The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

Couldn't one just say "I am my own church" and just stay at home on Sundays?

Nope. It's only specific churches that have signed up for the program. And ONLY churches, no synagogues, mosques, Hindu temples. Of course, that may be because those don't exist in that town. But that's kinda beside the point.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

Couldn't one just say "I am my own church" and just stay at home on Sundays?

And even if you could do that, it would still be unconstitutional to require you to do it to get out of or avoid jail.

[sleepyjeff]

I wonder under what the circumstance the first challenge to this will be?

[alphabassettgrrl]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

I wonder under what the circumstance the first challenge to this will be?

An atheist or someone of a non-Christian religion, is my guess. They don't have an option to attend church to avoid jail.

Or a taxpayer upset at tax money going to support church.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by alphabassettgrrl

An atheist or someone of a non-Christian religion, is my guess. They don't have an option to attend church to avoid jail.

Or a taxpayer upset at tax money going to support church.

The atheist would have been my first guess too, but if you're in jail, and you're offered a way out.... do you make waves

The taxpayer is an even trickier question in that s/he is actually saving money this way....and really can't prove any harm.

I totally agree that this is unconstitutional, I am just having a hard time imagining the situation in which someone will challenge it.

[Morrigoon]

I think atheists are welcome at UU...

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

I think atheists are welcome at UU...

Yes, atheists are welcome at UU, and many other churches. But as an atheist I have no interest in UU or other churches.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

I think atheists are welcome at UU...

What Alex said. I don't care who is or isn't welcome where, no one should be given the choice of "Go to a place of worship or go to jail."

[alphabassettgrrl]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

I think atheists are welcome at UU...

Yeah, but isn't this in rural Georgia? Not likely to be many church choices there. And I really wouldn't expect to find something like a UU church there.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

What Alex said. I don't care who is or isn't welcome where, no one should be given the choice of "Go to a place of worship or go to jail."

Different kind of jail.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

What Alex said. I don't care who is or isn't welcome where, no one should be given the choice of "Go to a place of worship or go to jail."

You make a good point. Because no matter how you look at it, ultimately that IS the choice.