"Satanists Horn In On 10 Commandments"

The American History and Heritage Foundation filed an application last month to erect a privately-funded monument of the Ten Commandments on the Arkansas State Capitol grounds.

So far, so good...but then...

Not to be outdone, the Satanic Temple filed an application of their own--to place, also on the Capitol grounds, a statue of Baphomet--a 9-foot tall, 2,000 pound, bronzed goat-headed, angel-winged androgynous creature (made in the likeness of Iggy Pop) accompanied by two children smiling up at it. Their preferred location? One foot directly in front of the proposed Ten Commandments monument, where else?

"Our monument," proclaims Satanic Temple spokesman, Lucien Greaves, "will stand in honor of those unjustly accused--the slandered minority, the maligned outgroups who ultimately found a home in the United States where religions are neither opposed nor imposed--so that we might pay respect to their memory and celebrate our progress as a pluralistic nation founded on secular law."

The Satanic Temple pulled the same stunt at the Oklahoma Capitol and succeeded in having the state's Supreme Court rule against any religious display--including the Ten Commandments, which then had to be removed.

Meanwhile, the debate goes on in Arkansas with a third group getting into the act: The Saline Atheist and Skeptic Society has propose a third display: a brick "Wall of Separation" than would be erected between the Ten Commandments and the Satanic statue of Baphomet (aka Iggy Pop).

Seriously people, we can't make this stuff up. But if you'd like to voice your opinion, a hot line has been set up for your convenience by the Arkansas Secretary of State.

A wise man once said: "Many tend to see the Ten Commandments as a list of dos and don'ts given by a demanding God. Instead, we should view them as a road map to freedom provided by a powerful, yet gracious God." -- Mark Mitchell, author

"Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them."-- 2 Corinthians 4:4

News:

• The Globe: Satanic Temple quietly opened its first international headquarters in Salem, Mass on September 23
•  Richmond Times-Dispatch: FBI investigation launched after dead people are registered to vote in Harrisonburg, Virginia
• Los Angeles Times: Risk of big earthquake on San Andreas fault rises after quake swarm at Salton Sea; more than 200 quakes recorded in 24-hour period.