[A Birmingham pastor and his congregation build a church without getting any building permits or following any building codes and, surprise, the church collapses. The pastor then remarks:]
If the state and the church are separate, I don't understand why they think they've got jurisdiction.
Thank God nobody was hurt. He chose to let it come down on a Thursday evening when nobody was there.
35 comments
They have jurisdiction because, *gasp*, you're in their jurisdiction! By living in this country, you must live under our laws. That's just how it is, fucktard.
Follow some logic with your own bizarre religious postulates.
"If the state and the church are separate, I don't understand why they think they've got jurisdiction."Because even your congregation members are citizens of this country.
Kent Hovind tried this schtick, too.
"Thank God nobody was hurt. He chose to let it come down on a Thursday evening when nobody was there."
If indeed "God" caused your church to fall down, doesn't that tell you something? Maybe "God" doesn't like you. Maybe "God's" an asshole. I don't think it was really "God" who cause the collapse as "God" would have to exist for that.
Churches are not granted extraterritoriality. Activities taking place within the space of a church must still be in line with state laws. That means you can't have an unliscenced boxing match in a church, you can't sell heroin in a church and you can't build the walls out of paper mache, coat hangers and hot glue in a church either.
You see, it's not a matter of the first amendment, or even politics in general. It's a matter of safety , a rather novel concept that's easy enough to follow.
Note to Jezebel's sister (#68970).completely . Many churches, particularly the larger ones, are run much like corporations with their deacons/elders/associate pastors functioning very much like a board of directors.
These churches make absolutely no bones about actively supporting political candidates and promoting political causes.
Many of these churches are multi-million dollar structures and some actually have bank branches and small restaurants within them; and their ministers receive very healthy salaries with significant perks.
If these churches want to endorse politicians, become involved in politics and function as corporations by God they can pay taxes like corporations and I support your comment 100 percent!
Note to Jezebel's sister (#68970).completely . Many churches, particularly the larger ones, are run much like corporations with their deacons/elders/associate pastors functioning very much like a board of directors.
These churches make absolutely no bones about actively supporting political candidates and promoting political causes.
Many of these churches are multi-million dollar structures and some actually have bank branches and small restaurants within them; and their ministers receive very healthy salaries with significant perks.
If these churches want to endorse politicians, become involved in politics and function as corporations by God they can pay taxes like corporations and I support your comment 100 percent!
Reminds me of Terry Pratchet's description of the Lady Luck, and whether or not she's an actual goddess - after all, you get nothing for praying to her, and any temples built in her name are almost certain to fall down.
"If the state and the church are separate, I don't understand why they think they've got jurisdiction."
UberLutherian said: "Many of these churches are multi-million dollar structures and some actually have bank branches and small restaurants within them; and their ministers receive very healthy salaries with significant perks."
Randola said: "Why is God never blamed for the bad things?"
"If the state and the church are separate, I don't understand why they think they've got jurisdiction."
This is such a wonderful story. A pastor ignores building codes, builds a church incompetently, then praises God for the wonderful miracle when it falls apart. Later in the article, he goes on to claim that the state should let churches flout safety laws right after his church collapsed because he broke safety laws. In the end, he said that he started with faith, and still has it.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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