DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) - On Thursday, the Satanic Temple of Iowa announced that their display at the Iowa Capitol had been significantly damaged.
The controversial display, which Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds called “objectionable,” featured a ram’s head covered with mirrors on a mannequin before being damaged.
Organizers say it’s a symbol of their right to religious freedom.
The Satanic Temple of Iowa posted the following message on their Facebook page:
“This morning, we were informed by authorities that the Baphomet statue in our holiday display was destroyed beyond repair. We are proud to continue our holiday display for the next few days that we have been allotted.
We ask that for safety, visitors travel together and use the 7 Tenets as a reminder for empathy, in the knowledge that justice is being pursued the correct way, through legal means.
KCCI has reported that 35-year-old Michael Cassidy of Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. He has since been released.
Solve et Coagula! Happy Holidays! Hail Satan!”
I think you miss the actual point.
The actual point is to expose religious hypocrisy. Not only does forcing the states hand to put the statue there the first place achieve that goal, but in a rare and very much anticipated double-dip maneuver, they also get to expose the hypocrisy in its vandalism.
TST does this through a lot of expert-level trolling. You may not see it as such but it really is.
That’s not a bad thing. Honestly their approach is fucking amazing and it works. Trolling isn’t itself a bad thing. It’s a tool that can be used. It can be used poorly or well. And for good or bad. TST is using it well, for good. Good for them.
ETA, maybe “expected” isn’t the best word. But it’s certainly an opportunity that they can and will take advantage of. I don’t think TST sees the vandalism as an expressly negative thing, but rather a real thick silver lining. If anything, it actually helps their message.
Why do you see this as trolling, though? I saw the display, and there was nothing insulting or disrespectful about it.
Now, if it had been a defaced crucifix or something like that, I could agree. But I don’t see how Baphomet itself is offensive to Christianity. It isn’t even a Christian icon. It comes from occultism.