Why Detroit has the largest satanist temple chapter in the US

US

The "largest public satanic ceremony in history" took place last Saturday in Detroit, a city that has the largest and oldest chapter of a national Satanist organization.  

The group unveiled a nearly 9-foot tall bronze statue of a goat-headed Baphomet in a private ceremony attended by 600 ticket holders, Lucien Graves, co-founder of the national Satanic Temple organization in Boston. The Satanic Temple in Detroit has more than 200 registered members.

"They are so active and well-organized," Graves said. "There's probably been another wave of interest since this event."

The Detroit chapter is the first of the national organization, Graves said. He credits the Detroit chapter's founder Jex Blackmore with the growth of the chapter since it was established there in August 2014.

 

"It's more or less because of her. She was just a very confident person who started working with us," Graves said further. The pair met in Boston and then she moved to Detroit and set up a chapter there. 

Blackmore said it is their largest chapter.

"I think the Temple appeals to the radical, politically-charged spirit of the city and many are drawn to us as a force of positive, effective change in this community," Blackmore said.

The statue was originally planned to sit at the Oklahoma state capitol, but the state's supreme court banned all religious displays there, including the Ten Commandments. The statue was created through $28,180 fund-raised by 1,041 people on Indiegogo.com last year. The fundraising page said the statue's purpose was to contrast the Ten Commandments monument that was previously on display.

Graves said there are 20 chapters across the country with about 20,000 members as a whole.

Tickets for Saturday's event were $25 and the location was revealed only to ticket-holders.

According to its mission statement, the national organization, The Satanic Temple, "facilitates the communication and mobilization of politically aware Satanists, secularists, and advocates for individual liberty." Among the causes it supports are gay marriage, reproductive rights and eliminating corporal punishment in schools. The national organization does "not promote a belief in a personal Satan."

"To embrace the name Satan is to embrace rational inquiry removed from supernaturalism and archaic tradition-based superstitions," the FAQ of TheSatanicTemple.com indicates.

Meanwhile, Christians in Detroit protested the event nearby. The event served "as a call-to-arms from which we’ll kick off our largest fight to date in the name of individual rights to free exercise against self-serving theocrats," according to the invitation.

"People are trying to push religious agenda, whether it’s part of the public opinion or not," Greaves said. "Groups will take it as slander against them and it’s just not the case. We don’t really care if they’re offended or not."

Baphomet was chosen for the statue because of the contemporary recognition of it as a satanic figure and it illustrates the “reconciliation of opposites,” Blackmore said.

“The Baphomet is both beast and man, female and male, one hand is pointed toward the sky, the other to the ground,” Blackmore said. “It's representative of the dualities of our nature

Source: ABC News

Palace shut as sympathisers troop to confirm news on Ooni

Following media reports of the passing on of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, sympathisers on Wednesday morning trooped to his palace to confirm the development.

The sympathisers began arriving at the palace as early as 6.3a.m. to ascertain the veracity of the report from palace chiefs, who declined to speak.

They were, however, turned back at the entrance of the palace by palace guards, while the gate was shut.

Many sympathisers, however, gathered in groups a few metres from the palace gate discussing the development in low tones.

When the Private Secretary to the Ooni, Mr Saka Awojoodu, was approached by a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) to react to the development, he simply said: “I have nothing to disclose.’’

Mr Bisi Oduyemi, one of those who was at the palace, said he came to find out whether the news of the monarch’s passing on was true.

“ I am here to find out whether the story of the Ooni’s death was true.

“ I heard the news on radio during the newspaper review this morning but I am here to confirm this from the palace chiefs and unfortunately, they are not forthcoming,’’ Oduyemi said .

Another resident, Mrs Idayat Akinrolu, said she abandoned her house chores to find out the authenticity of the story from the palace.

Meanwhile, the state government and the Osun Council of Traditional Rulers have yet to react to the development.

NAN learnt that both the state government and the traditional council were waiting for official announcement by the palace chiefs .

