Satanic display featuring demonic ram in a red cloak is set up in the Iowa Statehouse as ‘an expression of religious freedom’
The Satanic Temple put on display a glittering demonic ram head at the Iowa Statehouse as an expression of “religious freedom.”
Along with more traditional menorahs and Christmas trees, the group erected an altar topped with candles, a large banner and a figure of a ram with a skull covered in mirrors, a red cloak and a wreath.
The Temple reportedly went through all the necessary administrative channels for the display, and they were only denied the initial request to use the skull of a real goat.
Satanic Temple founder Lucien Greaves told KCCI: “We will greatly relish the opportunity to be represented in a public forum. We don’t have a church on every corner.”
The exhibit will be open for fourteen days and is protected by the First Amendment, but not everyone is happy with it.
The Satanic Temple has a display in the rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol.
Iowa resident Shelley Flockhart is extremely concerned and organized a group prayer near the exhibit on Wednesday.
She told KCCI, “I hope people realize that spiritual warfare is real. That there are evil satanic forces that are trying to penetrate our state.”
She said Christians must spiritually combat this and added: “It is a very dark, evil force and I truly hope people know how to fight it.”
But Greaves was unfazed by the blowback and said it was a symbol of their right to religious freedom.
He said, “I believe that if people don’t like our displays in public forums, they don’t have to interact with them, they don’t have to view them.”
The First Amendment protects all religious groups and the exercise of all creeds, stating: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
In 2019, the IRS declared the Satanic Temple a tax-exempt religion, giving it the same legal protections as other religions.
This includes: “Access to public spaces of other religious organizations; confirmation of its position in court in the fight against religious discrimination; and allowing the Satanic Temple to apply for government grants based on faith.”
He will remain there for fourteen days as an expression of religious freedom.
Satanic Temple co-founder Lucien Greaves said if people don’t like it, they don’t have to be involved with it.
Iowa House Representative John Dunwell said on X that while he, as a pastor and Christian, finds the display “objectionable” and “evil,” as a state representative he is “guided by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
He said: “At this time, access to the exhibits in the Capitol is open to everyone by submitting an application.
“While there are some guidelines, they do not discriminate on the basis of religion or ideology.
“The Satanic Temple applied for their display in August and was approved with some changes. They wanted to use a real goat’s head (I’m guessing a skull), and we’re not allowed to do that.”
He reminded people that “an exhibit is an inanimate object that has no real power in itself.” We have nothing to fear.
But he added: “I don’t want the Capitol to be overwhelmed with exhibits. In the future, we may have to find ways to limit the number of displays accordingly.”
The exhibition features a mirrored figure of a ram wearing a red cloak and wreath, as well as an altar strewn with candles.
The Satanic Temple website describes the club as a way to learn without proselytizing.
The Satanic Temple describes itself as “the world’s premier religious Satanic organization, with congregations around the world and a number of high-profile public campaigns aimed at preserving and promoting secularism and individual freedoms.”
It claims to have over 700,000 members.
It is based on seven “fundamental principles,” including: “One should strive to act with compassion and empathy for all beings in accordance with reason.”
And: “The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To intentionally and unjustly infringe on the freedom of another means to abandon one’s own.
And: “A person’s body is inviolable, it is subject only to his own will.”
Members say they don’t actually believe in a literal Satan or hell, but instead believe in a metaphor that questions authority.
The State of Iowa placed a clear notice next to the new display: “This display is not owned, maintained, advertised, endorsed or associated with the State of Iowa.”
Earlier this year, members of the Satanic Temple gathered for Satancon at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.
The event was attended by more than 800 people. One speaker tore up the Bible, while others staged a “non-baptism.”
Opposing Christian groups protested and staged a series of demonstrations across the city to counter the three-day event with “intense prayer”.
The group made headlines again when they founded the After School Satan Clubs.
The clubs sparked controversy earlier this year when they held meetings for students at schools in Virginia and California.