I’m curious about this one. I was amused when it was first done - I think I even donated to the cause, but it’s been awhile and I don’t remember. I don’t know if they ever got any of their signs posted, but I do remember people claiming that the law stated the schools had to post donated signs.
Obviously it’s a great loophole in a stupid law, and should equally cover Hindi, Chinese, or any other scary language. The law, as originally written, did not specify a language.
My question is whether it would similarly apply to a sign in English that read “In Allah we Trust.” Since Allah is literally the Arabic word for “god,” it’s semantically equivalent. If so, the same should hold true for similar words from other languages. You might argue that naming a specific god like Vishnu might not pass muster (although I think an argument could be made), but I think that “In Allah we trust” would be almost as defensible as having the entire text in Arabic.
State Rep. Brad Sherman, a Republican, even released a newsletter saying that the principle of church/state separation didn’t apply to this display because the state was inherently Christian. After all, he claimed, the Iowa Constitution refers to a “Supreme Being.”
According to these opening lines of our Constitution, the foundation for laws and continued blessing and success in Iowa is based on these points:
There is One Supreme God.
Blessings over this state come from the One Supreme God
We must depend upon the One Supreme God if we want to enjoy continued blessings.
It is a tortured and twisted interpretation of law that affords Satan, who is universally understood to be the enemy of God, religious expression equal to God in an institution of government that depends upon God for continued blessings. Such a legal view not only violates the very foundation of our State Constitution, but it offends the God upon whom we depend and undermines our wellbeing.
…
Therefore, based on the laws of God and the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and for the purpose of securing the blessings of God upon our state:
I am calling for our governor to have this blasphemous display removed immediately based on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and *offends God upon whom the State of Iowa depends for blessings.*
I am calling for clarifying legislation to be adopted in accordance with our State Constitution that prohibits satanic displays in our Capitol building and on all state owned property.
I am calling for legislation to be adopted that makes it legal to display the Ten Commandments in our Capitol, in all buildings owned by the state, and in our public schools.
If we want the blessings of God upon our state, we must demonstrate by our laws and actions that we are indeed depending upon Him and that we are opposed to Satan.
They will remember soon enough. When a state takes a religion it is typically pressured to get very specific, and then persecute (convert or imprison / execute) those that do not conform.
This was is the crux of the issue in the troubles, which is itching to start up again.
evangelist Joel Tenney, who wanted someone fired over the inclusion and implied (in the comments) that he would personally vandalize the “grossest form of idolatry I have ever seen in my state.” He even asked his followers, “Who’s gonna bail me out?!”
No, he deliberately riled up his followers, then referenced the need for "bail money" like six different times. Guy is just after the money. Hmm, I wonder what his holy book says about money?
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have.
You cannot serve both God and money.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Luckily they live in the United States of Amoneyca and they are Coinageans praying to the all mighty green and papery Georgod Washington. They can serve both God and money because they are one and the same.
Conservative projection also includes 'owning the libs'. I think everyone with an IQ passed their shoe size can agree on how eeeeeeeeasy it is to riled up conservatives. You literally only have to apply their own rules to them and nothing more. You don't even have to come up with an original idea.
Wow, that rep has no business being a representative when they can't even understand what separation of church and state means. And somehow are intellectually challenged enough to believe that being a "Christian state" means the law no longer applies...?
These topics interest me because I can imagine how inflexible religious fundamentalists must be.
Like, to atheists or satanists seeing a Christian display is at most annoying.
For hardcore Christians seeing a satanic display is a literal challenge from God to be strong, to be loyal. They see it as a glitch in the matrix or some shit, like a virus.
Same as Muslims and displays of Muhammad.
They simply can't compute the continued existence of such things.
I honestly don't see the hypocrisy, Satanists are using the image of the thing Christians consider to be the root of all evil. Of course Christians aren't going to like it. But keep annoying them, I like it. Just a bunch of atheists trying to trigger Christians, lol.
I want to clear one thing up, there are two main religious groups centered around Satan.
The first is The Satanic Temple which is a secular religion based around holding government accountable when they overstep into the religious side of things, which is obviously against the constitution.
The second is the Church of Satan, which doesn’t really get involved in politics, and doesn’t actually believe in Satan.
They are two different entities, with two very different end goals.
The Satanic Temple generally uses their position as the antithesis to Christianity to pressure government departments to keep distance between themselves and religious institutions. For instance, if government committees open with a prayer, they'll ask that sometimes it is a Satanic prayer (and have made one for just such an occasion).
The TST is generally atheist, even if Satan did give us Rock-&-Roll and Dungeons & Dragons.
The Satanic Church is Laveyan Satanism and different than the Satanic Temple. Laveyan Saranism is mostly just about individualism, and is too Ayn Randish for my liking. The Satanic Temple is just an awesome group of atheists and agnostic people that advocates for rational thought and the separation of church and state.
The Satanic Temple uses Satanic imagery and symbolism mostly just to scare the Christian politicians and legislators into voting to remove their own symbols and laws from legislation. That and also because it looks cool. They also provide religious exemption to members for medical reasons and non-Christian holidays and such.
They do a lot of good things, like fight for the separation of church and state, reproductive rights, and equality. It's mostly just a big club of nice goth kids who generally want to make the world a better place. I have been a "member" for years, but I have only really gone to a few meetups and park cleanups with my local congregation.
If anyone is interested to "join", it's completely free for anyone to claim membership, and use them for religious exemptions, etc. They have a membership card and certificate for a 25 dollar donation on their website. If you want to participate in their activities, find your local congregation on their website, and join their community on whatever chat app that they use. I found it to be one of the most welcoming communities, and they are always doing good things and fun events.
I like your lack of toxicity, now I feel bad for being the way I am. Anyways, I wanted to learn about instances in which the church of satan has promoted the separation of state and church, beyond just annoying or triggering Christians. I mean actual legislation.
Is there any place where I can find this information?