Last night, the Satanic Temple unveiled a 1-ton statue to the world — a statue for which they have the goal of placing on the grounds of the capitol of the most religious, conservative state they can achieve.

Here is a report of the event written by atheist Hemant Mehta.

I actually first found out about this via Relevant Media Group’s Relevant Podcast. This is Christian media source. I find it necessary to mention that I respect this source in part because they are not afraid to report on things like cross-burning, potential life on other planets, and the Duggar scandal.

“Rejoice always!
Pray constantly.
Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Don’t stifle the Spirit.
Don’t despise prophecies,
but test all things.
Hold on to what is good.
Stay away from every kind of evil.”

Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς , 51 CE (emphasis mine)

I have many atheist friends whose experience of Christianity is that it’s ignorant and fearful. I get that. Lots of Christians are that way. Some atheists are, too. None of it is cool. (I’ll fight with you to change it. To get people to think critically. To convince people to seek wisdom and freedom and justice.)

But, of course, by the rules of good philosophical inquiry, I will refrain from judging any worldview by its abuse, because I would not like to have my worldview judged in such a way (Matthew 7:2). Instead, we examine the best arguments of each in order to make a valid and sound conclusion.

First, I’d like to say this. We are a nation with freedom to believe what our senses and experiences lead us to believe. This is a miraculous thing. Because throughout most of history, people have been forced to “believe” a certain thing by governments. This thing has been religious, this thing has been secular. Both have resulted in deaths (although atheistic despots are responsible for more deaths than all religious crusades combined).

This is called the politicization of religion.

And I’ve never seen a good thing come of it.

There is a good reason our founding fathers put freedom of religion into our Constitution.

Not only is this decision is compatible with Christianity, but any Christian, if he devotes himself to orthodox teaching, would accept nothing less than religious freedom for all. Not only that, but he would fight for the rights of people of all religions.

If a Muslim girl wanted to wear a veil at a school that didn’t allow hats, that kind of Christian would defend her in court. If a kid got kicked out of his house for becoming an atheist, that Christian would provide this kid a room in his home. If another “Christian” looked down on an agnostic girl who got pregnant in high school, that Christian would be the first person to be her friend and buy her fish sticks and custard and knit hats for the baby while they watched Netflix on a Friday night. Why? Because “Christian” means “Christ-like,” and these are the things Christ would do.

Let me tell you an ancient story.

“Jesus answered, ‘There was once a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him, stripped him, and beat him up, leaving him half dead.

It so happened that a priest [powerful religious guy] was going down that road; but when he saw the man, he walked on by on the other side.

In the same way a Levite [Jewish guy] also came there, went over and looked at the man, and then walked on by on the other side.

But a Samaritan [agnostic social outcast guy] who was traveling that way came upon the man, and when he saw him, his heart was filled with pity.

He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them; then he put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. “Take care of him,” he told the innkeeper, “and when I come back this way, I will pay you whatever else you spend on him.”‘

And Jesus concluded, ‘In your opinion, which one of these three acted like a neighbor toward the man attacked by the robbers?’

The teacher of the Law [another powerful religious guy] answered, “The one who was kind to him.’

Jesus replied, ‘You go, then, and do the same.'”

Luke 10:30-37, Good News Translation (GNT)

Dear Satanists,

I love you.  Also, I understand you to an extent, and seek to understand you more, because I’m convinced there’s someone out there  who understands not only who you are, but what you do and why you do it (see Job 28:23-28). I am an ambassador and and envoy for this someone (2 Corinthians 5:20), and so I try to represent this someone in my attitudes and thoughts and actions and all that.

Satanists, the vibe I get from your website is that your experience of God is not the God that acts like the Samaritan, but the ignorant, oppressive religious guy who seems to do the exact opposite of what Jesus seems to do.

When you hear “Jesus loves you,” it’s like someone stabbing you in the side. It has a connotation of sadism. Because, from your experience, it seems like all God wants is for you to suffer. And as far back as you can remember, the name Jesus has only ever brought you pain.

I am so, so sorry.

When you think of God, you think of the politicization of religion. You think of the crusades. You think of all the Bible scholars who say this stuff is not only baloney in people’s lives, but in actuality. This is bigger than you. You feel as though you have a responsibility to rise against religion and fight for other people to be free from oppression, and one of the best ways of doing that is helping them think for themselves, to see through a different lens, any lens, besides the lens of oppressive religion.

The God who was demonstrated to you seems a lot more like the devil.

And so, you don’t want to worship him. You want to worship the exact opposite of that.

And what is the opposite of God?

Satan.

