Inside the Illinois State Capitol sits a display of several religious exhibits for the holiday season, which includes a Jewish menorah, the Christian nativity scene, and the “Serpent of Genesis” from the Satanic Temple, as reported by local radio media.
Consisting of a leather-bound copy of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus’ “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium” — which translates to “On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres” — at the center of the display with handcrafted knitted apples and a 12-foot serpent orbiting the book, the controversial imagery marks the fourth year in a row the state’s Capitol rotunda in Springfield, Illinois, has showcased displays from the Illinois Satanic Temple.
Minister Adam told The Daily Caller News Foundation that their display — handcrafted by congregation members that represents the pursuit of forbidden knowledge — revolves around one of the “most controversial books of its time,” noting that the book favors a heliocentric model of the universe, which theorizes the earth revolves around the sun — not vice-versa.
The Index of Forbidden Books banned the text for 200 years, but officials from the Satanic Temple told Patch they believe it still provides a valuable lesson. But the handmade elements that surround the book, and that were created by Illinois congregation members, carry a similar meaning, officials said.
In 2018, local media reported one state lawmaker denounced the Satanic Temple, demanding the removal of the satanic statue. However, a sign from the state of Illinois in the rotunda reads, “because the first floor of the Capitol rotunda is a public place, state officials cannot legally censor the content of speech or displays.”
“The State of Illinois is required by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to allow temporary, public display in the state capitol so long as these displays are not paid for by taxpayer dollars,” the sign reads, according to ABC News.
Henry Haupt, a spokesman for the Illinois Secretary of State, told Patch that organizations looking to use space in the Capitol rotunda during special events must submit a form to the Secretary of State Physical Services Department. (SOURCE)
