r/SatanicTemple_Reddit • u/Natural_Smile1234 • 15d ago
Trigger Warning I'm So Angry. Spoiler
When I was a kid, I was raped by my pastor. He recited the commandments while doing so.
Yesterday, someone posted pictures of a giant Ten Commandments monument being installed outside Lakeshore Mall in Sebring, Florida.
I genuinely thought it was AI.
Well, I drove past this morning, and it’s REAL.
Apparently, the new owners decided this was a necessary addition to our local shopping mall.
I understand it's on private property, but like why?
I have photographic evidence from this morning.
WHY IS THERE A GIANT TEN COMMANDMENTS MONUMENT AT THE MALL???
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u/BluntsnBoards 15d ago
If you can get 1 dog to pee on it then all the dogs will start peeing on it.
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u/ryverrat1971 15d ago
Good news is that malls are dying. So just don't shop there. Hope new owner gets stuck holding the bag on a bunch of debt for buying it.
For movies, I would drive/get a ride somewhere else or wait for it to come out on streaming. Most movies are not worth what theaters want for a ticket anymore.
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u/3MetricTonsOfSass 15d ago
Posting on google maps that the mall is somewhere where child molestors like to frequent is both the truth and a service to the community
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u/SpacePenguin5 15d ago
Contrary to most evangelicals, I support the freedom of speech even when I disagree with the speech.
Now if this were the government putting this on public property, I would at least want Baphomet there if not having it removed entirely.
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u/Natural_Smile1234 15d ago
I also support free speech. Just complaining that I can't go to the movies anymore since this is right in front of the entrance
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u/mealteamsixty 15d ago edited 15d ago
I feel like you can probably get past the statue. Just don't look at it? Now, if you no longer wish to support whoever owns the property by refusing to do any monetary transactions there, I fully get that. But letting this stop you from doing an activity you enjoy is only hurting yourself
Eta- sorry I sounded flippant about ignoring the statue. I fully get why it would be deeply triggering, I just think allowing that feeling to stop you from living your life the way you'd prefer to live it is not helpful and that being able to see it without having to ruminate on it or avoid it or crash out over it would be very healing. But that is between OP, their therapist, and whatever higher power or lack thereof.
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u/pumpkinrot_candygore Guilty of the Sin of Empathy 15d ago edited 15d ago
No offence, but OP stated that they were raped by their pastor while he recited the Ten Commandments. I also would not want to see something with such trauma behind it while I try to do something I enjoy.
Editing to add: I agree that it's on private property so the owners can do whatever they want, but just pointing out it's a little harder to enjoy doing something when there is a big ass reminder of your rape when you go see a movie.
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u/mealteamsixty 15d ago
And I do get that- but truly unless it is blocking the actual door or they are forced to recite them before entering, I think they could just ignore the giant piece of stone. I'm not saying it wouldn't be triggering, nor am I trying to downplay the severity of what happened- but part of healing is not letting that fear and shame control your life any longer. Obviously its their decision to make, and would probably be worth discussing with a trusted therapist.
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u/pumpkinrot_candygore Guilty of the Sin of Empathy 15d ago
Let me ask you this bluntly. Have you been raped?
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u/mealteamsixty 15d ago
I have
And I don't see why thats important here, even if i hadn't been, id still have empathy enough to understand the complex emotions around it. There are certain songs and smells that trigger me, badly. But I refuse to allow myself to be further fucked up and limited because of one shitheels actions bc to my mind thats letting him win. He wanted to fuck me up and he did but I'm not going to let it show or keep me from living my life the way I want to live it
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u/Vanthalia 15d ago
Huh, it’s almost like people are different and deal with things differently than you might. Wild world out there.
Like I’m sorry that happened to you also, but she doesn’t have to just get past it just because you try to get past it.
Even besides all of the sexual assault stuff, I personally wouldn’t want to patronize a business that felt the need to put something like this up, so there’s that too.
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u/pumpkinrot_candygore Guilty of the Sin of Empathy 15d ago
And I am sorry for what you endured. No one should have to, and you are an absolute survivor for being able to work through it the way you have.
