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9/24/2011 10:15:23 PM

Quote :

"If Church actually was a "positive social environment" I'd agree with you. But repeating unscientific nonsense as absolute truth is destructive, not positive."

because absolutely nothing else happens at church than that. there is nothing else that happens that could be a "positive social environment". No one mingles and talks to each other. no one makes friendships. none of that happens. it's just a guy at a lectern yelling that evolution is a sin. Everyone then claps and goes home.

9/25/2011 9:53:41 PM

They aren't being sent there to make friends. They're being sent there because the braindead fucks in Alabama's judiciary think that learning the crap they teach at church will make them a better person.

Besides, the social grouping at church is insular to that church and that belief system. If a convict goes and dissents, do you really think they'll have a positive social experience? He or she will be expected to sit down, shut up, and listen to the sermon for 52 weeks and if they want to be a part of the social group they have to drink the Kool-Aid.

[Edited on September 25, 2011 at 11:22 PM. Reason : .]

9/25/2011 11:22:25 PM

^ that's not really true I don't think for most churches, especially larger churches.

They dont take dissent seriously, bit they'll still smile and nod, while serving you another piece of cobbler.

And there are plenty of people in churches who will blatantly admit their main motive for being there is socializing.

9/25/2011 11:27:09 PM

I think that depends on the church and the nature of the dissent.

I mean, I grew up in a southern baptist church, and unless he went in there saying "Fuck all of you and your bullshit god", I think that many (most?) would be welcoming.

9/25/2011 11:28:26 PM

Quote :

"They dont take dissent seriously, bit they'll still smile and nod, while serving you another piece of cobbler. "

Exactly, along with some gentle (though probably persistent and slightly awkward) proselytizing.

9/25/2011 11:30:43 PM

Quote :

"They aren't being sent there to make friends. They're being sent there because the braindead fucks in Alabama's judiciary think that learning the crap they teach at church will make them a better person."

totally irrelevant to your claim that nothing positive whatsoever ever happens in church

9/25/2011 11:35:45 PM

Interesting...I never remember making that claim.

But moron and Duke, exactly how fulfilling will the social experience be unless they actually join the clique that requires adherence to the belief?

That's my point. Either they go and don't believe any of it and don't get the social experience and may have well be let of out jail to watch cartoons on sunday morning, or they go and get brainwashed with unscientific hogwash and make some friends that also believe in unscientific hogwash.

Or they lie and take advantage of the hospitality. That's a positive social experience for an offender, amirite?

[Edited on September 26, 2011 at 12:21 AM. Reason : .]

9/25/2011 11:55:43 PM

I went to a wedding this past weekend. During the service, I felt as if I were Stewie in a family guy episode. A man at the front instructed people to stand and to sit, and the people obeyed. He instructed them to repeat his words, and the people obeyed. He told them to exit, and the people obeyed. All the while, I was thinking... I've got to get me some of this. Masses of people at my command, following my words exactly. I could build small armies all over the world, train others to have similar, but not all of those powers to command the armies, and then recruit more soldiers. And finally, when I had enough followers, I could take over the world. Then I realized I was in church and my plan had already been enacted, but not by me.

9/26/2011 8:41:55 AM

Quote :

"Ha so a few 1000 years ago you were one of those Geocentric model guys telling everybody off about their "redneck horseshit""

lol now geocentrism is somehow scientific method's fault instead of the fault of the church which held it as dear as core doctrine for centuries

9/26/2011 8:50:12 AM

Quote :

"I went to a wedding this past weekend. During the service, I felt as if I were Stewie in a family guy episode. A man at the front instructed people to stand and to sit, and the people obeyed. He instructed them to repeat his words, and the people obeyed. He told them to exit, and the people obeyed. All the while, I was thinking... I've got to get me some of this. Masses of people at my command, following my words exactly. I could build small armies all over the world, train others to have similar, but not all of those powers to command the armies, and then recruit more soldiers. And finally, when I had enough followers, I could take over the world. Then I realized I was in church and my plan had already been enacted, but not by me."

Haha once you find the libertarian space of socialism you gonna be as blue as me dog

9/26/2011 8:52:39 AM

Quote :

"Interesting...I never remember making that claim."

then what did you mean by:

Quote :

"If Church actually was a "positive social environment" I'd agree with you. But repeating unscientific nonsense as absolute truth is destructive, not positive."

sounds to me like you are saying there is nothing "positive" about the environment within a church. what were you trying to say? I gave you the chance before to respond to it, and you didn't...

9/26/2011 7:05:23 PM

That something which is generally destructive may have localized positive aspects. Just because I describe something as 'destructive' does not mean that all sub parts of the thing cannot be constructive within their own context.

I do not think a convict would benefit from church in despite of whatever perceived social opportunities you think there are. The Alabama judiciary didn't suggest Church because they thought the convicts could use friends. As was discussed earlier, the social aspects of a church and its doctrine are inseparable.

[Edited on September 26, 2011 at 7:21 PM. Reason : not ]

9/26/2011 7:20:28 PM

I would agree that in general, churches aren’t positive for society.

But there aren’t any viable institutions at this point that could replace them. There’s no socially acceptable meeting of people/families where people can network/get support that doesn’t involve the attempt of right-wing brainwashing.

I guess some denominations are fairly liberal, and this seems to be the growing trend, but the types of churches you find in Georgia aren’t going to be like this.

In any case, this judge is an idiot, and this seems like a dumb idea that i don’t see standing for too long.

[Edited on September 26, 2011 at 7:32 PM. Reason : ]

9/26/2011 7:32:29 PM

Clubs like the Lions or the Sierra Club come to mind. http://www.meetup.com for many various social and enrichment groups. There is nothing about churches that can't be replaced by better secular alternatives that currently do exist.

This isn't about making friends. The judge knows it, and aaronburro knows it. Hell, they could make them take a course at a community college and have the same likelihood of joining social circles and they may actually learn something or gain a useful skill for rebuilding their lives.

9/27/2011 8:48:49 AM