NOTE: As of Wednesday, December 18, the Satanist display at issue has been removed.
Outrage has erupted as Satanists erect a holiday display at the Minnesota State Capitol this year. Critics have taken aim at Democratic Gov. Tim Walz who has yet to comment on the issue. This is one of several satanic displays to create controversy this holiday season. This display featured phoenix imagery and passages from satanic texts. Republicans expressed their annoyance with the display and with Walz for his inaction.
In a post from their Facebook The Minnesota Satanists announced their first ever holiday display in the state capital building. “Thanks to all the hard work from our Congregation, especially Calcifer, for helping us set up Minnesota Satanists’ first-ever holiday display at the state Capitol in Saint Paul! HAIL RELIGIOUS PLURALITY!!! HAIL SATAN!!!” the post read.
The negative reaction was swift. A Minnesota Republican, Pete Stauber, had this to say: “When you get a DFL [Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party] trifecta, you get a Satanic display at our state Capitol. During the holidays… what a disgrace. Only in Walz’s Minnesota.” Another representative made his thoughts known when he said ” “Is there anything Tim Walz won’t do to insult Minnesotans?”
These types of displays have become a tradition for satanists. Andrew T. Walker who teaches Christian ethics and public theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, explained this “It was wrong when Iowa Satanists did this and it is wrong when Minnesota Satanists do this, too. This obscenity is not what our founders envisioned for religious liberty protections.”
The Satanic Temple was founded in 2012. According to it’s website its goal is to “encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice and undertake noble pursuits.” The groups states they do not worship Satan or “believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural.” The group is not associated with the Church of Satan.
In the same release the group describes what they do believe. “The Satanic Temple believes that religion can, and should, be divorced from superstition,” the FAQ reads. “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.”
Just a few days ago, a similar display was vandalized in New Hampshire. One of the Satanists involved had this to say Lucian Grey, whose real name is Douglas Mesner, still holds that displays like this are important. “Hopefully, for some, our limited presence and perseverance will prove inspirational in demonstrating that freedom of religion — the ability to believe or disbelieve as we see fit without consequence to our civic capacities — is still alive, and more in need of defending now than at any other time in our lives,” he said.
Christians have long expressed annoyance at these displays, both because of the content but also because they feel that TST is primarily a group of provocateurs and not a sincere religious expression. This concerns have been highlighted as Satanists seek to increase their relevance in public life. Other Satanic displays have been spotted in Iowa and Florida.