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Forget St. Nick; someone in Concord may end up on Satan’s naughty list after The Satanic Temple’s Baphomet statue was destroyed Monday night in an act of yuletide mayhem.

Concord Deputy Police Chief John Thomas told NHJournal that while the investigation into the vandalism is active and ongoing, he can rule out at least one possible suspect.

“Santa wouldn’t do this,” Thomas said. “Santa loves everybody.”

The statue of the hooded demon was found broken in half around 7 p.m. Monday night, a few hours after the marble slab showing The Satanic Temple’s seven principles was cracked. 

State Rep. Ellen Read (D-Newmarket), who helped organize The Satanic Temple’s display, was spotted gathering up the broken shards of the goat-headed figure Tuesday morning after getting a call about the destruction. She’s not sure if members of The Satanic Temple plan to put their monster mannequin back together.

Rep. Ellen Read (D-Newmarket) puts Baphomet’s legs in her car.

Representatives of the Vermont and New Hampshire-based temple did not respond to a request for comment.

City officials were not thrilled about the addition to the public space when the Baphomet display went up this weekend on the Concord City Square in front of the State House. The square typically plays host to a traditional nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus.

A statement issued by the City of Concord indicates the permission for the sulphuric statue’s inclusion came under threat of a lawsuit. 

“Under the First Amendment and to avoid litigation, the City needed to choose whether to ban all holiday displays installed by other groups, or otherwise, to allow it,” the statement reads. “After reviewing its legal options, the City ultimately decided to continue the policy of allowing unattended displays at City Plaza during this holiday season and to allow the statue. It is anticipated that the City Council will review next year whether permits for unattended holiday displays should be allowed at City Plaza.”

Cornerstone, a New Hampshire Christian advocacy organization, has mocked the display as a childish and insincere attempt to promote an anti-religious agenda, not an expression of actual spiritual beliefs.

“The Satanic Temple are not Satanists. They have no religious belief in any Satan figure. They are normal, atheist feminists who use Satanic imagery as a legal tactic, to fundraise through media exposure, and because offending Christian grandmothers brings a sense of meaning to their sad lives,” it said in a statement.

Cornerstone acknowledges there are people with pagan or even Satan-centric religious beliefs, but said those behind the State House display aren’t among them.

“If you remember the 1990s, you might have the wrong idea about who put up the ‘Satanic’ statue in Concord, New Hampshire this weekend,” the group posted on social media, “‘The Satanic Temple’ is not Charles Manson: it’s just your liberal feminist aunt trying to trigger you by mocking your faith.”

Rep. Joe Sweeney (R-Salem) sent out a fundraising email from the state GOP Committee to Select House Republicans, arguing Republicans can defend against devils real and, like Baphomet, imagined. 

“We know this is another step in a growing push to undermine the values that make our state special, and to make you feel offended and turned off from getting involved. From offensive displays to legislation that challenges our way of life, New Hampshire Democrats have aligned themselves with the extremism that threatens Granite Staters’ families and freedoms,” Sweeney wrote.

Members of The Satanic Temple, much like members of the Church of Satan, profess an atheistic creed that uses the dark cloak of Satan to shock mainstream society while preaching self-actualization. The Satanic Temple is known for its liberal advocacy in favor of abortion rights, transgender rights, and free speech, not entirely dissimilar to Unitarians.

Though Santa is not a suspect, Rudolph’s whereabouts on Monday are still unknown.

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better look out, I’m telling you why: Satan is coming to town.

Or, at least, The Satanic Temple of New Hampshire and Vermont (TST) is bringing its Satanic Representation campaign to the capital. 

The faux devil-worshipping group unveiled its holiday display at the Concord City Hall Plaza in front of the State House over the weekend, just a few yards from the traditional creche displaying the nativity of Christ.

Now, visitors stopping to get a glimpse of the baby Jesus can get in the holiday spirit by also viewing a statue of the goat-headed demon, Baphomet, holding a lilac and an apple. There is also a marble slab displaying the TST’s seven tenets.

“A lot of people run from the word ‘satanic,’ but we embrace it,” TST Minister Vivian Kelly said at Saturday night’s unveiling.

State Rep. Ellen Read (D-Newmarket) helped the TST get the necessary permits for the display and told NHJournal the group has every right to have its display alongside the traditional Christmas imagery.

