海角大神

In an effort to听make a statement against religious monuments on government property, members of the Satanic Temple of Detroit听unveiled a statue of a goat-headed winged statue in Detroit on Saturday night.听

The 9-foot-tall bronze statue of Baphomet made its public debut at a ticketed event in an industrial building near the Detroit River. The monument was revealed shortly before midnight as hundreds of supporters cheered and chanted 鈥淗ail Satan.鈥澨�

Members of the Satanic Temple of Detroit viewed the unveiling as a victory; that has taken several years to complete.听

Not all Detroit residents were as pleased. The statue has been a point of contention in the Motor City for months, and demonstrations against it continued up until the last minute. Around 100 protesters turned out Saturday afternoon to pray and denounce the monument, to other religions.听

Jex Blackmore, the director of the Satanic Temple of Detroit, says this backlash is the product of years of 鈥渄eep misunderstanding鈥� about Satanism.听

鈥淪atanism and the term 鈥楽atanic鈥� has been used a political tool to demonize individuals who have rebelled against systems of authority and power,鈥� Blackmore said in a heated segment of 听

The Satanic Temple of Detroit is non-theistic and does not celebrate the Judeo-海角大神 representation of Satan, Blackmore said. The group鈥檚 defines Satan as 鈥渁 symbol of man鈥檚 inherent nature, representative of the eternal rebel, enlightened inquiry and personal freedom rather than a supernatural deity or being.鈥澨�

The Temple originally applied for the statue to be installed in 2012 near a Ten Commandments monument on the Oklahoma State Capitol grounds. After that application was denied, the Temple decided on Detroit, where the Satanic Temple is said to have a stronger-than-average congregation.听

Blackmore Saturday that temple members planned to transport the sculpture to Arkansas, where the governor recently signed a bill authorizing a Ten Commandments monument on the State Capitol's grounds.

This isn鈥檛 the Satanic Temple of Detroit鈥檚 first controversial demonstration. Last Christmas, the organization set up a outside the Michigan State Capitol in support of LGBT rights.听

Blackmore said in an interview with that these efforts are often seen as 鈥渢rolling鈥� for shock value. But she insists this is not the case.听

鈥淲e are interested in positive and effective change,鈥� Blackmore said. 鈥淎nd we're interested in positive conversation.鈥�

Rev. David Bullock of the Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church expressed skepticism of Blackmore's stated intentions, instead saying that the statue makes a mockery of other religions.

鈥淭he statue is supposed to create a dialogue. Well, statues don鈥檛 talk. If you want to have a dialogue with other faiths, why not send an email in advance or knock on the door?鈥� Rev. Bullock argued on 鈥淚t鈥檚 not creating a dialogue at all. It鈥檚 actually polarizing a large number of folks in the city of Detroit."

A large number of folks, maybe 鈥� but not all. Minister Todd Sanders of Strictly Biblical Bible Teaching Ministries says he believes the situation could be a great educational experience. 听

鈥淭he church can benefit from this because we can view this as an opportunity to get at the truth in terms of what the Satanic Temple believes,鈥� Sanders told . 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 anything we should be afraid of at all.鈥�

The monument is the handiwork of Mark Porter, a New York City-based sculptor. He admitted to finding the task creepy at first, but growing more comfortable as time went on.听

"I started thinking about it: Why don't I like it?" Porter said to the听. "And then after looking at that every day for a year, it's just whatever. It could be Mickey Mouse.鈥