A Wisconsin museum is facing backlash after its annual Christmas tree celebration included some controversial entries this year.
Of the 66 trees on display at the National Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, the trees that look the most striking belong to the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin and the Bay Area Council on Gender Diversity.
The trees, which will be on display until December 31, include decorations suitable for their purpose, and not the usual decorations depicting images related to Jesus, angels or the Christmas holiday.
The tree belonging to the Satanic Temple is decorated with red lights and beads, pentagrams, and various ornaments, with one reading, “Hail Santa,” clearly a play on the phrase, “Hail Satan.”
The Gender Diversity Tree includes pink and blue trans flags, and ornaments with sayings like, “Protect Trans Kids.”
According to local NBC affiliate WGBA, museum CEO Jacqueline Frank acknowledged that some local residents attending the festival had expressed concern about the trees’ presence, but also said some applauded their inclusion.
Others use social media to air their grievances.
“Outrageous! The National Railroad Museum features a Satanic tree,” Matt Batzel, executive director of the conservative grassroots organization American Majority, wrote in a post on X, including a photo of the Satanic display.
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Some users questioned why the tree would be featured on a “family-friendly event,” while others wrote, “Why does WI look like Commiefornia??? We used to be sane and safe…”
Fox News Digital also spoke with a local Christian pastor named Luke Farwell in De Pere, Wisconsin, who said he questioned the National Railroad Museum’s decision to include the trees at its Christmas with children event, when it again touts “inclusive” and “teaching opportunities” trees.
“It seems a little strange to me that someone, based on that, would think it’s appropriate to have a Satanic temple Christmas tree – or a tree, I should say. I’m not going to dignify it by calling it a Christmas tree,” Farwell said, before expressing disappointment at ” push back” that Christians accept when it comes to the First Amendment, while groups like this are allowed to participate in such a way at Christmas Events.
He argued that Christians strongly believed in freedom of speech, including for the Satanic Temple, but questioned the judgment of mixing Christian themes with Satanic themes.
Some have praised the museum for including diverse viewpoints such as Satanism in the dispaly case.AFP via Getty Images
“What I think Christians need to do more is use their ability to allow these places to have the freedom — like the National Railway Museum — to host different ideologies and different groups that have different points of view, but recognize that Christians find things this is offensive or definitely targeting them in terms of disparaging their beliefs or the way they celebrate the holidays,” Farwell said.
“Christmas is a time where we celebrate and really rejoice because God loves this world we live in and God cares about us. But it also reminds us that we, as adults and parents, remember the Good Shepherd. The Shepherd has two voices – one for his sheep and the other for the wolves. And we need to use that voice,” he said.
He closes by referencing a quote from the late Christian author CS Lewis, who said, “There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the National Railroad Museum for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
