It’s odd really, I just realized that I do not believe in the concept of sin. I’ve never really thought about it, but sin is a religious concept and arbitrary. I’ve used it to describe bad behavior. That is an improper use of the term. I’ll stick to using good and bad to describe behavior. Religion is insidious.
I had intended to ask the question, where does the sinner find redemption if they cannot enter a church? I will rephrase it as, where does a bad person learn to be good if they cannot enter a church? I’m not going to address the concept of good without God here, I’m focused on screwed up believers who seek the aid of their clergy and fellow believers. Should they be denied access because of the nature of their crimes? This is America. Who we associate with should not be dictated by the state, no matter the crime.
A North Carolina judge has ruled in favor of two registered sex offenders arrested in May for attending a Baptist church near Raleigh.
Francis Demaio and James Nichols were indicted May 11 for violating a state law requiring sex offenders to stay at least 300 feet away from places used primarily by children. The two men had been attending Moncure Baptist Church, which has a nursery on its premises, for several months.
Readers of this blog may think it odd that a side with sex offenders. I despise them, especially those who pose as clergy or other authority figures. When laws unjustly infringe on our freedoms, the issue trumps. The state should not impose arbitrary restrictions on its citizens. The police arrested two men who were simply attending church in an overzealous enforcement of a criminal statute. It’s something police tend to do. It sets a dangerous precedent. Those of us in the minority should be concerned. The state has a long history of abusing its power. We must be mindful of this, even when the rights of an unspeakable minority are abridged.
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Baconsbud 96p · 801 weeks ago
Your comment about sin is one I have to agree with. I always like when someone says he without sin cast the first stone. I always say ok here I will since I don't sin I just do right, wrong, good and bad. I see to many people so worried about what is and isn't sin that they forget what in going on in the world.
Dromedary Hump 32p · 801 weeks ago
I'll agree that the church service is likely not attended "primarily" by children. Indeed it maybe an arbitrary decision by the police and church authorities and not in keeping with the directive's intent.
But think about this: The parents have every right to expect that if their child gets up to go to the bathroom during church, that they don't have to worry if some pedophile is going to follow the kid in. Lets face it, it's not like letting your kid go to a public rest room at a bus station.
You know and I know these types are never "cured." And my guess is that if they knew these convicted pedophiles were in the church, and a a crime against a child was committed there, the church would have been lambasted for it.
Yes, they served their time. but it's not like there is any expectation that time in prison changed anything related to their psychology. Thus, the laws that govern the movements of convicted pedophiles must be more restrictive than your typical felon.
I understand why the judge sided with the two men. But, given the recidivism rate if we err we need to err on the side of the innocent.
No2Religion 85p · 801 weeks ago
And why shouldn't it be? To me there are as many unsavory types in a church as any where else.
Yes, they served their time. but it's not like there is any expectation that time in prison changed anything related to their psychology.
Of course not. Since when does sitting in a cell change ones psychology? Until we start treating offenders we will always be watching over our shoulder.
Dromedary Hump 32p · 801 weeks ago
Seriously, do you REALLY expect us to accept that you believe there is no difference between the clientele at an urban bus station men's room and a church rest room? Nah, that's hyperbole.
I don't care how anti-theist you are, (and you are unlikely to be any more so than I) that's patently absurd.
And while I'm no fan of our prison system, psychiatry/modern medicine has yet to have any meaningful impact on curbing child molester proclivities -- In side, or out side of prison.
No2Religion 85p · 801 weeks ago