• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Satanic Temple display approved for Florida Capitol

Are we cool? Do we both agree that there are no verses in the Bible about beating your wife?
He may have been confusing his Holy Books.

Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.
 
Books aren't holy.

What is the definition of Holy? What is the definition of righteous?

These are not the same words. If you live in a house with more than one person then it is very likely that your toothbrush is holy.
 
No, but those aren't what's being displayed either. What's being displayed is a myth. If you want to put up a wholly secular display of peace on earth, knock yourself out. So long as it continues to be religious myth, they have to open things up to all religions.
How is Christmas a religious myth? It's been going on for generations now and you call it a "myth"? Are you one of those who don't understand that Christmas has become wildly popular among non-Christians as well?

If the Festivus people have a message to tell why not tell it? But it seems there is no message at all, they are doing it because they can, and are just taking up space. That's something their adherents likely do as well.
 
What is the definition of Holy? What is the definition of righteous?

These are not the same words. If you live in a house with more than one person then it is very likely that your toothbrush is holy.

A book is an object. It doesn't have special powers.

But, if you need to believe that it is holy...go ahead, knock yourself out.
 
A book is an object. It doesn't have special powers.

But, if you need to believe that it is holy...go ahead, knock yourself out.

Holy? What does that even mean? I think we are getting side tracked. The whole point is that the Christians need to remove their display so that it doesn't get Satanic Temple cooties.
 
Or maybe Christians should stop trying to push their ridiculous religious beliefs on everyone else and keep it to themselves. Then atheists wouldn't have to be "aholes".

You know the atheists think Christians are the a-holes for pushing their religion on people in public spaces. What are churches and front yards for?

Sorry but no one is forcing anyone to look at those nativity scenes. If you don't want to look at it then don't. Its as simple as that. Having a nativity scene is no different than having a totem pole on public property. (which I've seen and no one gives a flying flip about except to think "that's cool!") Its also no different than having a public building with a mural on it depicting the civil war or whatever.

There are two ways in which someone being offended happens. 1: They are goaded into being offended. Such as what these atheists are doing towards Christians. 2: They CHOOSE to be offended. Which is what these atheists are doing towards nativity scenes. I mean come on, how can anyone be offended at a child being born in a manger unless they choose to be?

All of you supporting this can spin and strawman your way all that you want through this. In the end it is as simple as this. These "Satanists" who really are not religious in the slightest but are actually extreme atheists are doing this not to promote freedom of religion. They are doing this to deny freedom of religion in any spot that they might happen to see it at in the only areas that they can possibly affect. If they had an actual nobel purpose and weren't all liars I might have supported them. But they don't and they are. Their only purpose is to cause derision of Christianity...interestingly enough (not really) all while ignoring any other religions out there that have their displays displayed publicly.
 
How is Christmas a religious myth? It's been going on for generations now and you call it a "myth"? Are you one of those who don't understand that Christmas has become wildly popular among non-Christians as well?

If the Festivus people have a message to tell why not tell it? But it seems there is no message at all, they are doing it because they can, and are just taking up space. That's something their adherents likely do as well.

The religious elements are a myth. Christmas clearly exists but it's a secular holiday and has been for a very long time, the religious fanatics just haven't gotten on the bandwagon. And I haven't mentioned Festivus at all so that's rather irrelevant.
 
A book is an object. It doesn't have special powers. But, if you need to believe that it is holy...go ahead, knock yourself out.
Many books have proven to be very powerful, and special. The Bible, and the Koran, are just a couple of them.
 
The religious elements are a myth. Christmas clearly exists but it's a secular holiday and has been for a very long time, the religious fanatics just haven't gotten on the bandwagon. And I haven't mentioned Festivus at all so that's rather irrelevant.
This thread revolves around Festivus and the legal decision in Florida.
 
Sorry but no one is forcing anyone to look at those nativity scenes. If you don't want to look at it then don't. Its as simple as that. Having a nativity scene is no different than having a totem pole on public property. (which I've seen and no one gives a flying flip about except to think "that's cool!") Its also no different than having a public building with a mural on it depicting the civil war or whatever.

Just like nobody is forcing you to look at the Satanic display. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Don't like it, don't look at it. Stop whining.

There are two ways in which someone being offended happens. 1: They are goaded into being offended. Such as what these atheists are doing towards Christians. 2: They CHOOSE to be offended. Which is what these atheists are doing towards nativity scenes. I mean come on, how can anyone be offended at a child being born in a manger unless they choose to be?

We live in a secular nation where the government is required to take no stand supporting religion whatsoever. That's already been decided by the Supreme Court. Therefore, when it comes to public property, it is either open to all religions or it is open to no religions. Christianity doesn't get a special place at the table yet that's exactly what a lot of Christians seem to want. They want to have special privileges to get their religious displays put up on public property, but the second anyone else tries to do the same thing, they scream about it. Just take down your displays, put them on your own private property and nobody else will bother putting up anything else either. The only people who are choosing to be offended are the Christians because they're not special.

All of you supporting this can spin and strawman your way all that you want through this. In the end it is as simple as this. These "Satanists" who really are not religious in the slightest but are actually extreme atheists are doing this not to promote freedom of religion. They are doing this to deny freedom of religion in any spot that they might happen to see it at in the only areas that they can possibly affect. If they had an actual nobel purpose and weren't all liars I might have supported them. But they don't and they are. Their only purpose is to cause derision of Christianity...interestingly enough (not really) all while ignoring any other religions out there that have their displays displayed publicly.

So long as they have the same religious tax exemption as the Christians do, they are just as religious as the Christians are, at least in the eyes of the law. You don't give a damn about freedom of religion, you only care about freedom of Christianity. Be honest for once.
 
Sorry but no one is forcing anyone to look at those nativity scenes. If you don't want to look at it then don't. Its as simple as that. Having a nativity scene is no different than having a totem pole on public property. (which I've seen and no one gives a flying flip about except to think "that's cool!") Its also no different than having a public building with a mural on it depicting the civil war or whatever.

There are two ways in which someone being offended happens. 1: They are goaded into being offended. Such as what these atheists are doing towards Christians. 2: They CHOOSE to be offended. Which is what these atheists are doing towards nativity scenes. I mean come on, how can anyone be offended at a child being born in a manger unless they choose to be?

All of you supporting this can spin and strawman your way all that you want through this. In the end it is as simple as this. These "Satanists" who really are not religious in the slightest but are actually extreme atheists are doing this not to promote freedom of religion. They are doing this to deny freedom of religion in any spot that they might happen to see it at in the only areas that they can possibly affect. If they had an actual nobel purpose and weren't all liars I might have supported them. But they don't and they are. Their only purpose is to cause derision of Christianity...interestingly enough (not really) all while ignoring any other religions out there that have their displays displayed publicly.

There is nothing illegal about being offended. On the other hand, there is nothing illegal about being offensive. Put up the Jesus nonsense. Put up the Satanic nonsense. Put up the Flying Spaghetti Monster nonsense. Put up the Menorah nonsense. Put up the Buddhist nonsense. Put up the Hindu nonsense. Put up the Taoist nonsense. Put up the Muslim nonsense.

Everybody is free to be offended. Everybody is free to be offensive. This display is on public property. The first amendment forbids governments from showing preferential treatment to any religion. If they allow no religious displays (which is what most governments are doing) then there is absolutely no problem. When you try to ignore the constitution by allowing a Christian display then you should be bombarded with nonsense or hanged for the crime of treason. The United States does not allow governments to show preferential treatment to any religious group. That should offend every American that a local government is committing crimes that are punishable by death.

If they choose not to be offended then that's their prerogative but I think we should all be offended with a fiery passion. These disgusting politicians need to be punished severely for their crimes. If the courts isn't going to punish them then they should be punished with a Satanic Statue. The patriotic tone of this story is very clear to people who love our country.

If you hate our country then ignore this story. You won't understand what is happening.
 
Last edited:
Many books have proven to be very powerful, and special. The Bible, and the Koran, are just a couple of them.

