Temple of Satan adds monument to Illinois government building
Posted by Josh Taylor / December 6, 2018
The Temple of Satan has placed a monument at the Illinois state capitol. The monument stands four feet tall and depicts a hand grasping an apple, referencing the story of Eve eating the forbidden fruit (never actually described as an apple) in Genesis 3.
The statue sits next to a menorah and a nativity. The GoFundMe page for the project says that the “Satanic Temple—Chicago will no longer allow one religious perspective to dominate the discourse in the Illinois State Capitol rotunda during the holiday season. … Please consider what you may do to help us bring Satan to Springfield!””
Don’t be confused, however. The point of the Temple of Satan is not actually to venerate the Devil. Indeed, they don’t even “believe” in the supernatural Satan. Instead, the group advocates for the separation of church and state.
Critics are not impressed with the Temple of Satan’s tactics, however, with some calling the statue offensive. This is an interesting test case in the way the label of “offensive” can be used by groups who have traditionally not been able to use it effectively, namely mainline or Evangelical Christians. The question is moot, however, since the Temple of Satan is constitutionally allowed to place the statue in the capitol.
More religion.
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