the masses by fear and/or by force. Now most of them think that's just the way.
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I disagree, it was very Christian. Christianity was spread by the sword.
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All of my actions are unchristian. I'd have a terribly guilty conscience if they were not. I hate Christianity!!!
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These Christians are soooooooo violent.
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While Baphomet is not in my pantheon, I"m glad the ToS folks continue to fight the good fight against the rampant evils of knee-jerk Christianity. Freedom of religion means we all get to choose Whom to worship. If you want that freedom, you ipso facto have to extend it to everyone else. Public domains should have zero religious affiliation. If you break that and demand your 10 commandments and nativity scenes, then Baphomet, Dionysos and Louhi get to be displayed as well. It's not complicated. But hypocrites are twisty.
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Then a Satanist cannot be recognized as the The Sigil of Baphomet, is the official insignia of the Church of Satan
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- The Christian god is only one of a thousand gods with faithful followers on earth; not THE only one.
- For most factions of Buddhism, the original Buddha is NOT a god, but a man who achieved ultimate tranquility and happiness; Buddhists do NOT WORSHIP that Buddha, but do study his teachings in hopes of becoming buddhas, themselves, or at least increasing their own peace and joy.
- The Satanic Temple is a legally acknowledged religious organization; they do not worship Satan; please look up their seven tenets, and stop being a victim of ignorant, knee-jerk reaction.
- In my experience, anger often flows from fear, and ignorance is a great generator of fear. If you learn about the intentions of The Satanic Temple, I assure you your fears will be reduced.
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The guy is an idiot.
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A dangerous idiot.
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And unfortunately not the only one. I don't really care what people decide to believe but once they start acting out on those beliefs they have crossed serious lines. We do not attack people or force them to live by anyone else's beliefs and we do not destroy property. Those that do should suffer the legal consequences.
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I am a devout Agnostic - - Secular Buddhist and am upset that any ANY Christian thinks he or she has the power that the young man had to destroy a statue - - I am a USMC veteran and thank him for his service - - not for his "choice" to destroy someone elses choice.
Yes I do not believe in any god from Zeus and Odin to Jesus and find RELIGION - in general to be humans most imprtant thing to not let it into what we do to others and their belief system GROW UP ! I find "Religion is the opiate of the masses" and does far more harm than good Shalom Edward Calhoun
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Ironically, by doing what he did, that man actually served evil and is completely deluded as so many are.
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I'm sick to death of the sanctimonious Christians who believe only their religion is acceptable. Many years ago, my husband/High Priest and I found posters proclaiming "Learn the Truth About Morningstar Coven" plastered all over Norwich, NY. A meeting was announced to proclaim this truth. Of course we both went. What would have been said if we weren't there is only for speculation, but we were there. The minister proceeded to complain not only about Witchcraft but about just about every other Christian denomination as falling short of truth or actively avoiding truth. It was a real show.
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Treaty of Tripoli - 1796 ratified by the Senate and signed by John Adams: "Article 11 of the treaty stated: “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion..."
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What was Article 11 of the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli? Article 11 of the treaty explains the role, or lack of a role, that religion would play between the two states. According to Article 11, the United States is not a Christian nation and would not let the fact that Tripoli was a Muslim nation interfere with their relationship.
In a late 18th century treaty reached by America with certain Muslim pirates of the African coast, one part of which, Article 11, states:
As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
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Do the "Christians" not realize that Satan is a construct of their own religion. Therefore Satan worshipers are therefore by default believers in Christ. I mean where is the statue of Saturna? Dec 25 was originally Saturna day feast and celebration. Christ had nothing to do with it until over 200 years after death. when the church took over the pagan celebrations.
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I think Satan manifest himself enough in our daily lives. There doesn't need to be a statue of him in a state capital.
He's already deeply embedded in the hearts of many of those in politics. If you want a recent example of that all you have to do is look at that Congressional staffer who was fired for hedonistic relations in that Congressional conference room.
Satan pollutes the minds of everybody that comes in contact with him. And no, satanism does not deserve equal time with Christianity.
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"Religious freedom for me, not for thee!"
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You sure seem to have an arrogant outlook about your preferred brand of mythology, Rev. MichaelRS!
