Visitors to the Florida Capitol likely won’t see a Nativity scene this year. They also won’t see a protest display from the Satanic Temple. However, they could see a menorah. And an irreverent disco ball-topped, multi-colored gay pride festivus pole — built of beer cans — might still be on tap. A Christian group that has put up Nativity scenes the past two years said Friday it won’t bring a creche to the Capitol rotunda for Christmas. As a result, the New York-based Satanic Temple, which doesn’t really worship the devil but argues for separation of church and state, announced it also won’t put up a display. Pam Olsen, president of the Florida Prayer Network, announced that her group’s decision not to set up a Nativity scene is an attempt to bring some needed civility to the country struggling with issues such as mass shootings and growing racial tensions. The addition of a Nativity scene two years ago attracted an array of counter-displays from atheists and groups that argue for the separation of church and state. The often-flippant displays included the sitcom-inspired festivus holiday pole and a decorated heap of rope symbolizing the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which is more often associated with opposition to the introduction of creationism and intelligent design in public schools than the year-end holidays. The Satanic Temple said its decision to stay away from the Capitol this year could change if any other group asks to put a Christian display. “As the assertion of plurality is always primary in our holiday displays, and many of our activities, we feel that our Satanic Holiday displays work best in a forum where a Nativity is present,” the Satanic Temple said in an email.
Photo: Wikipedia
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