Because no legislator would allow Satanists to deliver an invocation inside the Capitol to open a session, members of the Washington state chapter of The Satanic Temple held an “infernal ritual” just outside the building on Friday.

It was glorious.

As if to prove the Satanists’ point, some Christians who showed up to protest even held a sign saying “Satan has no rights.” (So much for religious freedom…) But the Satanists took it all in stride.

Satanic Temple affiliates, such as Justin Harvey-John Ashby, said their event was about promoting religious plurality. He said he believes satanic beliefs have been misunderstood and viewed as “grossly perverse,” and that their primary values are empathy, reason, bodily autonomy and justice.

No wonder the conservative Christians who protested were scared. Empathy, reason, autonomy, and justice go against everything they stand for.

That’s undoubtedly true for domestic terrorist and lawmaker State Rep. Matt Shea, a Christian Nationalist best known for his “Biblical Basis for War” manifesto and for proposing the creation of a 51st state just for Christians.

Shea was also on the Capitol steps protesting the Satanic ritual because he can’t deal with the existence of anyone who doesn’t share his brand of far-right Christianity. Plus, it’s not like he had any actual legislating to do.

Thankfully, his words were empty and no one seemed to care. The attention was on the Satanists, just where it should have been.

By not allowing them to speak inside, lawmakers inadvertently gave the Satanists far more publicity for their efforts.

(Thanks to @BG45_Pho for the link)

