Southern Baptist Church, and Democrats Options

[Jaq]

A Southern Baptist church in East Waynesville, North Carolina has expelled all of its Democrats

Well, actually 9 of them have been expelled and another additional 40 left as protest.

From another message board:

She (posters mother) said WLOS tv just broke in to report that the East Waynesville Baptist church has officially excommunicated all its democratic members.

She said that before the election, the preacher told the congregation from the pulpit that if they didn't vote for * they had to come to the altar to confess their sins and repent. they could'nt be members. (My Mom doesn't attend that church--she's United Methodist, but I know of lots who do attend).

From Mom's email: "One of the local women who got excommunicated said on TV that it was like a cult. Another man who got excommunicated said that the rest of the congregation stood up and applauded as the Democrats were told to leave."

This seems to signal to me another step towards not just the gradual blurring of the boundary between church and state, but a full blown theocracy.

Ten Commandments in public places, debating homosexual marriage in the context of religion (when it's a secular government policy and wouldn't have any impact on churches as they wouldn't be required to perform homosexual marriage ceremonies), prayer in schools... the list goes on..


What think you? The States heading towards a theocracy, or am I just blowing things out of proportion? Would a theocracy be such a bad thing? Why? Why not? Please submit your essays by 5:00 p.m. 500 words or less.

[believe]

I don't see how a church kicking out some of its members equals theocracy. A theocracy is when the state is controlled by the church. The church in question isn't exerting any influence on government, is it? They're a private institution, I guess that if they want to kick out all the Democrats, or Republicans, or black people, or left-handed people, or people with red hair, well, that's their business.

The argument I saw on The Daily Kos was that the church was attempting to influence its parishoners political choices rather forcefully and therefore shouldn't have its tax exempt status. Or something along those lines. I don't think people mentioned it being illegal, beyond being stupid.

[CommieBastard]

The argument I saw on The Daily Kos was that the church was attempting to influence its parishoners political choices rather forcefully and therefore shouldn't have its tax exempt status. Or something along those lines. I don't think people mentioned it being illegal, beyond being stupid.

Tax-exempt status for religious institutions has always annoyed me... but that's neither here nor there. They have every right to try to influence people's political beliefs. When I argue politics on here, I'm trying to influence people's political beliefs. In fact, I'm always slightly suspicious of people who don't try to influence others - it makes me think they lack conviction.