The Satanic Temple, an NYC-based organization, is angling to have a Baphomet statue installed beside an existing monument to the 10 Commandments near Oklahoma’s state capitol. Douglas Mesner, the Temple’s spokesman and apparent leader, seems pretty reasonable.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Mesner — who also goes by the distinctly more satanic moniker Lucien Greaves — gives some insight into his motives. “I think [the idea of devil worship] is silly,” he told the publication. “I can’t even conceive of that actually being the case.”
Mesner’s intent is more in keeping with that of the ACLU, which is suing to have the 10 Commandments statue taken down on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. “When the government literally puts one faith on a pedestal, it sends a strong message to Oklahomans of other faiths that they are less than equal,” Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the ACLU of Oklahoma, wrote in a statement when the suit was announced.
For now, the Temple’s petition is on hold until the ACLU’s suit is resolved. “If ultimately, it doesn’t end up in Oklahoma,” said Mesner, “we’re going to move on to the next place. This could go on for quite some time.”