National News Headlines - 29-7/2015

THE NATION

*Ooni of Ife is dead

*APC, PDP give Buhari nod to go after looters

*Gbajabiamila is House Leader

*Tinubu seeks more time for Buhari

*Army rescues 30 persons from terrorists

*EFCC grills Saraki's wife, PDP BOT's chair for hours

*Senate's search for peace continues as House settles rift

*Saraki to senators: it's time to face legislative duties

*APC senators kick as Akpabio becomes Minority Leader

*Opposition backs President's anti-graft campaign

*Akwa Ibom University matriculates 1,648 students

*Fed Govt moves against rice waiver beneficiaries

*UK, Nigeria push for more investments

*Chinese regulator to buy shares to halt decline

*Unilever increases majority shareholding in Unilever Nigeria

*Alameiyesiegha rallies elders to save Bayelsa PDP

*Aregbesola's critics are ignorant

*APC chieftain backs Ngige for SGF

8th Senate will be more focused ' Saraki

DAILY TIMES

*BREAKING: Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Is Dead

*Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks on

Army Chief's Village

*SAN pledges support for NGO on building New Northern Nigeria

*Service Chiefs: Buhari Seeks Senate Confirmation

*2011 Polls: INEC Boss Rates Observers Report High

*Femi Gbajabiamila Announced House Majority Leader

*Akpabio Emerges Senate Minority Leader

*APC Backs President Buhari's Probe of Jonathan Administration

VANGUARD

*House Principal Officers: How Buhari got House leader job for Gbajabiamila

*Probe: Buhari should expect similar treatment from his successor 'Okorie

*Ajimobi bars newsmen from Gov's office press centre

*I didn't take N700m bribe, Rivers REC cries out

*Wike pays N712m for stranded Rivers students abroad

*Buhari worried over non-payment of teachers' salaries

*I've learnt my lessons for good ' Alamieyeseigha

*FG spends 2.41b dollars on rice importation since 2012 ' Emefiele

*Oil prices pull back from lows

*Religious bias, nepotism inimical to good governance

*Don't bandy figures without facts, NCC blasts critics

*Prepare for Enyeama's exit, Rufai tells Oliseh

*NFF unfair to Keshi ' Okpalla

*Fifa: Platini to announce presidency bid

Blatter deserves Nobel Prize ' Putin

*Chelsea sell Filipe Luis back to Atletico

*Femi Branch, Lilian Bach, Shan George storm Calabar

*Kollington Ayinla, Salawa Abeni back in each other's arms

*I'm getting married soon-Tonto Dikeh

Graphic Photo: 16yr brutally murders 4yr old boy for N50,000 in Lagos, removes his intestines, kidney & penis

A 16-year-old boy named Tajudeen Azeez, entice his 4 year old neighbour into escorting him to a primary school in the Ijaniki area of Lagos, unfortunately for the boy he never knew that Azeez had a Dubious plan at heart, he stabbed, strangled him removed the intestines of the poor 4yr boy,took his kidney and cut off of his penis.

He was persuaded a man named Osho had approached him and asked him to get him fresh human parts and would pay him N50,000.
Young Azeez never thought through, he just wanted to be N50,000 rich

Unbelievably sad!
“At first, I did not want to succumb to the temptation but it kept coming. When I woke up this morning (Monday), I saw Ibrahim at the back of the house. I told him to escort 

me to a primary school not too far from the house. The name of the school is Anglican Primary School, Ijanikin. He followed me to the place and on arrival there, I stabbed him with a knife from behind. He fell down and I strangled him with a rope. I then cut his stomach open with the knife. I am sorry for what I did,”Tajudeen has been arrested by the Lagos state police command according to a report by Daily Trust and is currently at the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Yaba.

According to the acting police public relations officer for the Lagos Command, Patricia Amadin, the body of the deceased has been deposited at a government mortuary. She said Tajudeen was arrested following intelligence information.

“Based on the strength of the information, the DPO and his men raced to the place. On arrival, they found the lifeless body of a four-year-old boy while the suspect was soaked in the deceased’s blood. From close observation, it was discovered that some vital organs such as the kidney and intestine had been removed from the deceased. All the organs were kept in a black nylon bag. The suspect was promptly arrested and taken to the station,” Amadin said. She said they are now looking for the said Osho

He was of course caught and made to carry the deceased body.
Viewer discretion is Advised, please be warned before you continue.

Photo of the day....

Lol

Vidal: I can win the Champions League with Bayern

Arturo Vidal says Bayern Munich provide him with the "best opportunity" of winning the Champions League after completing his €40 million move from Juventus.

Vidal - who has signed a contract until 2019 at the Allianz Arena - was part of the Bianconeri side who were beaten by Barcelona in the final of the competition back in May, while Bayern were knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals at the hands of the Catalans.

However, the Chile international believes the transfer represents a step forward in his career as he bids to win a title that has so far eluded him during his career.

He told Bayern's official website: "I’m very happy. This is a new step in my career and I hope I do well here. I want to help the team and win trophies. It’s a dream come true for me personally.

"I wanted to take another big step forward in my career. I want to keep developing as a player and win important trophies like the Champions League. I think the best opportunity to do so is with Bayern.”

The 28-year-old won the double in his final season with Juve and says Bayern's target for the campaign must be to achieve success on all fronts next term.

"We weren’t a long way off winning all three competitions last season. I hope we can pull it off with Bayern. That has to be the target.”

A first trophy of the season could be won at the weekend when Bayern face Dortmund in the Germany Super Cup, and the South American told the media he is ready to play if called upon.

"I played in the Copa America and have recovered after it. I am ready to play on Saturday if the coach wants me to," he explained.

Vidal spent four years in the Bundesliga with Stuttgart between 2007 and 2011 but failed to win a trophy at the BayArena, though he expects to enjoy a more fruitful experience during his second spell in Germany.

“I’m thrilled about playing in the Bundesliga again and obviously hope to win it this time. I didn’t manage it with Leverkusen back then, but with Bayern there’s a very, very good chance.”

