Greetings. Welcome to the Daily Article Podcast. Today is Friday, December the 15th,

2023. I'm Chris Elkins with the Denison Forum, narrating today's article written by Dr. Ryan Denison.

While it's not unusual for nativity scenes to make the news around Christmas time, a different

form of public display inside the Iowa State Capitol building has made headlines in recent days.

The satanic temple placed a statue of the pagan idol Balfomet and other satanic paraphernalia

in the building's rotunda near the Capitol's annual nativity scene.

While the scene has generated quite a bit of controversy from many of the state's citizens,

responses from the community have varied.

Governor Kim Reynolds called it absolutely objectionable,

while asking for prayer over the building.

Representative John Dunwell pointed out,

I don't want the state evaluating and making determinations about religions.

Considering history has shown that when the government attempts to regulate religion,

religion usually loses, he has a point.

Conversely, Michael Cassidy, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in Mississippi last year, responded by tearing down the idol yesterday.

He's since been charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

What has largely gotten lost in the controversy, however, is that equal representation for satanic groups isn't really the point they're trying to make

by placing their idol on capital grounds. As Russell Moore described, quote,

These gaudy goats exist to make a point in the culture war, namely that public places

shouldn't allow Christmas creches or Hanukkah minoras and so forth.

The devil displays are just a means to an end.

It's not so much about whom the followers love as about whom they hate,

...