Satanist Group Erects Display Next To Nativity At Michigan Capitol

A local Satanist group in Michigan has reportedly put up a dueling holiday display at the State Capitol ahead of the holiday season.

The Detroit-based Satanic worshipping group known as the Satanic Temple recently erected a "holiday" display known as the "Snaketivity scene" that shows a snake holding a book and wrapped around the Satanic Cross.

The Christian display, set up by Christian Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) and local churches, shows a classic nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus.

A large Christmas store based in Frankenmuth known as Bronner's reportedly agreed to participate in the Christian display by loaning a three-piece nativity scene to the Capitol display.

"We want to do it because Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus Christ, there's no denying it," Bronner's spokesperson Lori Libka told the Lansing State Journal recently. "It's really sad, as I think back to when I was a child, these kinds of issues didn't come up."

Jex Blackmore, a spokesperson for the Satanic Temple, told the local media outlet in a separate interview that her group does not actually worship Satan, but rather encourages individually that is separate from Christian beliefs.

The Satanic Temple spokesperson told the Lansing State Journal in a taped interview that the "holiday season is a time of year that is celebrated in many different ways."

"Having our government endorse one singular viewpoint or method of celebrating the season is problematic when we have a diverse community of people in Michigan," she said.