Of course, you don’t really worship Satan. Satan is a symbol for free thought, and freedom in general, and wisdom because no religious people really care to gain it, and rebellion against this oppressive God, and all the institutions formed around him.

I laud you. You have taken a very civil approach to rebelling against this system which, in your experience, is truly oppressive an the farthest thing from civil. You have decided, if this oppressive God can have His oppressive commandments in state buildings, in a nation with freedom of religion, and if you can’t level the playing ground for all religions by removing these commandments, then you will level the playing field by raising up another religious artifact for your religion, perhaps every religion eventually, but beginning with your own, since, well, you believe in it.

You knew there would be protesters. You live in fear, because of course, Christians are coming to oppress you even more. But you wouldn’t let them ruin this moment of joy and victory.

I want to be glad. But my heart aches. I am frustrated with oppressive Christians, too.

Because honestly? The real Christ, the one above it all, wants to champion your cause of justice and freedom.

Of course, he would not do it in this way. Because you don’t know his Papa like he does (John 1:18).

You’re right. He’s fake.

This God.

Which God?

This God that is oppressive and hates you and stands against you anytime you want to be free.

Not real.

This God doesn’t exist.

If you want to see the real God —the one who is beyond all religion and reality and personality and bigotry — you look at Christ. The Christ described in the passage above.

 

You’re wrong. He’s real.

Satan, I mean.
You use Him as a symbol. But he’s got you right where He wants you.
This isn’t freedom, friends. Neither is religion.
Your religion, or theirs.
Let’s find freedom from religion, shall we?

I dare you to wait for this Christ.

Picture this. You are that man who was beat up.
Pharisees will walk by you. They will have no pity.

I am so, so sorry.

Levites will walk by you. They will ignore you and spit in your wounds.

I am so, so sorry.

But maybe, one day, this Jesus will find you when everyone else has abandoned you, and your statues turn out not to have brains, but your demons turn out to be very, very clever indeed. I’m so, so sorry, but these demons are no different.

 

They are the same spirit.

 

Your Satan and your oppressive God.

It’s the spirit of Religion.

And Baphomet? He will treat you no differently.

Satan will chew you up and spit you out. Satan will use you. He will make you feel so, so powerful.
You will look up to him, believe him, follow his every word, like a little boy or a little girl.
But the pleasure is his, really. You’ll be doing His work. For free.
No, at the cost of your soul.
He has no love for you in his heart. And he will burn you alive. He’ll enjoy it.

(Test the spirits)

Your soul. Your beautiful, beautiful soul.

You readily sign it away because all you want is a leader who is freaking legitimate. No other government, no other religion seems to be. But this one? It’s no different.

(Wait for the Samaritan.)

He will come in a form you won’t expect. An outcast. Rejected by his own people.
He’s an outcast, rejected, just like you.

Just like you.

I am just like you.

(Don’t despise)

By nature, I wanted nothing but to rebel against God. Nowhere in me was any desire to give up what seemed good to me.

(Good.)

What is good?
Good and evil? They seem to be switched, don’t they?
Religion seems to have taken away your options.
Wait for the Christ.
He will come to you. Indeed, he already has.
O come, o come, and ransom the captives.

(Test all things.) Yes, you must yield yourself, in the end, to Satan or to the Christ. Yes, they are against each other. Satan looooves religion. The Christ despises religion. It holds “Christians” captive. It holds Satanists captive.

(Ransom the captives.)

There is a reward on your head. He knows the hairs on your head. The reward was his life. You don’t have to yield to death. Because life is the reward.

I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God’s blessing and God’s curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life.

~ 1406 BCE, the one who holds the keys

The choice is before you. You probably have stopped reading this post by now. Maybe one day you’ll come back. The choice will come back around, but not forever. Not while you’ve pledged allegiance to death.

I am so, so sorry.

Come get some bandages for those wounds. I can’t take them away. I won’t dare attempt to justify the evil that has been inflicted upon you in Jesus’ name. Come stay in My house (Psalm 84:10, GNT). Come find healing. Come find out what it means to have rest for your precious, beautiful soul (Matthew 11:28). It’s not too late.

Whatever you wrote on that paper, I’m telling you, it’s not too late. Open your eyes. Don’t shut out reality and the facts.

You will hate me for saying this. I get it.

But I just needed to say that. Because I’m an ambassador, an envoy, for someone who sees the pain,
who feels it,
who never justifies wrong,
but instead,
forks up whatever it takes
to purchase your life back.

I just needed to say that. Because I didn’t want to just see all this religious oppression
coming from both sides and to just
pass by on the other side.

(Hold on)