Concord, New Hampshire, has permitted The Satanic Temple (TST) to erect a holiday monument in the city's town square, alongside the traditional nativity scene. This decision, announced on the city's Facebook page, aims to uphold First Amendment rights and preempt potential legal challenges. Concord clarified that their options were to either permit all religious displays or ban them entirely, ultimately opting for inclusivity for this holiday season. The city council plans to revisit this policy next year.
TST has been actively seeking to place its monuments in public holiday displays across the nation, advocating for religious pluralism and unity. They have initiated legal action in cases where their displays have been rejected. The Concord display, similar to others nationwide, features a statue of Baphomet, a significant figure in TST's iconography. The statue depicts Baphomet with yellow eyes, a purple stole adorned with inverted crosses, and a tablet inscribed with the temple's seven core tenets.
While the city allowed the display, Concord Mayor Byron Champlin expressed his disapproval, suggesting TST's motives were politically driven rather than a genuine pursuit of religious equality. TST co-founder Lucien Greaves countered, emphasizing that the city's decision underscores the principle of religious freedom, ensuring individuals' right to hold and practice their beliefs without government interference. He highlighted the importance of this freedom, even for those who may find the imagery unsettling.
TST reported that the statue was vandalized shortly after its unveiling, being pushed to the ground.