“Everything has the potential to offend, even the nearby nativity scene. Not only is over a third of the state not religious, never mind Christian, but I can imagine those who have been judged, harmed, or abused by the Christian church feeling offended by the nativity scene displayed on public grounds. And yet the nativity scene has stood perennially, unmolested, for years,” Read said in a statement provided to NHJournal.

The TST, not to be confused with Anton Lavey’s Church of Satan, is an atheist, liberal activist organization that supports abortion access, the rights of transgender people, and the separation of church and state. As Kelly said Saturday, the group supports people choosing their own path.

“People can live their best lives as they want as their true authentic selves,” Kelly said. “Just because we’re not large in numbers doesn’t mean our beliefs are less important than any of the other religions represented here.”

Critics of the Satanist display say it’s not an attempt to share their beliefs but rather an attempt at attention seeking from a fringe group that hopes to disrupt the Christmas traditions so many Granite Staters, regardless of their personal faith, enjoy during the holiday season.

“Christians should either ridicule these displays as cartoonish or else deny ‘The Satanic Temple’ the attention they use to generate media exposure and funds,” Shanon McGinley, executive director with Cornerstone, said in a statement. 

McGinley says the group is atheist in principle and holds no actual religious beliefs, but instead uses the guise of a Satanic church to push a feminist agenda.

“They are normal, atheist feminists who use Satanic imagery as a legal tactic, to fundraise through media exposure, and because offending Christian grandmothers brings a sense of meaning to their sad lives,” McGinley’s statement reads.

The Satanic Temple’s website acknowledges its atheism and that it embraces Satan as an anti-authority figure and uses Baphomet essentially as a mascot. Baphomet is a fictional creation of the Middle Ages that was later taken up by occultists like Aleister Crowley, who pioneered 20th-century devil worship and the practice of magic. 

Real or not, Baphomet drew onlookers Sunday, curious about the goat-headed demon.

“I like the Satanism display better than the Nativity,” said a woman from Manchester who declined to give her name. “I don’t believe Jesus was real. I’m not religious in any sense.” 

She and a group of friends had come to Concord specifically to see the paganism display.

“It’s the sole reason we’re here, to be honest,” she said.

A local Concord man, who also was unwilling to give his name, echoed those sentiments. 

“I think it’s so cool. It’s really I think it’s awesome, dude,” he said.

The man argued that if the Nativity display can be on the State House sidewalk, why not the Church of Satan display? 

“I think it’s funny that people get so bent out of shape about it,” he said.

Asked if he sees any moral differentiation between Christianity and Satan worship, he said ,“No.”

On the other hand, a passerby who didn’t stop to talk commented, “I hope someone tears it down.”

Read said someone did try to tear it down Saturday night, about two hours after it was unveiled. Though the incident was not reported to the police, Read said Baphomet was knocked down ,and a crack was put into the marble slab.

“If we presume that those that have vandalized the display of Baphomet are doing so in the name of Christianity, then does that speak for a family-friendly holiday celebrating love, peace, and goodwill towards all?” Read said.

McGinley’s statement did not call for any violent response to the display, but it encouraged those who want to counter TST’s Baphomet to do so in a Christian manner. Christmas displays on private property, orthodox and joyful street preaching, and more displays on any public space possible are the best response, she said.

“We encourage Christians to place larger, more aggressive, and more frequent Christmas and other Christian displays in every public venue available,” McKinley’s statement read. 

Forget biomass subsidies and paid family medical leave. Here at New Hampshire Journal, we’ve dragged Granite State politicos into the most hotly-contested throwdown debate of the day.

No, not Donald Trump. Die Hard.

Christmas movie or not?

If you live your life away from social media, you may not be aware of the ongoing national argument over whether Bruce Willis’ action-hero hit, Die Hard, is in fact a celebration of the Christmas season.  Proponents insist that Die Hard isn’t just a Christmas classic, but it’s the best Christmas movie EVAH!  Opponents just roll their eyes.

According to a December poll by Morning Consult, most Americans remain unconvinced that the tale of NYC Detective John McClane foiling a Christmas Eve robbery at Nakatomi Plaza is, in fact, heartwarming Christmas fare. Only 25 percent of Americans agree, while 62 percent say no.

