A local satanic church’s planned ritual at Oklahoma City’s Civic Center has garnered national media attention and sparked the interest of campus ministers.
The Church of the IV Majesties first received statewide news coverage in late August as Oklahoma City officials confirmed that the church had booked the event.
Dr. Barbara Boyd, the Director of Outreach for OU's Religious Studies program and an ordained Presbyterian minister, said she supports the planned ritual as long as no one is harmed.
“To me, they’re not harming anybody,” she said. “They’ve rented the space – you can go or not go.”
From a ministerial standpoint, Boyd thinks opposing this event could lead to further religious discrimination in the future.
“I don’t want someone stopping my practice because I take the body and blood of Jesus Christ one time a month in Communion rituals or because I throw water in a baby’s face when I do a baptism,” she said. “There’s all kinds of ways you could push that to the point where it’s just not healthy and positive for the nation.”
Boyd also said the United States is built on religious freedom and that everyone should be allowed to worship as they please.
University College freshman Lauren Aragon agrees with Boyd.
“We just shouldn’t limit people’s liberties,” she said. “Anyone who wants to participate in that event should, but no one should stop them from participating in the event.”
The Satanist event has received criticism from religious circles, but John Kelsey, director of the university’s Baptist Student Union, simply views their actions as a publicity stunt.
“To be honest with you, it seems like it’s just a really small group of maybe just a half dozen or so people, and they’re just trying to use this to get a lot of attention,” he said. “Obviously I would disagree philosophically and theologically with their position, but if they want to go rent a room at the Civic Center, they’re welcome to do that.”
Kelsey said he is opposed to protesting the event and believes any negative actions will only galvanize and legitimize their position. Instead, Kelsey said Christians should pray for members of the Satanist church.
“My heart breaks because I think these are people that are really misled,” he said. “I think the Christian response should be, of course, we love them, we pray for them, and that we earn the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus with them.”
The Church of the IV Majesties will perform the ritual on October 21.
Dr. Barbara Boyd, the Director of Outreach for
OU's Religious Studies program and an ordained
Presbyterian minister. (Photo by Kasey Chapman)
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