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Actually, that last sentence is completely necessary. That was my statement, not yours, and I do believe in a higher consciousness. You can call it God, the Creator, Nature, whatever you want. The core message of that last sentence is universal whether you believe in God or not. And it doesn't matter where the church is, intolerance runs across this entire nation. Not just in the south.
It may have been necessary to you but as an atheist..."god" or the "creator" doesn't mean dog crap to me.
True intolerance is everywhere but to me, there is more intolerance in the south for those who are not christian, heterosexual, or white.
I really hate it when one group decided to "practice their legal right to free speech" in an area SOLELY because another group they disagree with is doing something there already. It turns everything into a battle. And as a citizen and member of the public I don't want MY PUBLIC PLACES to be battlegrounds. There is nothing respectful about it and it causes divisivness. I'll all for free speech but if it were up to be there would be exceptions, and this is one of them. To me it's almost like legal harassment and I'd put a stop to it to keep the peace.
Your opinion doesn't negate basic constitutional rights. Thankfully you are not in charge. What a warped view of democracy.
Your post in bold is even more ridiculous. You don't have a public place. The very nature of public means that YOU don't own it.
And you're not "all for free speech" if you believe in exceptions. Exceptions are at the beginning of a very long, slippery, and ultimately disastrous road.
Typically I'm open to your input, but in this case the comments I made were specifically aimed at Jet Jockey in specific response to his or her previous remarks.
I really hate it when one group decided to "practice their legal right to free speech" in an area SOLELY because another group they disagree with is doing something there already. It turns everything into a battle. And as a citizen and member of the public I don't want MY PUBLIC PLACES to be battlegrounds. There is nothing respectful about it and it causes divisivness. I'll all for free speech but if it were up to be there would be exceptions, and this is one of them. To me it's almost like legal harassment and I'd put a stop to it to keep the peace.
Funny thing is they have been going to that event for 5 years!
Not a problem.
Funny how you are for FREE SPEECH as long as you agree with the topic! That is Hypocritical!
It costs money to set up a booth, right? In that case, I wouldn't be surprised if very few city officials would allow groups to hand out or sell stuff at a festival without setting up a booth (and giving the city money). Don't like it? Don't get mad at me, that's just how government works.
Besides, I bet that when the festival is over, the group can proselytize on the streets as they please. If not, feel free to correct me.
It costs money to set up a booth, right? In that case, I wouldn't be surprised if very few city officials would allow groups to hand out or sell stuff at a festival without setting up a booth (and giving the city money). Don't like it? Don't get mad at me, that's just how government works.
Besides, I bet that when the festival is over, the group can proselytize on the streets as they please. If not, feel free to correct me.
That struck me as interesting as well. If there's a street fair, cordoned off and dedicated to specific purpose, I hardly think it unfair to ask any group that wants to benefit from the people gathered there to also contribute - i.e., pay for your damn booth and participate on the same terms as everybody else.
It's beginning to sound a little bit like Christians insisting on an exception made for them. They may argue that it's their constitutional right to gatecrash and enjoy the benefits of other people's efforts, but my sympathy is certainly dampened. (That, and I hate people who proselytize uninvited. I'll come to your clubhouse if I'm interested.)
Read through a number of them. Mostly I see cases in which Christianity is involved in some way, but may not necessarily be the central issue. For example,
"Please send a message to Gov. Schwarzenegger encouraging him to sign SB 1322(Lowenthal, D-Long Beach), which would remove language from California law permitting discrimination against individuals associated with the Communist Party, and provide a religious exemption to the loyalty oath."
One could see this as an attempt to hijack a legitimate free exercise issue for the purpose of attacking laws designed to protect us from a group that by their own admission is dedicated to the violent overthrow of our Constitutional democratically elected form of government in favor of a single party Communist dictatorship.
The defense of a student handing out religious literature before class is admirable, but the ACLU seems to focus much more effort on removing all vestiges of religious pluralism from our society. For example,
"Two lawsuits, including one by the ACLU, unsuccessfully challenged the constitutionality of the land transfer. Now the ACLU is targeting the cross itself as being unconstitutional."
This particular drive-by is so overdone. Are you able to point to an instance when this has happened? Seems to me I heard a story about a pastor taking doughnuts to the protesters in front of his church one Sunday. Oh yeah, here it is.
I guess I would have to ask you, Would you be willing to allow these same Christians to explain to you why you're wrong, provided they were at least as pleasant as you? The reason I ask is because I just can't imagine believers passing up an opportunity to speak with someone needing the Gospel. We just don't roll that way. If fact, my church has a coffee shop attached to it and I couldn't name one believer that wouldn't love to buy you a cup of joe and hear you out. I do it all the time on this forum, except for the coffee part.
I would not mind at all if they wanted to try and prove I'm 'wrong'. In fact, it's happened quite a few times and I have helped in the 'deconversion' of two people that I know of. I am perfectly pleasant talking to believers and most of them are very nice people.
I've been a non-believer/Atheist for my entire life and I have yet to hear a conclusive argument that has even wavered my stance, but I'm more than open to discuss it
I do not need the 'gospel' as I have read it numerous times, in 4 different lanuages. I have also read the Qu'ran, had help reading the Torah from a Jewish friend and have studied the Vedas for many years. You sound very condescending when you say I, or any other non-believers, 'need' the gospel.
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That is Hypocritical!
