A religious group believes it has an idea that could “complement and contrast” the Ten Commandments monument on the Oklahoma state Capitol grounds: a 7-foot-tall statue of Satan, depicted as a Baphomet — a goat-headed figure with wings and horns — sitting on a throne with smiling children at its side.
On Monday, the New York-based religious group Satanic Temple submitted its application for the monument to the Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission, which oversees the Capitol grounds in Oklahoma City.
Satanic Temple argues that if the Legislature could authorize the Ten Commandments monument, then a statue of Satan should also be approved. The monument would be an “homage” to Satan and a symbol of religious freedom, Satanic Temple spokesman Lucien Greaves said.
“More than anything, we feel our monument is meant to be a historical marker celebrating the scapegoats, marginalized and demonized minority,” he said.
