The Satanic Temple Makes a Mockery of Religious Freedom

The unserious organization’s antics have nothing to do with exercising religious freedom and everything to do with trying to undermine it.

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Satanic Temple display at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, December 14, 2023

KCCI/YouTube

Oh, brother: The Satanic Temple is at it again. Just in time to ruin the holidays, the swivel-eyed secularists who adopt as their mascot the Prince of Darkness while asserting that they “aren’t really Satanists” bamboozled officials in charge of Iowa’s capitol building into allowing them to erect a Satanic holiday display.

The display featured electric candles surrounding a figure draped in a blood-red cape, representing the pagan idol Baphomet. The monster held a pentangle and had a mirrored ram’s head. Accompanying the display was what the Satanic Temple says are its “seven fundamental tenets,” including its belief in “the freedom to offend.” Supposedly awaiting those to come and pay it homage, the figure was to stand for two weeks. Until it didn’t.

Andrea Picciotti-Bayer

About the Author

Andrea Picciotti-Bayer

Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is director of the Conscience Project and recipient of the Religious Freedom Institute’s 2025 Religious Freedom Impact Award.

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