"Satanic," "Pro-Abortion" Statue Beheaded by Vandals at University of Houston

Bridget Kielas-Fecyk

There's no hate quite like monotheist "love" is there?

Philenda L. Daniel

It is interesting... in studying The Nag Hammadi Library scriptures and the Gnostic Christians to find similarities between Paganism and Christianity (which stole many Pagan traditions and wrapped them slightly differently)Oden and his siblings using Yamir the Giant to create the Earth, the sky, and oceans etc. and the Gnostic Christians creation of Adam (the Perfect man). I find paganism and Gnostic Christianity far more fair in power structure toward the female and the male.... than the European interpretations and translations of language by tweaking the narrative and leaving out testaments to create the Bible used today... that occurred to grab control over the Kings, and Rulers and the citizenry through out history.

Rev. Michelle Love

I am not an art critic by any stretch of the imagination, but I think these people just beheaded a self-portrait sculpture of a Pakistani woman who identifies as both Arabic and as an Aries.

Carol Frances Hollenbeck

What the heck is going on in this world? This is ridiculous and those who damaged the statue should be prosecuted under the full extent of the law.

Hannah Kay Colwell

Some people go to far when protesting. Yes they have a right to be heard but to destroy a art work no.

Rev. Michelle Love

First of all, what we need to do is stop calling everything that is Arabic Satanic. The word that was on the hoop skirt literally has two meanings; one is Eve and the other is life. To blame Eve for the reversal of Roe vs Wade is preposterous as it is clear that she carried both of her children to term. But that is the problem with Christianity; everybody wants a scapegoat. Everybody wants a Jesus they can blame that will accept the punishment for their sins because they do not want to take accountability for their actions. According to the Bible, Eve was the world's first scapegoat. For whatever reason, she chose to eat that apple. However, I do not recall her shoving it down Adam's throat. He made that decision on his own yet blames her for the consequences of his actions.

Imotox VH

Only the sadistic will be offended with the actions of another who honestly believes themselves standing up to what offends God, instead of blindly tolerating the offense like Satanic sheep.

Jamie Perez

I thought lambs grew up into rams. Or do they not like sheep anymore?

Tareq Asfour

Have someone forgot to tell the same christians their religion is based upon paganism also ?!?

Diane M LeClair

That is a beautiful explanation describing that sculpture. Thank you so very much. Peace be with you.

Rev. BH

Vandalism is vandalism. Tipping over tombstones, throwing trash out of car windows, smashing windows, setting fires, graffiti -- just takes a jerk.

Michelle Kitz

What gives the followers of any one religion the right to decide what is true, good, and beautiful? This statue wasn't dedicated to a religion at all. It was dedicated to WOMEN. What could be more true, good, or beautiful than that? You don't have to agree with everyone's choices but you have to respect their right to make those choices. You don't have to like every piece of art. But you have to respect the right of others to create and enjoy that art. What's next, going through art museums to deface every piece they don't like?

LilithV

Sir. SIR. Have y'all figured out yet that you are outnumbered??? Like VASTLY outnumbered. No one cares about your hell and I will tell you why… because if people like you go to heaven, the rest of us will gladly take hell. Then y'all wonder why and whine about no one going to church.

Todd Leslie Miller

No matter what or whom the statue is supposed to represent, it is PRIVATE PROPERTY and needs to be left alone! Leave it to the Evangelicals to put their spin on something that doesn’t mean what they say it does. I guess the adage is true that every religion has its lunatic fringe.

Kathy Kristine Norris

I am a Houstonian and lifelong Texan, bred and born. This act of violence and destruction should surprise me, but it is another act of evangelical, authoritarian right that seems to control Texas and many other states as well. Destruction, chaos, accusatory behavior is now the norm for people that follow this culture. WWJD stays with me, and I find myself asking this when I see news reports or both sides in opposition. WWJD? Would he look at a work or art and say, this doesn't belong here, let me destroy it, or would he say, Wow! What a work of art! It is clearly not an idol, because if it is, then we could say every statue erected in this country is just that, which it is clearly not. The Statue of Liberty being the largest gifted idol this country has seen. Murals painted in cities and towns are again a work of art and not intended to incite violence but to create and make people think. When is this country going to wake up and start showing respect instead of trying to prove their need to be right? When are we going to look at a statue or fountain for its beauty and not its political representation? When are we going to bring kindness back to this country and rid it of separateness' and hate? WWJD? The real Jesus. The one that taught love and acceptances, kindness and extending grace. Where did that Jesus go?

