Jail interfers with inmates Satanic beliefs...How do you feel about this?
By Ravenladyj
@Ravenladyj (22902)
United States
February 21, 2009 8:15am CST
[i]"Jason P. Indreland claims county jail staff took from him a religious medallion, denied him access to a "Satanic Bible or Book of Satanic Rituals" and ridiculed and punished him for his religious beliefs.
The suit alleges that Yellowstone County jail staff placed "Christian natured greeting cards under (his) cell door," that said "Jesus was ready to save and accept him."[/i]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090221/ap_on_fe_st/odd_satanist_inmate_lawsuit;_ylt=AjallKi4RJlz.ZfqpJBk5NhxFb8C
I'm sorry but I have issues with this...Not only is denying him his practices discriminating but to make fun of him etc as well is actually counter productive as far as I'm concerned....Granted the lawsuit is a bit ridiculous BUT regardless of that i dont think this should go ignored either...
What are your thoughts?
6 people like this
18 responses
@alharra (507)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Why is the suit ridiculous? The fact is is that some courts have stated that unless religious practices can be deemed security risks the jail must allow the inmate to practice their faith. The Satanist should be allowed to have his bible and medallion but not his athame. He has ever right in the world to file suit....
3 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
21 Feb 09
Well I don't believe in nor agree with Satanism, but that isn't the point.
The point is that everyone has the freedom to believe what they wish and to practise their chosen religion. If you remove that freedom for one, you are setting a precedent for others.
@Galena (9110)
•
21 Feb 09
if they're allowed any books at all, they should be allowed the Satanic Bible.
if they read it, they'd have less of a problem with it.
as with the books, they need to allow jewellery completely, or not allow it at all.
in my experience, Satanists are much the same as everyone else. and should be treated as such.
1 person likes this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
22 Feb 09
I don't agree with the jewelry thing. Because it's a prison there are security risks with certain types of jewelry. If the medallion was a star than it could have sharp edges... you'd be surprised what kind of makeshift things prisoners could do with something like that. I do agree with you 100% on allowing the satanic bible though. There is no security risk there at all.
@Galena (9110)
•
22 Feb 09
as I say, either they allow jewellery or they don't.
they probably don't allow any kind of necklaces for the potential strangling risk.
if they allow it for one person then they should for another. so it depends if it was removed for its potential use as a weapon, or because it was his religious symbol.
if they allow Christian inmates to wear a crucifix on a necklace, they should allow him his symbol.
and I'm sure a cross is just as sharp with its points.
I know all too well about the points on a Pentagram, quite often I wake up with mine digging into my collarbone or shoulder. but again, I am sure much the same happens with the points on a crucifix, or any other shape with points.
so as I say, with jewellery it should be all or nothing. if they're taken away, it should be for risk reasons, not because of what it symbolises.
2 people like this
@nikkidv22 (69)
• South Africa
3 Mar 11
Only in AMERICA!!! And then people wonder why the world is going to hell! Seriously, this is the reason! And you all reckon he has a right to a satanic bible?? Like I said, no wonder the world is going to hell..
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
24 Mar 11
And you all reckon he has a right to a satanic bible
Well does a Christian inmate have the right to a christian bible? Does a Muslim inmate have the right to a copy of the Quran? and do you actually even know anything TRUE about Satanism or only what you've seen in movies and on tv?
@zhuuraan (961)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I agree. I by no means disagree with his beliefs, but I'd fight tooth and nail for his right to believe them. I don't care if you're Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Satanist, Wiccan, Agnostic, I could really care less. But to deny a person's right to believe how they like and even try to shove your own propaganda down their throats is terrible.
And, it's Christians doing it, go figure! I'm not picking on Christians as a whole, because the vast majority of them don't bug me. However, in almost every situation I have encountered of some religious nut trying to shove their religion down peeople's throats, it has been Christians or some denomination thereof. It drives me batty!
To those jailers who did that to the man...
"Thou shalt not judge."
I quote from their very own holy book, and so who are they to judge. Apart from the fact taht it's wrong by the Bible, if they are going to judge someone, judge themselves for violating that commandment!
