Favorite Video From 2015

Bwahahahahaha! This is my favorite video from 2015! Glenn Beck is such a tool!

Bye Bye, Oklahoma Theocracy

Now for some less depressing news, reminding us that there is a bright side, and that life is not always one long sigh: after a Supreme Court ruling over two years ago stating that the statue of the ten commandments at the Oklahoma state building needed to be removed, the eyesore was finally taken away from public property on Monday. It was "re-homed" at the Oklahoma Counsel of Public Affairs, which is an organization that advertises Republican candidates for various offices and lobbies for policies that favor theocracy, christian theocracy, and threaten the constitutional rights of everyone. At least the statue is on private property.

No one should think that a demand was made by the people to remove the ten commandments. All that was desired by non-christian citizens, such as The Satanic Temple, was equal space for icons and symbols that favored The Satanic Temple, alongside the ten commandments. It was the Supreme Court that told Oklahoma to remove the eyesore from its front lawn. Thomas Jefferson would agree. No religion should cram government space with icons. Neither should a religion attempt to rule any segment of America's population. It would have been a lot of fun to attend the unveiling of the statue of Baphomet on the lawn of the Oklahoma state building, however. But all is not lost; a letter was sent earlier this week by The Satanic Temple to the state of Arkansas, concerning a similar eyesore at the state capital building in Hope.

It's The End Of The World As We Know It

And now, for the end of the world as some folks know it, we have a Supreme Court ruling that the Christian icon, the statue of the ten commandments at the state capital building in Oklahoma, must come down. There have been previous rulings in lower courts that the statue could stay, but only if joined by Baphomet. Since nasty and selfish religious folk in Oklahoma persisted in blocking this, it became evident that coming into compliance with the law is beyond certain individuals there, so we now have a ruling from the Supreme Court to remove all religious debris from government property.

This blogger would have preferred that the statue of Baphomet sit alongside the other statue, but that would have augured the end of the world as some folks see it.

In Case You Missed Church On Sunday

Ah yes, Oklahoma, the ten commandments, and the impending erection of Satan! Well, Baphomet.....Satan and Baphomet are two entirely different entities, but the point being made by the Satanic Temple is still very valid. In 2012, Oklahoma inserted the ten commandments on the lawn of their capital building, showing obvious favor to Christianity. When asked about displaying symbols of other religions, Oklahoma refused. The state also refused to remove it's statue of the ten commandments. Now, with a win in the Supreme Court, assisted by the ACLU, Lucien Greaves, of the Satanic Temple, commissioned the creation of a statue of Baphomet to also sit on the lawn of the capital building in Oklahoma. If the ten commandments does not disappear, the statue of Baphoment, according to the court's ruling, must also be given a place. Since the ten commandments is still there, Greaves has announced that the statue is nearly complete, and that there are copies of it in case Oklahoma Christians do that Christian thing of which so many of them are fond, and vandalize the statue. It's comforting to know that the Satanic Temple has our backs when state governments try to decide which church we should all attend, and it's nice to know that the ACLU is still willing to go on the defense for us, even in the Midwest, which seems to be the land of misplaced ethnocentrism.

In Case You Missed Church On Sunday

In case you missed church on Sunday, there is still a lawsuit on the table against the state of Oklahoma, concerning their offensive affirmation of a preference for one religion over another at their state capital building, in the form of a statue bearing the biblical ten commandments. The Satanist Temple, headquartered in New York, came to the assistance of Satanists in Oklahoma with a blueprint for a statue of Baphomet to grace the same building. The matter has yet to be decided.

The drawing of the proposed statue is quite attractive. I like it. The only thing that bothers me a little bit is that Baphomet and Satan are two distinctly different entities, but the message of the Temple of Satan is still valid. In fact, there are two messages here: first, it is acceptable and admirable, from a spiritual standpoint, to think logically and love one's self; second, it is legal and appropriate to demand equal representation, both inside the state building and outside of it. Christians everywhere should pay close attention to this.

If this is finally settled by building the new statue, rather than removing the offensive christian motif; I intend to make the trip to Oklahoma for the unveiling. It will be a unique experience for my children to photograph and write about in school.

Mabon And Thanksigiving Prayers

         Have a wonderful Mabon, all! Remember that today is a day to give thanks!

 

Deity Of Understanding

 

While looking for a picture that illustrates the kind, benevolent, wisdom-sharing Baphomet, whose love and guidance means so much to yours truly, this came up in a search. It suggests a supplantive  role in Creation, which may not be the exact role played by him, but the picture has, nonetheless, opened my mind to unexplored possibilities. He is a Babylonian God of understanding, which is why he is associated with wisdom. I have found him to be a very loving and tolerant Guide.

 

Very Smart School Board Decision

 

A Jackson County, Ohio middle school used to have a stupid looking, White-Jesus picture hanging from a railing on a staircase, until the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation sued the school on behalf of the more intelligent parents and students to take the offensive thing down. The superintendent of Jackson County Schools pointed out that the school insurance company refused to insure the school against lawsuits inspired by the subtle expression of a preference for one religion over another, so he removed it. That was very smart. It's too bad Northeast Kansas schools will not learn a lesson about lawsuits, insurance to cover damages won by parties with reasons to sue the occasional erring school, and the dumb shit fundamentalist Christian teachers and administrators often do to encourage lawsuits.

If that picture were to stay, there should be other pictures alongside it. Perhaps one like this: