stratochamp wrote in Did Erol Otus Design New Monument for Satanic Church?:what's the tower of orthanc doing in between his horns? or am i too obsessed with LOTR?

Yes, you are.

It's a natty paper hat, obviously.  All the rage these days in several of the infernal planes.  At least those that aren't constantly on fire.

Hmmm.... Thought that was a joke. Didn't take a good look at it. Seems like this statue is actually designed to just piss people off. I get the religious freedom argument. But there is not nor has there ever been a big invisible wall between church and state. While there is a certain ideal that is very laudable when exactly in the history of the USA has this absolute separation occurred. The separation we have waxes and wanes depending on the feelings of the population of the courts. As the nation becomes more diverse ethnically and philosophically there will be efforts to put up overtly pro-Christian government associated symbols like Oklahomans Ten Commandments statue. I'm sure it could easily have been put up on private property. But the point of those behind it is for it the have an association with the state.  Because the increasing secularism and diversity will feel like a threat to more religious people. So they're trying to make themselves feel better.

But no matter how it's viewed there has always been a association between the churches of America and the state. Look at Washington'sv add on to the oath of office for president. The add on to the pledge of alligence. 'So help me god.'  Because of the viewed threat of the atheist communists. The official ministers for congress and to a degree the chaplaincy program in the military. These are all healthy things to a degree because they are representations of our society's general close association with religion. This is changing. Society is getting less religious, and to a degree believes less in god. Though those are two different things.

There is a new very aggressive, I think some have called it neo-atheism. Putting up billboards signs getting in people's face about religion. This reminds me of that. Where it's not good enough for someone to have a different position , but they feel the need to foist it on others. Ironically making their attitude no unlike early Christians in their prostilizing.

The satanist statue mostly, I think, rallies mildly religious people to its defense. While the group can try whatever it likes it seems more about getting attention that solving the issue.

Yes the ten commandment statue should probably go. Even in oaklahoma. But at least there is some cultural association to it. Unlike the 'satanist' statue. The truth is the population that formed the USA was very religious and very Christian. Were there proud American non Christians. Yes. Example the toro synagogue in Newport RI. But the incomplete 'wall' between church and state was never meant to be complete, but rather prevent the government from making a majority religion the country's official religion and being imposed on others.

Both sides need to chill out some and stop just trying to be asses. The 10 commandment folks realize they're alienating some folks. And the 'satanist' and other modern non-religious folks realize religion , the various forms of it, are a strong current in modern thought and realize it is part of the public conversation.  If you think there is an absolute wall between church and state look at the constitution and Declaration of Independence. Various references to the divine.

There are few absolutes in America, usually degrees. Shades of grey (sometimes 50 poorly written ones). Maybe the folks on both sides should just have a bake sale together to raise money for the poor and homeless. I know Christ would approve. He associated with all kinds of folks society didn't approve of: leepers, prostitues, and even tax collectors.