How the Satanic Temple forced Phoenix lawmakers to ban public prayer

[jpak]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/02/05/how-the-satanic-temple-forced-phoenix-lawmakers-to-ban-public-prayer/

For weeks now, Phoenix lawmakers have wrestled with the idea of allowing members of a Satanic group to give the invocation before an upcoming city meeting.

Phoenix City Council members arrived Wednesday at a controversial solution: Banning prayer altogether.

From now on, lawmakers decided in a 5-4 vote, council meetings will no longer begin with a traditional prayer, but instead open with a moment of silence.

Although the decision may block the Satanic Temple’s Feb. 17 invocation, it prompted outcries from some Phoenix residents and city officials who believe the prayer ban is a de facto victory for the Satanists.

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The Devil made them do it!

[whatthehey]

1. Always the same. Christianists PRETEND it's about freedom of religion

Then suddenly decide secularism is AOK when other religions try to be free. This has worked for displays on government property, school proselytizing and enforced prayer in public places. Appealing to Christians for fairness has never worked; they have the numbers and the arrogance to pay that no heed. Showing them what religious freedom really means seems to be the only way that stops the privilege they are really seeking in its name.

[Major Nikon]

8. It's about freedom of THEIR religion

Everyone else can go fuck themselves.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Good for satanists

and I will invite them to my board of supers and a few of my city councils.

[bobthedrummer]

3. Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name...n/t

[whatthehey]

4. That's weird. Mine is in St. Louis and named Harry

[Iggo]

6. He's Art in heaven?

Hmm. Art Christ.

Okay.

[awoke_in_2003]

12. He's there with Harold Angel.

[Major Nikon]

9. if you do not obey the Lord your God...

...You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and rape her.

Deuteronomy 28:15, 30

[Iggo]

13. Dayum! Now that's hallow-wed!!!

[jpak]

16. or eat snails like the vile French

[Iggo]

5. "... who believe the prayer ban is a de facto victory for the Satanists."

Ain't no de facto about it.

That's a straight up actual victory. Satanists 1, Xians 0.

[Brickbat]

7. I DIDN'T TAKE YOUR MAIL, MRS. PEMBERTON.

STOP ASKING ME THAT.

[rug]

10. It's unusual for the Washington Post to get a name wrong.

http://www.vice.com/read/unmasking-lucien-greaves-aka-doug-mesner-leader-of-the-satanic-temple

[Gothmog]

11. The First Amendment protects all religions

This is the correct result

[Major Nikon]

14. That's true, but more importantly it prevents religious privilege

It's very telling when religionists are so scared of competition that they will abolish an activity altogether rather than allow any competing point of view to be introduced.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

15. K&R

[bobthedrummer]

17. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done...

[Iggo]

18. .