One of the naysayers? Bruce Willis himself who, at an event marking the 30^th anniversary of the movie’s release (in July, by the way), told the crowd “Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie! It’s a g**damn Bruce Willis movie!”

That hasn’t been enough to dissuade the most die-hard (sorry, had to do it) of fans. One trolling website used movie website data and other information to create what they claim is a map of the Christmas movie each state is most obsessed with. Die Hard, they claim, is number one in Virginia, Missouri and Washington state.  But they also claim that the top Christmas flick in Florida and California is Batman Returns. (That’s the one with Michael Keaton and Danny De Vito. Yikes.).

New Hampshire’s top flick? A Christmas Carol.

Meanwhile, the controversy is all over the media, with articles in the Washington Post and profiles on NBC News. The Portsmouth Herald recently ran a column, “Die Hard Is A Christmas Movie,” arguing that the true Christmas classic Home Alone “is essentially Die Hard for kids.”

So as the national debate rages, where do New Hampshire politicians stand? Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

“Absolutely!” Gov. Chris Sununu told NHJournal.  “Everything about it says ‘Christmas.’”

Sununu, an admitted Die Hard fanboy, made a strong case. “What’s the theme song? The Christmas classic, ‘Let It Snow.’  When does the sequel [Die Hard II] take place? Christmas. And what does John McClane use to strap the gun to his back? Christmas packing tape. Case closed: It’s a Christmas movie!”

And while Sununu may struggle to get bipartisan support on energy policy or business taxes, on this issue he’s got plenty of allies across the aisle.

“Yes, of course Die Hard is a Christmas movie.  But I hear Russian bots are spreading lies that it isn’t,” NH Democratic Party chairman Ray Buckley told us via email.

“It’s one of the top 10 movies of all time, and it’s a Christmas movie,” says new State Senate majority leader Dan Feltes. “It’s a story of redemption and family and action and adventure all wrapped into a classic American story.”

The Granite State spirit of bipartisanship in this debate reflects national polling: 26 percent of Democrats and Republicans agree with Sununu, Buckley and Feltes.

Oh, and House GOP leader Rep. Dick Hinch: “Oh, definitely a Christmas movie,” he told us.  “The entire background of the movie is Christmas.”

So who then is New Hampshire’s voice for the silent majority? The 62 percent who think this is nonsense?

“Die Hard a Christmas movie? My answer is no,” says newly-elected Speaker of the House Rep. Steve Shurtleff.  “To me, a Christmas movie will always be films like It’s A Wonderful Life,” Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Story.

(Granite State 2^nd Amendment advocates, take note: The new speaker is down with the “Official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.” An opening for cooperation and compromise?)

NH DNC National Committeewoman Kathy Sullivan is having none of it, either. “No. My idea of a great Christmas movie is Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, with music by the great Jules Styne. ‘Razzleberry dressing!’”

“Die Hard isn’t on my list,” says state Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, who, like Speaker Shurtleff, is a Miracle on 34^th Street fan. “When the court rules that, ‘if the Post Office says Edmund Gwenn is Santa that’s good enough for us,’ I love that part. But I’m a Democrat. I like it when the government solves problems,” he said with a laugh.

The Die Hard debate could even become an issue in the upcoming race for NHGOP vice chair.  Pam Tucker is a solid no: “Of course not! It’s an action-adventure movie. There’s shooting. There’s killing. There’s swearing! Where are the family values?”

Her opponent, Kate Day, tells NHJournal: “Christmas, Fourth of July, you name it. For me,  Die Hard is an anytime movie. Yippee Ki Yay!”

Interestingly, the political-consultant class seems to embrace the pro-Christmas-movie case whole-heartedly. Joel Payne, a DC Democrat and former advisor to Hillary Clinton’s campaign tells NHJournal “Die Hard is absolutely a Christmas movie. In fact, I would argue that Die Hard is the best Christmas movie. It’s built around an office Christmas party and (villain) Hans Gruber is the human embodiment of The Grinch.”

Locally-based GOP strategist Dave Carney echoes his sentiment. “It’s one of the top five, for sure. Only a Grinch lover would deny such a cultural fact.”

And yet the vast majority of Americans—and almost certainly Granite Staters—disagree. Is this another case of out-of-touch arrogant elites undermining our basic American values?

Or is Die Hard just a really, really good movie?

NOTE: For the definitive, inarguable and absolutely correct answer to the question “Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?” click here.