Thomas Allen Grant

While I do not agree with any sort of vandalism. I would have to agree that it did bear a striking resemblance to that awful women whom I am certain is burning in the fires of eternal damnation for helping to facilitate the murder of the innocent unborn amongst many other things.

Rev Dr Dub

As we watch the forces of evil co-opt faith movements to support their hateful ideologies, we will continue to see crimes and atrocities done in the name of defending the faith.

“Those who start by burning books will in the end burn people.”

It is past time that those of us who haven’t surrendered to hate push back on those who use faith to shield their bigotry.

Rev Ned

Gotta watch out for those Christofascists. They’re pretty intolerant. Kinda like the Taliban.

Philenda L. Daniel

If the words and the symbolism of our past is erased... then we have lost respect for those who traveled their road to bring us to our present... If words and symbolism is erased form our present... then we lose faith in the continuity of the road into our future... we lose ourselves. Be as careful with the eraser and even more careful of what one writes with the tip of the pencil... or the stokes and deletions from a keyboard.

Janine Claudette Heizler

I believe that the work of an artist should be respected by all that view it. A piece of artwork is a reflection of an artist's feeling, interpretations, hopes, dreams and ideals. Whether or not the viewer agrees or disagrees with the significance (meanings) of the a piece of art, whether it be their personal interpretation or that of the artist, does not give them the right to alter it. What we have now in this United States of America, is a lack of RESPECT by individuals, whereabout they believe that they can do as they please. Children in all schools, whether public or private, need to be taught some general manners which are severely lacking. One of those 'manners' is respect for other individuals rights, freedoms, and personal opinions, and the ability to act rationally and sane in the presence of others. Shahzia's piece is a beautiful work of art that shows passion, creativity, freedom and the choice for personal interpretation.

Daniel Gray

This is wrong. Just as wrong as the cancel culture destroying statutes or people defacing religious themed statutes. As long as the person placing the statute in its position then leave it alone. You have the same right to put up a religious statute next to it but you have NO right to damage it.

Colleen McAllister

I believe art should be protected, even when it offends. We all see art from our own perspective. Some see a multitude of things (such as Philenda L. Daniel) while others of us see a simple statement. I see a statue that celebrates women. Others apparently see evil. It all depends on what thoughts are in your mind as you view it.

Rev. Rory

I guess I'm missing something. What makes people think that this statue is satanic and has a pro-abortion message? I don't see it. Beheading a statue of a woman IS symbolic of the anger the legislature in Texas is exhibiting to demonize and marginalize women. Like Florida, in Texas women are second class except for the female family members of politicians, evangelical preachers, and billionaires. This is why I no longer identify as a "Christian." It's come to represent violence and hate and that was never my understanding of what it means to be Christian.

The Inquisition was not the finest hour of Christianity. Is that where we want to be?

"The Inquisition, a series of Catholic Church bodies that sought to suppress heresy, began in the 12th century, long after Christ. The word "inquisition" comes from the Latin verb inquirere, which means "investigation". In 1184, Pope Lucius III commissioned bishops to search for heresies in their jurisdictions, particularly among the Cathars and Waldensians in southern France. These efforts continued into the 14th century and are known as the Medieval Inquisition."

James Riggle-Johnson

Art is very subjective and is the artist’s interpretation of whatever they are trying to convey. In this case it was NOT satan, or evil, or pro-abortion. Those are the words of evangelicals criticizing something they know nothing about. If you don’t like a piece of art then don’t look at it. Even with as big as it is you can still walk by and not look up at the thing.

Why is it evangelicals claim they want freedom but then want to prevent others from having that same right. They scream cancel culture and then cancel others. They scream religious persecution and then persecute others. Whoever is responsible had no right to damage the statue, but I think the artists decision to not fix it is a wonderful idea. Let everyone see how hypocritical they are when it comes to freedom and cancel culture.

John Condron

As has been said many times before, "there is no hate like Christian love."

Theresa C. Marquess

From an artistic standpoint, I find the statue offensive.

Clay Serenbetz

The statue is owned by the public and on public property. Accordingly, damaging the statue is a crime. In my opinion, viewing the statue as Satanic is misguided. Satan is a Christian myth invented to control the masses.

Quinn R Amaro

This is all I am going to say: Such ignorant violence cause by those who are pro-Christ only confirms they are not if Christ.

Bridget Kielas-Fecyk

It's Texas. They HATE women there, they HATE anyone who's not a die-hard religious theist there. They HATE anyone who isn't White, Male, and MAGA there.