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What I have is a moral compass that tells me right from wrong. And I don't need the Father of Lies or his followers trying to convince me, or those among us who are more weak-minded, of moral relativity. Especially that worshiping the embodiment of evil is benign as it is just another religion that is co-equal to any other in it's worthiness.
And I flatly reject the premise that calling out evil for what it is being "arrogant".
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Your moral superiority is blatant. Maybe learn of that which you speak with authority... You obvioualy have zero clue what the Satanic Temple's belief system is much less what Baphomet represents.
It appears you heard the word "Satan"; got triggered; and just let the ignorance of hate fly freely from the top of your morality pedistal. That is a poor representation of the teachings of Christ.... (not the Bible stories)
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We're back again to the Father of Lies trying to deceive men into believing that there are other deities that are deserving of worship and/or reverence besides God. And that doing so is harmless.
But there is no God but God. And His Word is extremely clear about providing reverence and worship to others.
And yes, I do understand what the expressed, albeit deceptive, humanistic tenants of the Satanic Temple are.
However, it's simply a self-evident truth; If they are NOT competing AGANIST gainst God, what is the necessity of a separate display... particularly in contrast to Christian symbols?
Why don't they ever try to set up such displays counter to Islam, say, somewhere in Dearborn Michigan?
I'll tell you why. Because unlike the Christian man who simply ripped the head off the idol, some islamist is likely to take heads off the people that put up the display.
Lastly. It's not MY morality or moral superiority. It's the morality given to ALL by God through His divine Word.
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Rev Michael,
You sure Satan is trying? You've got people right here saying Satanists don't worship Satan. Completely and totally blind to what they're saying, it's unbelievable but true. I'd say Satan pulled it off without a hitch. Satan has done what Jesus said he would do and the people are doing as Jesus said they'd do. I like fulfillment of prophecy but WOW!
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I wonder if someone destroyed Christian symbols on government property you would defend Christianity as much as you defend Satanism.
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What makes you think otherwise? Destruction of property is against the law. Defamation of anyone's religious symbolism is wrong and against the law. However there is also a time and a place so removal of things that are not legally placed or placing things without going through the legal channels is also wrong. If you don't like the laws then learn how they are changed and go about changing them legally. If you don't like a decision appeal legally.
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Intentional destruction is a mortal sin!
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It seems that no one on this post has an answer to the question about the christian god that created the universe including the Earth and everything on it in the first place! If you believe that nonsense then your make believe god also created Satan as well as Jesus, who nonsensically was just a mere mortal in his time on Earth! Why do xtians believe such hypocritical nonsense that make them look like total idiots? It’s no wonder why religion is the bane of humanity and a major cause for much of the suffering on this planet!
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Because this isn't really about the overall beliefs. It's about someone taking it upon themselves to decide what religious should be displayed and that no others should be represented anywhere. It's more a legal issue and a personal self control issue.
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Of course it's about overall beliefs as any xtian thinks their religious beliefs trump the beliefs of everyone else, including the Satanic Temple of Iowa! Why do you think there have been religious wars for millennia? For example, the current Israeli versus Palestine/Hamas war is basically a religious war between Judaism and Islam! The irony of the current beheading of a statue of Baphomet (Satan or whatever, the name is irrelevant!) by a xtian believer is that this image of Baphomet is of something his xtian god created!
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It seems like Iowa was trying to net a nativity scene up under the guise of including other religions. The simple and appropriate solution is to follow the separation of church and state. That would be no religious displays. Set one up in your yard if you wish to express your religion.
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This was a religeo-political hate crime perpetrated by a politician fishing for Evangelical votes in the next election.
Destruction of property in a government facility should honestly be an instant disqualification to run for an elected office.
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The majority of the founding fathers were monotheistic, my ninth great uncle Benjamin Franklin was raised Quaker. He too was tired of religiosity as a control tool, not just from the Church of England but freshly in the minds of those from the Salem Witch trials. The Country was founded to keep the government free of religious interference but the many Christian denominations of the time had other ideas. During the second Protestant movement in the 19th century it became obvious of government interference in religions such as the Jehovah Witnesses and the LDS churches. We are a far cry from what the founding fathers envisioned the country to be.
