Remember what happened after the Oklahoma state legislature allowed the erection of a monument to the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the state capital? Both Hindu and Satanic groups said they wanted their monuments on the grounds too.
Stephen Colbert brings us up to speed on what has developed at least as far as the Satanic monument goes. He points out some important theological issues and has a surprising guest on his show to give him the inside scoop.
(This clip aired on May 6, 2014. To get suggestions on how to view clips of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report outside the US, please see this earlier post. If the videos autoplay, please see here for a diagnosis and possible solutions.)
I saw a picture of the Satanic Temple statue.
They have at least simplified it a little. It is still too busy and detailed for monumental art. And there are too many projecting pieces that can be bent or broken off.
It is inevitable that it will be vandalized. That it will be bronze will make it a little harder. They even recognize that, since it will be cast from a mold so multiple copies can be cast.
The Hindus seem to be further behind.
I’m waiting for the Pagans and Wiccans to get it together. I’d go with Thor battling a Frost Giant. They do this every winter and every winter, Thor wins.
It’d be fun to cast it out of iron.
Go ahead, christos. Fuck, we can’t even move it.
I want to see every possible religious group get a monument in there, so it looks like some nutty lawn ornament paradise.
It would be a vast improvement for sure.
Wonder what the Scientologists or Moonies will come up with?
Moonies. I immediately pictured a bare arse sticking out a car window. Then I thought, that’s probably not the Moonies you meant. Then I thought -- why not? Who says the group erecting the monument has to represent itself? But then, in a sense, they would be, wouldn’t they?