Hindus follow Satanists, want display at Okla. Capitol
OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma's decision to allow a Christian monument on its state Capitol lawn has opened the door to almost any other religious display, legal experts said, as Satanists and Hindus look to place their own statues at the site.
A Satanist group has petitioned to have its monument, with an interactive display for children, put up alongside the Ten Commandments. And this week, a Hindu organization applied to have a monkey god statue placed on the Capitol grounds.
Socially conservative Christian groups fought for years to have the Ten Commandants displayed at the statehouse, and the monument went up in 2012.
Legislative approval was granted to the Christian groups, which were using private funds to commemorate a historical event and said they were not in violation of constitutional restrictions on the state sponsoring religion.
"The problem is that when the legislature allowed the Ten Commandments to be put up, they knew they were opening a Pandora's Box," said Oklahoma City lawyer David Slane.
"If the state does not allow the other monuments, then it's in violation of the Equal Protection Clause," Slane said.
The American Civil Liberties Union in Oklahoma warned lawmakers before the Ten Commandants went up that by allowing one religious group to have its say at that location, others would follow.
"We opposed this because it shouldn't be the business of the state government to make decisions on how appropriate people's religions are," said Brady Henderson, legal analyst for the Oklahoma ACLU.
Oklahoma lawmakers are trying to block the influx of monuments, saying they run against public opinion in the heavily Christian state.
"This is a faith-based nation and a faith-based state," state Rep. Earl Sears told the Tulsa World.
"I think it is very offensive they would contemplate or even have this kind of conversation," the Republican lawmaker said in a story published on Tuesday.
Oklahoma Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon's spokesman Joe Griffin told Reuters the Capitol was not an appropriate place for monuments such as the one proposed by the Satanists.
"The left-hand path philosophies of this organization do not align with the values of Oklahomans, nor the ideals this country or its laws are founded upon," Griffin said.
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Fair is fair. Christian nation, my ass.
They opened Pandora's box, and were warned ahead of time what would happen.
So they have themselves between a rock and hard place..To bad.
Now that is one hell of a Pandora's Box! lol
Yup.
That should be obvious.
Either no religious monuments should be allowed-- or all should be allowed. (Of course either way, someone's bound to be insulted.).
And who's to say what's a "valid" religion? Is Scientology? Wiccan & other "earth religions". What if your thing is to worship "The Sun God"? Even if you want to worship idolsAnd what about Atheism-- and Agnosticism? (Some people even feel that Communism is a sort of "religion").
IMO, "freedom of religion" means that even if you want to worship idols -- that right is protected by the Constitution!
I would think the most "appropriate " religion to display in Oklahoma would pay homage to the oil industry .
Perhaps a small model oil rig with the slogan "drill baby drill " ...
Fair is fair.I agree with Hal.
Krish makes a very strong point. The Constitution guarantees us the freedom to believe, disbelieve and abstain from belief as each of us sees fit.
Kavika is correct. They really did open themselves up to things they don't care for by introducing the foundation of religious law into a monument on public property, even if privately financed.
In for a dime, in for a dollar.
The equal protection clause. Wisdom of the founders of America. No one more or less than anyone else.
What makes a society free isn't the choices we make, but that we have the freedom to make choices.
Petey cracks me up about a monument to an oil rig. Too funny! Good one Petey.
Personally, I would like to see a monument to Jay's Diner. It is the sight of a profound and major religious miracle. Once at lunch there, my cousin Ira picked up the check. Kind of makes parting the Sea child's play, as miracles go.
Peace, Blessings, and Abundant Monuments So Everyone Gets a Chance.
Enoch.
It's an 'A-ha' moment...
Now (belatedly) I get the point of the article earlier regarding Bryan Fischer's rant about how the Founders clearly meant "Christianity" when they mentioned 'religion' in the Amendments... guess that's what I get for not tuning in for a daily dose of blues I mean news on a routine basis.
Personally, I vote for a 100-foot high draining collander, in homage to the Flying Spaghetti Monster... I might consider a 50-foot diameter meatball, though.
I love the Hindu deal as well... kind of highlights the 'sacred cow' concept that's implicit here.