A Satanic group has revealed designs for a 7ft tall monument of a goat-headed demon it wishes to see erected at the Oklahoma state Capitol.
The illustration, which depicts Satan as Baphomet sitting on a pentagram throne flanked by two children, was formally submitted by the New York-based Satanic Temple on Monday, the Associated Press reports.
The proposed location would see the statue placed adjacent to a Ten Commandments monument.
This is the statue proposed by the New York-based Satanist Temple
A statement from Satanic Temple spokesman Lucien Greaves says: “The monument has been designed to reflect the views of Satanists in Oklahoma City and beyond.
“The statue will also have a functional purpose as a chair where all people of all ages may sit on the lap of Satan for inspiration and contemplation.”
At the time of press, the group had raised $16,146 of the required $20,000 to build the statue.
The group says the erection of the privately-funded Ten Commandments monument in 2012 cleared the way for its own structure.
But politicians in the state have insisted Satanists should not be given the same treatment as Christians.
“This is a faith-based nation and a faith-based state,” Republican Earl Sears tells Raw Story.
He added: “I think it is very offensive they would contemplate or even have this kind of conversation.”
David Silverman, President of the American Athiests earlier joined a debate on Fox News (above) in which he was asked whether the proposed erection of the statue “was not a mockery and absolutely ridiculous?”
He replied: “Absolutely not – not a mockery, not ridiculous. The separation of the church and the state is what makes America great.
The sketch depicts Satan as Baphomet, a goat-headed figure with horns, wings and a beard
“Religious freedom means the government cannot take sides over one religion or another.
“You may not like the Satanists but guess what? It doesn’t matter.”
But while the Satanic Temple presses for what it believes is its own constitutional right, the decision as to whether the structure will be built at all is temporarily in limbo.
At present, the Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission has placed a moratorium on considering any new requests after the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union sued to have the Ten Commandments monument removed.
An online statement for the group lobbying for the new statue reads: “The mission of The Satanic Temple is to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people. In addition, we embrace practical common sense and justice.
“As Satanists we should all be guided by our conscience to undertake noble pursuits guided by our individual wills. We believe that this is the hope of all mankind and the highest aspiration of humanity.”