Threats Force Satanic Statue Dedication Underground

Baphomet, a larger-than-life bronze statue, was originally intended for the Oklahoma state Capitol grounds as a counter message to a Ten Commandments monument. That state’s supreme court later banned all religious displays from the Capitol grounds. (Photo via Facebook)

» Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts.

If you want to attend the unveiling of a larger-than-life statue featuring a goat-headed Satan, you’re going to have get a ticket.

The location of the unveiling of the 1½ -ton bronze Baphomet is being kept under wraps by the Satanic Temple Detroit chapter, which jettisoned its plan to install it in the Eastern Market district after receiving threats the venue would be burned.

“Tickets are going to be pre-ordered to cut down on harassment ... people threatening to burn the venue down,” the group’s co-founder Lucien Greaves told the Associated Press Monday. “We’ve gotten those kinds of messages.”

Ticketholders will be notified of the location of the statue the day of the dedication.

The monument showing Satan with horns, hooves, wings and a beard cost about $100,000 to make. It is backed by an inverted pentagram, and is flanked by two young children, who appear to be gazing adoringly at the creature.

Related:

• Satanists: ‘Snaketivity’ Not About Killing Christmas
• Jesus Beats the Devil to the State Capitol

The Satanic Temple originally wanted to erect Baphomet on the Oklahoma state Capitol grounds as an in-your-face rebuttal to the Ten Commandments monument, a request predictably denied by government officials along with requests by a Hindu leader in Nevada, an animal rights group and the satirical Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court later banned all religious monuments from the Capitol grounds, including the one of Ten Commandments. That left Baphomet without a home.

“Detroit is our first and primary chapter,” Satanic Temple spokesman Doug Mesner said in an email to the Detroit Metro Times. “We feel at home in Detroit.”

Not everyone has rolled out the welcome mat, though.

Bert Dearing, who owns Bert’s Market Place, was aghast when he learned who had rented his facilities and for what purpose. He returned the group’s $3,000 rental fee and told the Satanic Temple to look elsewhere.

“Detroit is a very religious area,” Dearing told the Free Press. “When I rented the place, I just thought it was a church. I didn’t know about the unveiling of a statue. We weren’t aware they were into devil worshipping.”

The Satanic Temple insists it’s misunderstood in that respect.

The group doesn’t worship Satan, founder Jax Blackmore told the Free Press, but promotes individuality, compassion and views that differ from Christian and conservative beliefs.

If members were hoping to vex more traditional religions, the 6,000-member Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, at least, isn’t taking the bait. Bishop Charles Ellis III, the church’s pastor, told the Free Press the Satanic Temple has the same First Amendment protections as his church.

“If we ask others to be tolerant of our religion, we are going to be asked to be tolerant of their religion as well,” he said.”Tolerant does not mean you have to practice what they practice or that you are condoning what they are practicing. I’m not saying I’m being accepting. I’m just saying I have no control over that.”

At Christmastime, the Detroit chapter of the Satanic Temple erected a “Snaketivity” display on the state Capitol grounds in Lansing. To counter the message, a Christian-themed Nativity was also installed over the holiday period.

The Detroit chapter reportedly has about 200 members.