The meanings of the books, sure.

But a book, the actual object...has no powers, it is just a book.
 
Many books have proven to be very powerful, and special. The Bible, and the Koran, are just a couple of them.

It's a regular book. It only lasted 2,000 years. Lots of books last that long.:roll:

I'm sure people will be reading Harry Potter 800 years from now. :roll:
 
This thread revolves around Festivus and the legal decision in Florida.

It revolves around the legal decision in Florida to allow a Satanic display where there is already a Christian display. It also would allow a Jewish Hanukkah display, an Islamic display or the displays of any other religious group. It just so happens to have been a Satanic display that set off the newest round of Christian whining. It could have been anything.
 
The meanings of the books, sure.

But a book, the actual object...has no powers, it is just a book.

Really? You must not be familiar with Christian history. Many people have been killed over that book. The only modern book that has even come close to that is Catcher In The Rye. It's not even conclusive that the assassination of John Lennon and the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan were even related to Catcher In The Rye.

No power? Really? You can't be that delusional. The Bible, the Qu'ran and the Bhagavad Gita have inspired many wars. Moby Dick will never do that.
 
Pastafarians encountered similar bigotry in Chester County Pennsylvania a few years ago. They were flat out denied.

 
It's a regular book. It only lasted 2,000 years. Lots of books last that long.:roll: I'm sure people will be reading Harry Potter 800 years from now. :roll:
Does that make the Harry Potter series 'powerful'? You don't know of any books which have changed the world, or the way people think? Your certainty that Harry Potter will be read 800 years from now maybe be a little optimistic, but who knows? If you enjoy it that much, and there are enough people who share your opinion, you may be right.
 
It revolves around the legal decision in Florida to allow a Satanic display where there is already a Christian display. It also would allow a Jewish Hanukkah display, an Islamic display or the displays of any other religious group. It just so happens to have been a Satanic display that set off the newest round of Christian whining. It could have been anything.
Yes, that's all been discussed.

It's clear that anyone can put up a display but the question is, what drove them to do it?

We, as adults, can do any number of things that are allowed, or legal, but education, maturity, discretion and respect for others would discourage intelligent people from carrying out these actions. In fact the Jews, Muslims, etc. understand this but it goes right over the head of the Festivus folks and, indeed, gives atheists a bad name..
 
Yes, that's all been discussed.

It's clear that anyone can put up a display but the question is, what drove them to do it?

You'd have to go talk to them, you're not going to get that answer sitting on a debate forum.

We, as adults, can do any number of things that are allowed, or legal, but education, maturity, discretion and respect for others would discourage intelligent people from carrying out these actions. In fact the Jews, Muslims, etc. understand this but it goes right over the head of the Festivus folks and, indeed, gives atheists a bad name..

It only does so to religious wingnuts. For people who actually understand the separation of church and state, even religious people like Reverend Barry Lynn and others, it doesn't give them a bad name at all.
 
You'd have to go talk to them, you're not going to get that answer sitting on a debate forum.
I thought you may have had an opinion.
It only does so to religious wingnuts. For people who actually understand the separation of church and state, even religious people like Reverend Barry Lynn and others, it doesn't give them a bad name at all.
Who does Barry Lynn speak for?
 
Really? You must not be familiar with Christian history. Many people have been killed over that book. The only modern book that has even come close to that is Catcher In The Rye. It's not even conclusive that the assassination of John Lennon and the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan were even related to Catcher In The Rye.

No power? Really? You can't be that delusional. The Bible, the Qu'ran and the Bhagavad Gita have inspired many wars. Moby Dick will never do that.

The physical book, paper, binding, glue. Has no supernatural powers...this isn't Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
 
I thought you may have had an opinion.

My opinion has no bearing on why that particular group of people took a particular action. Neither does yours.

Who does Barry Lynn speak for?

Depends on the capacity, he's an ordained United Church of Christ minister as well as executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Again, you'd have to ask him if you care about what he has to say. He is, however, entirely on the opposite side of this issue from you, apparently anyhow.
 
Back
Top Bottom