Tis the season of Christmas merriment, timeless nativity displays, twinkling lights and, now, an artistic creation depicting “an angel falling into a pit of fire” erected by the Satanic Temple. The group has won the right to display their work in the rotunda of the Florida Capitol thanks to some legal help from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. If nothing else, Florida’s Capitol rotunda will be an eclectic mix of holiday “art” this year.
It all started when groups including atheists, Pastafarians (who recognize the deity of the Flying Spaghetti Monster), humanists, observers of Festivus (who installed a large pole made entirely of beer cans) and others were granted the right to put up displays alongside traditional holiday Christian and Jewish decorations. But, in 2013, Florida called the Satanic Temple’s contribution “grossly offensive,” banning it from the rotunda. After the group gained the support of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, who threatened to sue this year, Florida officials changed their mind. It will be a rotunda not even Clark Griswold could have dream of …