1 person likes this
@ulalume (713)
• United States
1 Mar 09
What is sad is that these people are probably viewing him as a threat, but Satanists are more like some of the most peaceful people in existance. I am one, I should know. Let me go take away their crosses and see how they like it. It is ridiculous. The lawsuit is no different than a Muslim wanting to where their head garments to work or a lady wanting to wear a cross around her neck. The jail system practically tells people to find faith, and some people find faith in themselves (which is essentially Satanism in a very small box).
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
23 Feb 09
I am not sure on that one, making fun of him and sticking greeting cards of a different religion is a bit over the top. I am not sure what I think about the satanist stuff, my first instinct is to say that if it was anything else but satan but I just don't know.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Inmates are supposed to be allowed to practice their religious beliefs in jail, it's understandable to bend the rules a little when their practices involve overly sharp things or stuff that they can use to hurt other inmates...for the relly truly insane ones...bu satanism is a valid religion.
To do this to him because they've different beliefs is wrong. Especially because he's a prisoner.
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
26 Feb 09
thats why some jails have it to where they get outside people to come in and host the practices and bring in the supplies then take them with them so that the people never keep them.. etc
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
1 Apr 10
For me it's a tough one...I've never understood Satan worshippers anyways. I can see where he feels his rights were stepped on and I agree to a point they were but at the same time most inmates aren't allowed to keep any jewelry (including medallions) also most jails might have a Bible around but probably don't keep Satanic Ritual books around. The whole thing of sticking cards under the door wasn't necessary though. Then again it could just be a desperate attempt at sueing the city to get a big payday.
Perhaps if he wouldn't have done something to land himself in jail, it wouldn't have become a issue.
[b]**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
23 Feb 09
OMG! They don't leave people alone even in jail. I can't believe it. In my opinion, Satanism is far better than Christianity. I think it is more tolerant anyway, and it doesn't have a bloody history.
Cheers and happy Mylotting
@Amberina (1541)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Prison officials love to mess with the inmates it's some kind of power trip they like to play on them. Just because the guy is in prison and he doesn't have a ton of rights like people on the outside he still has freedom of religion and if he is into satan then let him be he has the right to choose.
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
26 Feb 09
thats some bs!! he should be able to believe and practice anything he wants!! i thought they had gotten better about it since i know several jails are now letting wiccans do and practice their beliefs.. its sad that not only are they taking it away from him but then taunting him and thinking that HELPS things is insane!
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
21 Feb 09
If he was truly denied the right to practice his religion by the staff, which happens to be in the employ of the state, then I'm behind the guy 100%. Even if the staff thought his choice in religion was wrong, they have no right to restrict him from practicing it. It's just plain underhanded to do that, and then try to push their religion on him. If the staff is guilty of the charges, then I hope he wins the suit and milks the staff for everything they have.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
21 Feb 09
Hi Raavenladyj, The man has a right to believe as he wishes and I'm not sure that lawsuit is so ridiculous, after all who is going to speak up for him? If he was a Christian and was treated that way there would be an outcry. I didn't go to the site, so I'm just commenting on what you say here. I'm not saying I agree with his beliefs, the fact is I really don't know anything about it, but I agree with his right to practice it as long as he isn't harming anyone. Blessings.
@liquorice (3887)
•
21 Feb 09
Like others have said, this is just wrong. Everyone should have the right to practice their religion, and not have their religious freedoms taken away just because they're in prison. Prison staff have no right to preach to him or pressurise him into joining a different religion. Allowing him to keep his medallion and books would not do any harm to anyone, and I'm sure that they wouldn't come on any list of items banned from the prison. It's just a ridiculous thing, and a breach of his human rights.
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
21 Feb 09
the fact that he is in the US where he is supposed to have freedom of religion has already been mentioned
I dont think the lawsuit is ridiculous at all
I think the jail staff was completely in the wrong
they used their own ignorant fear of Satanism to justify their violation of another person's rights
maybe if they actually took the time to look through the Satanic Bible they just might learn a thing or two
man ignorance pisses me off!