The Satanic Temple, a New York-based organization, is once again seeking space to advertise its own Satan-themed holiday display in Florida’s state capitol. The organization, that does not believe in the devil per se and only advocates religious pluralism and tolerance, recently sent a petition to the state capitol so it can be allowed to display a message that features the devil descending into hell.  The message next to the image reads “Happy Holidays from the Satanic Temple.”

This display, obviously deemed offensive by many, was rejected in 2013 from the annual holiday display inside the state capitol, which has chalked out an area as a public forum.

Those familiar with the Bible will recognize that the scene is described in Isaiah 14:12, which reads, “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!”

Luke 10:18 also references Lucifer’s fall from heaven: “He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’”

The Satanic Temple received support from another group, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, who advocate the separation of church and state, when it sent in a letter to the Florida Department of Management Services on October 15, insisting the government must allow permission for the Satanists’ display as mandated by the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

“The Department may not, as it did last year, reject the Satanic Temple’s display — even if the Department finds the display to be ‘offensive,’” the letter reads. “A rejection of the proposed display would violate the Free Speech Clause, Establishment Clause, and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”

Last year, the department reportedly responded to The Satanic Temple’s request to place a similar display near a nativity scene inside the state capitol by calling it “grossly offensive.”

“The department’s position is that your proposed display is grossly offensive during the holiday season,” Sherrie K. Routt, administrative assistant at Florida Department of Management Services, wrote at the time, according to the Post.

This year, Florida officials are yet to reach a final decision on the matter.

Photo Credits: The Blaze, Truth Revolt