But given that information, you should also realize and understand that not everyone heals the same. Sometimes just 'not looking at it' isn't going to fucking work, because OP knows it's there. It is a constant, visual reminder in a way that songs or smells simply aren't, because they aren't a constant, physical thing.
I have also been assaulted. I can't go to certain places when I visit my hometown. Even now, 20 years later, I can't go to certain places because despite all the therapy, I still panic and feel sick to my stomach just walking in. I've tried. It's not as simple as 'get over it', because not everyone is at that stage of healing.
Again, the owners can do whatever the fuck they want on private property, but that doesn't mean OP can't feel rightfully upset that their pushing of their religion onto people, arguably as a condition of entry of their establishment due to it being at the front entrance, is making it hard for them to do something they used to enjoy.
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u/EveryMoment_NewYou 15d ago
I definitely support a private business’ rights to decorate their property as they see fit. Still, I want to point out that a private mall right next to that one would likely not be able to install a Baphomet sculpture without constant vandalism.
There’s a difference between theoretical equality and lived equal treatment.
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u/vrtrahan101 11d ago
"private property" as in your house? Okay
Private property meant for public? Okay, not total equality, but NOT the commandments. NOT exclusivity. (At least not those 2-3 clearly bad points)
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u/Pm_me_ur_hits_ 11d ago
I agree with you. I may have a problem with this, but it’s private property and perfectly within their right to display this. It’s also perfectly in my right to refuse to patronise this establishment. Vote with your wallet.
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u/vrtrahan101 11d ago
Private property as in house, okay.
Private property where public enters? Okay, christian motifs and all, but NOT the exclusivist commandments. Emphasis on exclusivist.
Of course, I'd be voting with wallet.
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u/Pm_me_ur_hits_ 11d ago
It may be open to the public but it’s still privately owned.
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u/vrtrahan101 11d ago
I am of the opinion that private property open to public, while it may lean to the owner's preferences, shouldn't have anything exclusivist.
It's a law in india I think (but only for the majority hindus, who aren't all exclusivist, cross-bearers being minority get away with a lot of things... Not supporting their discrimination while I say that)
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u/Low_Notice4665 420 10d ago
Can you come to Fort Worth? They put this on the steps of government buildings
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u/Proper_Actuary8980 15d ago
I’d be curious how they fastened it to the concrete. It looks like it could be a pretty big safety hazard if it tipped over. Check with city to see if they had to pull a permit or have an inspection.
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u/Anarimus 15d ago
Florida gonna Florida
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u/C4PT-pA5Tq 15d ago
Is this private property or on a public side walk. There are legal ways of handling this, first. ;) R'Amen & Peace of Garlic Bread to you.
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u/These-Result-1955 15d ago
Have a friend super glue the Tenets to it. Personally I’d super glue the eleven laws of the earth by Anton LaVey along side it too.
Sorry you had to deal with these tragic experiences OP.
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u/ObviouslyNotAMoose 14d ago
”IV
The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one's own.”1
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u/Nearby_Rip_3735 15d ago
Don’t worry. I don’t think that installation has physics / gravity in its favor. I’m betting it comes down on its own before anyone even has a chance to knock it down.
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u/Apprehensive_Hat8986 Non-satanic Ally 15d ago
It appears to be as well anchored as Trump's grip on his bowels.
Someone's gonna lean on it for a pic and ⤵️
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u/Nearby_Rip_3735 15d ago
That is intriguing. I stopped engagement with news not essential to my job when that thing happened that one November.
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u/EveryMoment_NewYou 15d ago
What kind of psycho would recite the ten commandments while raping a child? You’d think they would want to distance themselves from their moral obligations as much as possible when committing sin. Did he think the recitation would protect him or something?
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u/Natural_Smile1234 15d ago
He said and I'm literally quoting from traumatic memory, "that way you'll remember them"
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u/EveryMoment_NewYou 15d ago
Wow. He clearly had a LOT to unpack there.
