It wouldn’t be the holidays without competing for religious displays inside the Illinois State Capitol. Inside the capitol rotunda, there’s a tall Christmas tree from the secretary of state’s office, and privately funded displays from other religions: a Christian nativity scene, a Jewish menorah, and a display from the Satanic Temple of Illinois.
With the exception of the first year of COVID-19, a private group has funded a Christian nativity scene for 14 years. During a dedication last week, Bernie Lutchman discussed the importance of the display.
“Just as political rallies are held here in this space, we too, the people are allowed to express our deepest religious faith,” Lutchman said.
Minister Adam of the Illinois Satanic Temple told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the display is based on a book by Nicolaus Copernicus’ “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium.”
“Our display revolves around one of the most controversial books of its time…which argued in favor of a heliocentric model of the universe or, in other words, that the earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around,” Adam said. “The display consists of a leather-bound copy of the text at the center, orbited by knitted apples and a 12-foot serpent handcrafted by our congregation members, which represent the pursuit of forbidden knowledge.”
In 2018, lawmakers attempted to bar the temple from putting up a display. Some argued that since the temple’s display does not celebrate Christmas or any other holiday that it has no place in the annual capitol Christmas display, according to Illinois Capitol News.
Minister Adam said their display “not in opposition with other religions, but in a show of equality and shared space with other religious viewpoints.”
During the dedication of the nativity, sponsored by Business Men in Christ and the Springfield Nativity Scene, Beth Rodgers, representing the Illinois Prayer Caucus, said Jesus prevails in situations like these, according to Illinois Radio Network.
“And I’m going to say, that little baby in the manger later crushed Satan the serpent’s head and the gates of hell will not prevail,” she said.
The Illinois capitol did not reply to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment. Business Men In Christ could not be contacted for comment.
via madpatriotnews