And they HATE anyone who argues that children should be allowed to be safe in their schools without fearing being gunned down.

So this is par for the course for Texas.

Robert Gagnon

Was the statue right outside the vandals dorm window. Was it so intruding on his daily trip across campus that he just couldn't leave it alone? Or was this an outsider that went through quite a bit of effort to damage art some stranger told him about.

Philenda L. Daniel

This sculpture ‘Witness’ by Artist Creator Shahzia Sikander … is not a Satanic piece… Not by a long shot… Bigotry defines the viewpoint of the viewer… Which is sad really because it limits the beauty and fullness of God. Bigotry makes God less than… not Greater than…. If… this were… a mathematical equation… bigotry would be the equivalent expression of… 1 is less than 10. However, it is expressed… the fullness of God is diminished through the use of bigotry. The Hair: The braids are designed in the form of Rams horns and for centuries has been interpreted Spiritually as a noble and commanding force. The Ram is a representation of strength, courage, and power. The Ram is further associated with abundance, fertility, growth, and agriculture. The Ram from a Spiritual perspective symbolizes drive, courage, willpower, and the resolve to overcome obstacles, and the persistence to attain goals. The Face: The face of the sculpture is at Peace… with her eyes set firmly on the horizon with determination. It is collared by the lace of justice seeking to find levelness on the playing field… a gentle fairness in the world. The arms: The arms are a representation of being rooted to herself in the deep and abiding knowledge of what she wants and what she can give to the world, with an understanding that there is a balanced cycle of give and take. The Body: The body is obviously female which is a likely representation of the artist’s point of view. It is also stating a fact… a female brings Life, Breath into this World. She is the bearer of our past, present and our future. The Feet: The feet are roots that are Rooted in herself and Life which is also rooted in the Divine… for Life itself is a miracle and a divine reckoning… a manifestation of the Creator’s great passion and need to create.

‘Witness’ sees herself in the world and knows her power. She is fertile, she is full of Life , and has the ability to grow, to give birth, to replenish the world with Divine Spirit… tempered with her Humanity. Only a bigoted point of view and a spiritually uneducated arrogance would see this as “Evil.” Those who are so eager to judge and less eager to grow are doomed to live in a perpetual spiritual ignorance… which is really a shame. I am guilty of seeing the ugliness of the world. Yet, I too am an artist, a painter, a creator of manifested thought. I see this art and understand GOD is Great and a female is a powerful force. I further realize that GOD is Great through diverse-ness of culture and thought... greater than one denomination… one point of view. Look around you… the art of GOD… surrounds you daily in the faces you see… Why is it so many believe that God which is Life… The Light… is less than and only belonging to them? Why is it that so many believe that GOD who is in All, through All… AS … All… can only speak their language. Can only look one certain way. Can only be their denomination instead of ALL denominations? Why is… Wisdom… only afforded one point of perspective. Why are so many people willing to make GOD small? It is shameful. The only reasons are for the narratives of Power, Control, and Pridefulness. It seems to me in order to present God’s Greatness to ourselves, we must seek to find a deeper meaning, seek to find the good, seek to find wisdom in the differences in order to gain Grace and Glory that is The Word, The Light and the Power of The Truth within… as Yeshua taught us to seek… Aramaic Bible: John Chapter 14 verse 17 “He is The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it has neither seen him nor known him; but you know him, for he dwells with you and he is in you.” John Chapter 14 verse 17 modernized: “The Spirit of Truth... the world cannot receive… because the world has neither seen it nor known it. Yet, you know the Spirit of Truth… It dwells within you.

Bishop William Dusenberry, DD

Those needing a pregnancy-termination, because, for a plethora of reasons they don’t want to give birth, at this point in their lives, are not “Pro-abortion; they’re pro-choice. If one is raised, with the understanding that if a nine-year-old, is raped, then subsequently finds out she’s pregnant, then her pedestrian informs her that she might die during the birthing process — any father, or grandfather who would rather his nine year old daughter or grand daughter die, rather than terminate a possible birth, defies whatever there are of basic human rights involving self determination.

Russel A. Kester

Turn about is fair play, the lefties attacked and tore down statues on university campuses of our country's past leaders like Washington so no crying when their statues to persons like Ginsberg are torn down.

Chris

It's almost like if they can't find something to be offended about it's because they're not looking hard enough. Yet another instance of the "Don't Tread On Me" crowd treading all over other people.

Rev. BH

Texas - what do you expect? A female - what do you expect?

Joe Stutler

Creepy cultists once again showing they're incapable of playing well with others.