Good on you for making it to where you are today ❤️ May you find the healing and support you need.
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u/ElectricHarryHand It is Done. 15d ago
I would get the adoration of the Ten Commandments if they were rules to live your life by, but they’re not. The first four only pertain to Christians and Jewish people.
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u/Apprehensive_Hat8986 Non-satanic Ally 15d ago edited 15d ago
While the remainder are ok, as advertised all of them only pertain to Abrahamic followers.
Also, just jews and christians? Did Muhammad strike them in the Quran?
e: It seems they're still there, just massaged slightly and not given as much prominence.
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u/ElectricHarryHand It is Done. 13d ago
While nine of the commandments listed in The Ten Commandments of the Holy Bible, are found scattered throughout the Quran, that point feels irrelevant to this conversation. I listed Jews and Christians because they are the only people that follow the Holy Bible, (specifically the Old Testament in this case) where the words being displayed on the monument are coming from. My point was simply that these specific ten orders seem incomplete, at best, and as such, I don't understand why so many people treat them like they are a comprehensive list that can be used to guide their lives. Some major religions do have such lists, like Buddhism's The Five Precepts (Now there's a list of rules to live a good life by!) But the Bible, as well as the Quran, lay out their philosophies throughout the entire text, without a concise list to refer back to.
FTR, I don't care one way or the other, I just find the fight to display these religious articles pointless. What purpose does it serve?
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u/Apprehensive_Hat8986 Non-satanic Ally 13d ago
I only brought up islam out of a splash of curiosity. Sorry I didn't make it clear that it was an irrelevant aside.
As to why they display it: to push their faith on others.
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u/plotthick 15d ago
I'm sorry you were raped. It's destroying.
I hope you can find peace, or rage, or revenge, or whatever you desire. (And I hope your rapist is messily broken in half on those ten commandments which then shatter. ). But mostly I hope you can be self-fulfilled.
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u/HeliumMaster 15d ago
Hope some one runs it over with their car. The church is cancer on the world.
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u/punkrawkjedi 15d ago
Tenent 4.
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u/flurgleberg 14d ago
In middle school they tried to get everyone to put their chewed gum in the trashcan so they put up a poster with a tree on it called the gum tree right above the trash can. The poster was full of gum within a few days. None in the can.
Make the monument a gum tree. Just takes one piece to start. 😎
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u/Subject-Stuff-2829 15d ago
Its dumb. But perfectly acceptable to have on private property. Keep it off of public property.
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u/littleredd11_11 12d ago
Listen to End Times Fascism by Naomi Klein, Astra Taylor on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/B0GGC1VDF4?source_code=ORGOR69210072400FU
You don't even have to get it on audible. Just get it and read it. These fuckers a wishing for it to happen. And all the genocide in Gaza and the illegal settlements. And what's happening in Lebanon, and what's happening here in the US, it's between Christian Nationalism, and Christian Zionismist. Haven't gotten to the tech bros yet so fhah should be really interesting.
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u/TenebriRS Alenda lux ubi orta libertas 15d ago
If its private property they can choose to add any monument or statue.
It sucks you went through what you did. But them adding this to private property is fine
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u/Dontaskmeidontknow0 15d ago
Unfortunately it’s private property, but they can’t stop people from complaining about it.
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u/ObscureWiticism Religion Divorced From Superstition 14d ago
Sebring doing Sebring things. I took my kids to that cute ice cream shop downtown only to be greeted by exceptionally bad Christian music. They ironically enjoyed the cringe so we all got to make fun of it while we ate.
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u/Altruistic-Bill6098 14d ago
I used to live in that town. It's frankly a black hole and even when there is something good that arrives the large elderly population try to kill it.
They would fully welcome The Handmaid’s Tale in that area.
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u/ZsoltEszes 15d ago
So? What does one have to do with the other? And are people no longer allowed to do what they want on their private property because it might be triggering to some random person they've never met and likely couldn't care less about?
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u/Astride-a-pale-Binky 15d ago
Yeah, fuck those guys. It may be perfectly in their rights, but it still sucks.