DO NOT MISS THIS SPECIAL EVENT: WHY THE SATANIC TEMPLE WANTS TO PLACE THEIR MONUMENTS IN PUBLIC SPACES  / NYC ATHEISTS MONTHLY SPEAKER MEETING - MAY 28TH (THURSDAY)

6:15 PM - DOORS OPEN

6:45 PM - NYC ATHEISTS BUSINESS MEETING

7:00 PM - SPEAKER

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SPEAKER: LUCIEN GREAVES, CO-FOUNDER OF THE SATANIC TEMPLE (WILL BE SKYPED)

SUBJECT: WHY THE SATANIC TEMPLE WANTS TO PLACE THEIR MONUMENTS IN PUBLIC SPACES

The Satanic Temple: a non-theistic, anti-supernaturalist religious organization. TST has gained national media attention in their attempt to place Satanic monuments in public spaces.

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The TST was a presenter at the American Atheists National Convention in Memphis (April 3, 2015). TST accepted my (Ken Bronstein) invitation to speak to our group.

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Our total separation of church and state position is that no religious displays be allowed in the public space. The current law allows either: no displays or everyone.

The strategy of American Atheists is: If there is a religious display, also place an Atheist monument.

The first Atheist monument is a 1,500-pound granite display in front of the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke, Fla., opposite a controversial year-old display of the Ten Commandments outside the same courthouse. The monument  features quotes related to secularism from Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and American Atheists founder Madalyn Murray O'Hair on a 4-foot-high panel, alongside a bench.

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Our second strategy is to support non-traditional religions to place displays.

The Satanic Temple announced plans to erect a monument glorifying the Dark Lord on the front lawn of the Oklahoma Statehouse. An Indiegogo campaign was launched with what seemed like a somewhat lofty goal of $20,000, but by the time donations ended almost $30,000 had been raised. Now an artist trained in classical sculpture is toiling away in New York, crafting a Baphomet figure sitting beneath an inverted pentagram and flanked by two children gazing upward in loyalty. When it is finished, it will be cast in bronze and, the Satanists hope, eventually displayed in Oklahoma.

The statue is a direct response to the state's installation of a Ten Commandments monument outside the Capitol in 2012. State Representative Mike Ritze paid for the controversial statue with his own money, and therefore it was considered a donation and OK to place on government property. Following that line of reasoning, the Satanic Temple submitted a formal application for their monument.

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LOCATION: SLC Conference Center– 15 West 39th St. - (3rd Floor)

COST: We ask for a donation of $10 to help cover the cost of room rental.

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