Group proposes satanic statue at Arkansas Capitol

September 8, 2015 at 2:04 p.m.

by The Associated Press

This 2014 photo provided by The Satanic Temple shows a bronze Baphomet, which depicts Satan as a goat-headed figure surrounded by two children. The Satanic Temple, a group advocating the separation of church and state, is proposing that the statue be placed outside the Arkansas Statehouse after their first choice of the Oklahoma Capitol grounds was scuttled in 2015 by a state Supreme Court ruling barring all religious monuments.
This 2014 photo provided by The Satanic Temple shows a bronze Baphomet, which depicts Satan as a goat-headed figure surrounded by two children. The Satanic Temple, a group advocating the separation of church and state, is proposing that the statue be placed outside the Arkansas Statehouse after their first choice of the Oklahoma Capitol grounds was scuttled in 2015 by a state Supreme Court ruling barring all religious monuments.

LITTLE ROCK — A group is asking Arkansas officials to allow a satanic statue to be constructed outside the state Capitol, where a new law allows a monument to the Ten Commandments.

The Satanic Temple on Tuesday formally submitted its request to the secretary of state and the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission to approve its proposed monument to Baphomet, which depicts Satan as a goat-headed figure with horns, hooves, wings and a beard. The Massachusetts-based group said it will pay all costs associated with the monument's installation.

A spokesman for Secretary of State Mark Martin's office said it would respond soon to the group's request.

The group proposed the monument in response to a law enacted this year allowing a privately funded Ten Commandments monument on the Capitol grounds.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Reader poll

Should a satanic statue be allowed on the grounds of the Arkansas state Capitol?

  • No, only a Ten Commandments monument should be allowed 29%
  • No, some religious statues are acceptable but not a satanic one 18%
  • No, no religious statues are acceptable 39%
  • Yes, all religions should be allowed to have statues 14%

1211 total votes.

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