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As a Christian, I support the right to follow whatever religion someone chooses regardless of what I prefer to believe and practice. Anything else is nothing but hypocrisy
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Okay. I understand why the Baphomet head was ripped off and trashed by an offended Christian. I also understand that it is the responsibility of the government to place before the people what displays are suggested to celebrate the holidays and let the people decide what will and will not be displayed on government land. As for the offended Christian: Regardless of the display it us the God given responsibilty of one who believes in God to approach such a situation correctly and not to assume what you have done was correct. We must also understand that there is a separation between church and state and that acts of violence by Christian's regites what the Word of God says and makes me think of suicide bombers and HAMAS which has no care or simple regard for human life.
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It's become the responsibility of the courts to determine what can and cannot be be displayed on government land. Courts uphold our Constitution, not the rabble. And I'm just fine with that.
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Only because the schools don't teach these things anymore. We need to put civics back into the schools. To not understand how all that works and what the laws and procedures are just leaves us to... well... that sort of behavior. If a person isn't being taught respect for other people's beliefs then the least we can do is teach the laws so they can at least understand the consequences of acting against someone else's beliefs that way. Somewhere along the line they started believing the righteous don't get consequences and forget there is nothing righteous about it. They have mistakenly labeled themselves.
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Folks been destroying statues all day long the last few years. They get applause for it. Universities applaud. The media applauds. Half the politicians applaud. The half the general public applaud. Based on what I've been watching as being a good thing I can't sort out what changed with this statue. If Confederate statues are deemed evil then certainly the father of evil would be deemed evil, assuming no lemmings are doing the thinking.
Sounds like a cool way to trash a statue, rip it's head off with one's bare hands. Hopefully the guy gets equal treatment under the law as all the other statue destroyers but I doubt it. Christians have a mark on their back as demonstrated on this blog.
Fun Fact: an ancient Israelite king converted a temple of Baal into a public toilet when he purged satanists from the land. Archeologists uncovered the latrine Ball temple in 2015ish. Pretty funny.
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That mark on the back of a Christian is well-deserved too!
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Not really. If you take the time to look they get prosecuted too. That's why it doesn't really make news these days but when it does it's usually because someone didn't get prosecuted for breaking the law.
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Greetings & Namaste' Community,
My suggestions is perhaps in the future to relocate this exhibit to a more friendly atmosphere.
Such as: Museums, Cultural Centers, Library's, Private Viewing or Galleries or exhibit during Halloween Month. Than consider having a suggestion box, asking the public there vibes?
I feel this was not the place, nor time for this to be presented. Perhaps more factual sheets, explaining why this moment was so important to be displayed during the Christmas Holidays??
Halloween is usually the celebration for these displays? Why, not considered having your display then?
Why, the government building? I feel this whole incident could have been handle better and planned out better by the people who give permission. Because a committee could have be assigned, with the strategy to entrust this learning. Cultural action appointing groups, should now be established to prevent this vandalism from happening and crimes occurring in the near future. It's really a shame!
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Any content provided by our Author, Writer, Blogger is of their opinion and is not intended to express malign towards Any Religion, Ethnic group, Club, Organization, Communities, Company, Individual or Anyone or Anything or Animals.
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Christmas was not originally in December. However, for Millennia before Christianity was newly invented, the Festival of Lights, often called Saturnalia, happened at the Winter Solstice, when the daylight becomes "longer". The tilt of the Earth is the real "reason for the season"! Isn't Science a wonderful field of endeavor?
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If a government building has a representation of one religion, it is legally required to display other religions if requested. It's part of that separation of church and state thing that is also a part of our First Amendment. Your suggestion is an insult to minority religions. It is ABSOLUTELY the time and the place to display Baphomet.
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Our Constitutional Government(as long as it last) should not display ANY religious related iconography for any reason for this exact reason. 1st Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
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Our Constitutional Government(as long as it last) should not display ANY religious related iconography for any reason for this exact reason. 1st Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
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ISN'T IT CLEAR YET.....ALL RELIGIONS SHOULD BE KEPT OUT OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR... KEEP IT UNDER YOUR OWN ROOF.
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I dont believe an Iowa State House should display anything from any religious belief. Separation of Church and State was done for a reason. Not that I think it improved anything considering they use bibles in court rooms. The fact the statue was damaged because it offended someone shouldn't even be an issue. If the state allows all religious beliefs to be displayed they should take responsibility for this.
