Summary
The Satanic Temple’s holiday display in Concord, featuring a Baphomet statue, was vandalized twice within 48 hours, leaving it broken into pieces.
The display was meant to promote religious plurality alongside a longstanding Catholic nativity scene but faced backlash.
Mayor Byron Champlin opposed the permit, calling the display a political stunt, though the city approved it to avoid litigation.
Critics argue it disrupts holiday harmony, while supporters emphasize First Amendment protections.
The city plans to review policies on public displays to prevent similar conflicts in the future.
I mean, there’s literally only two options allowed by the Constitution: either all religions are welcome to have public displays or none are. I’d prefer none, but if that’s off the table, then they all should have a place.
The constitution says whatever the Supreme Court wants it to say.
The Extreme Court - FTFY
Yeah but only “real” religions are protected.
Which religions are real? Just the ones that believe in God, and Christmas and stuff, duh.
Whoa there, just because my God is a giant ball of spaghetti, who touches us all with Their noodley appendage, doesn’t mean They’re not God. It’s only the stinky atheists who don’t have a real religion. Well, maybe the agnostics too, but I’m not sure.
My pasta themed X-mas decorations stay.
Psssh I know you don’t really believe in such a foolish thing that’s not real, that’s why yours doesn’t count
Indeed. Wonder how fragile the nativity is.
I wouldn’t sink to the level of vandalizing it, but I will throw out a joke that the people who want it there have really fragile egos.