Mourinho tips Mikel for Chelsea captaincy

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has earmarked John Obi Mikel as a likely replacement for John Terry as the Blues’ captain.

The Super Eagles star has spent nine years with the Stamford Bridge lords since his controversial move from Norwegian side, Lyn in 2006 and had since won over 224 caps with four goals to his credit.

With 34-year-old Terry’s career with the London side winding down, it means the English champions will have to select a new skipper and Mourinho feels Obi – the team’s second longest serving player may just be accorded with the honour of wearing the skipper’s armband.

“Mikel is, after John, the guy with most years of Chelsea,” Mourinho told Dailymail.co.uk

“I think (Cesc) Fabregas has personality for a captain too. Eden is coming with big status now and was voted one of the top 10 players in Europe last year.

“In my opinion he should be in the top three not in the top 10. Let’s see what is going to happen but we have these people. But let’s say John and Branislav are our captains and the others are ready to come,” he said.

Mikel recently ended speculation over his Chelsea future by insisting he is happy at Stamford Bridge.  The 28-year-old was linked with the likes of Al Ain and Fenerbahce during the transfer window but remained with the Blues despite the interest.

We never denied Mrs. Jonathan access to V.I.P longue at Airport-FAAN

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria today said that it never denied Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Jonathan, access to the VIP’s lounge at the PortHarcourth  International Airport. FAAN’s denial is contained in a statement issued by Yakubu Dati, its General Manager, Corporate Affairs. “The Authority holds the former First Lady in high esteem, being the wife of our former President...."

Obasanjo Takes A Swipe At Wole Soyinka Again

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he maintains his view, as expressed in his three-volume autobiography, My Watch, that Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has better expertise in wine matters than in political analysis.

In the book, Obasanjo wrote, “For Wole, no one can be good, nor can anything be spot-on politically except that which emanates from him or is ordained by him. His friends and loved ones will always be right and correct, no matter what they do or fail to do. He is surely a better wine connoisseur and a more successful aparo (guinea fowl) hunter than a political critic.”

However, last year December, shortly after the book went public, Soyinka had, in a piece titled, ‘Watch and Pray, Watch and Prey’, vehemently protested such a description (of him), calling Obasanjo ‘’an expert liar, who lies to boost his ego.’’

But in an interview granted a private television station, Channels, on a programme tagged, ‘Book Club’, Obasanjo, while holding on to his words, said what he wrote about Soyinka was purely his view, adding that Soyinka did not have to agree with him.

The former President, who added that he did not write the book to please anybody, also disclosed that there was a lingering feud between him and the Nobel laureate, who, he said, had vowed that the differences between the two of them would not be resolved on earth.

Obasanjo, however, said he had told Soyinka that, in that case, whichever of them gets to heaven first should wait at the gate to welcome the other.

He said, “Wole Soyinka is a gifted man. I have always acknowledged that but he is a bad politician and I have also always said that. That is my own point of view.

Source: Punch 

BREAKING NEWS : 50 THOUSAND JOBS TO BE GIVEN TO DELTANS BY GOV IFEANYI OKOWA

DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has said his administration is targeting a minimum of 50, 000 direct jobs through empowerment programmes.

The Governor made the disclosure today(28/07/15) when the National Working Committee of the PDP in the South South zone led by its zonal Chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougboh paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba.

According to him, his administration was committed to delivering prosperity to Deltans, disclosing that apart from ensuring infrastructure development of the state, within the next four years, more than 50, 000 direct jobs would be achieved through the empowerment programmes of his administration.

He said, “as a state, we have sent out forms for various empowerment programmes, it is our hope that in the first phase of the empowerment programme, we will be able to impact directly on 6, 000 persons by providing gainful employment as we intend to roll out these empowerment programmes every six months throughout the course of our administration so, if we are able to through the process alone, empower 6, 000 Deltans every six months, we will be able to provide more than 50, 000 direct jobs.”

The Governor assured the leadership of the PDP that the party would remain strong especially in the South South zone, asserting, “I believe the South South geo-political zone is PDP and will continue to be PDP, collectively, we will work to retain Bayelsa State and reclaim Edo State.”

“We will be very responsive to the needs of our people, we will be just and equitable to build confidence in our people, soon, we will be appointing another set of Commissioners, we have also tried to put other processes in place to get the government running and we are looking forward to constituting the Boards of the various agencies and parastatals in the month of August, we are looking forward to men and women who understand the manifesto of our party and our SMART programme to run the various agencies and parastatals,” he stated.

The Governor commended the zonal working committee of the PDP for working to strengthen the party.

Earlier, Dr Ojougboh said they were on tour of states of the South South zones, “preaching what will make the PDP stronger, things will change for the better, we must recapture Edo State and retain Bayelsa State in the forthcoming elections in those states.”

“The zone is very impressed with Delta State government, the government is working and we are happy that you (Governor Okowa) is representing the party very well,” Dr Ojougboh said.