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While one can't please everyone, in a political setting if the governing body decides to add a level of representation via decorations regarding a well celebrated holiday, then they should not single out one particular religion but represent as many as the constituents represent in their sate. If they wish to honor a satanic cult then they should equally represent the other religions celebrating at that time so where are the decorations representing Jews, Christians, Muslims, etc.
Their best bet would to have not put up any decoration honoring any particular religion because am sure the representatives are practitioners of a wide variety of religions, so rather than continue to add fuel to the fire of separating everyone, do nothing instead.
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If Christians celebrate Christmas as Jesus Christ's birthday then they need to research their Bible better because he was not born in the middle of winter he was born in the spring. The catholic church decided to celebrate his birth in Dec so it would make it easier to convert pagans to Christianity. Yule and paganism has been around for 10s of thousands of years before Christianity was even a thought in someone's mind. What I'm trying to say here is for everyone to research religious beliefs before they speak out.
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It is very sad that the general "lack of respect" for others seems to come from the people who claim to be the people of Christ. In the new testament, I can find no mention of his attacks on other religions, or women. I do find his anger at money changers.
Blessed Yule to all
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Funny, the same bible thumpers that were upset in the comments at the parent wanting the xmas tree taken down in that school are the same dipshts in these comments cheering this destruction of this decoration on.
I maintain what I said in the other post, everyone and I mean absolutely everyone, should be able to participate and decorate if someone else is.
If you don’t like it, then the only solution is that no one gets to do it.
Fair is fg fair.
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Yeah, the devil at christmas. The creator of the statue has some seriously unresolved issues. Halloween might have gotten it in the museum. What a dumbass.
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Here we go. The name calling. Has to be Christian or nothing else, right? Did you read the article? Did you read the Tweet by the Congressperson? If your faith is so fragile as to be so offended by Baphomet - who I am sure you know nothing about - then I question your faith. Are Christians really this fragile and so easily offended? Get over yourselves! Not everyone believes the lies of the Church, and the majority of people are not, in fact, ********
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Real Christians get the point of the Good Samaritan. They were certainly not following Jesus, and had quite a bad reputation amongst the locals, yet Jesus saw them as merciful people anyway.
It's built into the name: "The Good" Samaritan strongly suggests a common belief that they were otherwise not good. Quite like how this guy thinks of the people who erected the Baphomet statue.
Except Jesus only spoke of compassion. Not vengeance.
I wish Christians actually asked themselves "What would Jesus do?"
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Your comment and its ignorance says exactly why we need Baphomet at this time of year.
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Let the teachings of our God guide us in this. Satan first appears in the word of our God in Job 1: 6. The Lord ask Satan where did he come from?
Study this, the first test of Job. Here we learn why Satan acts on our lives and beliefs and our God's Without understanding this how could a person see that Satan represents evil and all that is against what is right. Right is listening to God and doings as he teaches.
Fire and water does not mix! To let Satan or evil hide behind free speech is to make a mockery of free speech.
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That is only because you are taught "Satan" is evil by your institution. This article is not even about Satan! Baphomet is NOT Satan. Baphomet even has ties to the Knights Templar, which you may find familiar, as some of our founding fathers of the USA were rumored to be a part of. (I said rumored, not factual). Stop hiding behind your Bible, and if you chose to hide behind it, please include the Gnostics, as I'm sure they will add to your experience.
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Letting your god hide behind free speech makes a mockery of free speech.
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Any demonstrable evidence yet that the god you like to believe in is real?
🦁❤️
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INTERESTING DEBATE AS WELL IT HAS A RIGHT TO STAND under neopaganism & occultism as it does no harm. Some people do worship the prince of darkness. Satan & deities exists in Christianity. It's up to you to teach your children christianinty, to BAPTIZE as children of God.
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Bury him under the jail!!! Or, deport him to a country WITHOUT religious freedom and see how long he makes it under those conditions and laws!!!!
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I agree with the man. This isn't a Satanic holiday. Pagans celebrste Yule, but eho do Satanistists cekebrate? Does this have any relevsnce to this time of year? No. Just because you are pagsn or Wiccan doesb't mean thay you are Satanic. It doesn't belong.
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They would have more secular, humanitarian and natural science reasons for celebrating the season. Who is anyone to decide that for them? Who is anyone to judge that about them? If they decided to also have a holiday at this time then let them. Christians didn't always have Christmas either and it had to start somewhere. I mean it didn't become a holiday for them until a good 350 years after Christ. Even then many sects didn't adopt it. Even when the colonies developed there were a number of years in the 1600s it was even banned in some colonies... by the Christians themselves! Please, stop trying to dictate who gets to do what and just live your own religion. Let others live theirs.
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There is so much wrong with this... Part of me wants to grab a big bucket of popcorn and a cooler full of beverages, drop a folding chair and settle in to watch the drama unfold... The other part of me wants to weep or gnash my teeth at the 'manufactured outrage' by the christian right and their supposed 'abhorrence' of satan... Have they all forgotten (or never knew) that religion created 'satan'? And in their 'own image' to boot! This is another chance for 'Bible-Belt Christians' to flex their collective muscles, force an issue that has been tried in the courts and attempt to make 'everyone' accept His way of thinking... The final quote from him speaks volumes. "As he posted on X, “My deepest hope is that Americans of all political persuasions can unite and agree that: 1. Jesus Christ is Lord, 2. Satan is evil.” I, for one, do not feel that 'jesus is lord'...
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Ha Ha Ha Ha...., love that. Butter on pop corn ?
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Thats just wrong. If you have a problem with it them walk away. But then again the Satanists should not have placed it there with the sole thought to provoke a person
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You're making quite the assumption that Satanists participating in their government's holiday displays is for the sole purpose of provoking a person. You're actively trying to blame the victim for someone else's problem.
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I make no assumptions, I state fact and common sense. And if you ask the person(s) who put this up they stated the whole reason was to PROVOKE people. Their words not mine.
And how exactly am I trying to blame the supposed victim when I clearly stated that if you didnt like it, walk away?
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You say "If you have a problem with it them walk away" but then say the Satanists shouldn't have put that there. You're putting blame on the Satanists still for putting up the display in the first place.
Do you have proof of these people saying they put this up for the "sole purpose of provoking a person"? Please share your sources with the class if you do.
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Abomination has no authority!!!
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All faiths already do get to put their statues or other symbols up in public. And during this holiday, there are a number of familiar ones, from trees to angels to menorahs and beyond.
Just because you are unfamiliar with a religion doesn't mean defacing their symbols becomes somehow ethical or legal.
For Christians, they might take note that Jesus never really spoke out against other religions. It's also important to note that the "Good Samaritan" in the parable was given that title because at the time, Samaritans were considered as very selfish and untrustworthy. But this one showed a compassionate aspect to them. Jesus told that parable upon being asked "Who is your neighbour?"
So what he did was perhaps from what he felt was the best place, but it was exactly the opposite of how Jesus thinks "the others" should be treated.
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Lately a lot of statues have been going down, and conservatives and republicans have been decrying it every time.
The ones they are decrying: Statues of famous slave traders and slave owners
The ones they are not decrying: A statue of Baphomet
It's not about religion. It's about knee jerk reactions that cause excitement and conformity within your group.
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The Satanic Temple says it was recently recognized as a church by the IRS. The group, which is nontheistic and argues religion can be 'divorced' from superstition, has said it should have the same rights and protections as other religious groups. . The Satanic Temple unveils its statue of Baphomet, a winged-goat creature, at a rally for the First Amendment in Little Rock, Ark, on Aug. 16, 2018. The Satanic Temple wants to install the statue on Capitol grounds as a symbol for religious freedom after a monument of the biblical Ten Commandments was installed in 2017.Etc. How do we fix this? How can religion help bring back Democracy back together? MOST IMPORTANT.
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Who in christianism's hell worships homosexuality ? It is not a thing. I rest my case. Nothing intelligent ever comes out of any so called christ-likes mouth !!!!
The Christofascist are all for "Religious Freedom" as long as it's their exact version of religion and beliefs......
Yup!
Most religions are all about freedom until they constitute a majority. Muslims are all about freedom, but when they gain the majority out comes Sharia Law, like in Michigan banning scary rainbow flags.
Either like it or leave, were for god only
No, we're not. The ULC is specifically for all faiths, not just those that believe in the Bible.