# Dumbest religious persecution ever **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 6, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713 "2005-05-06T16:19:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/1 "2005-05-06T16:19:47Z")
Sometimes you really have to shake your head and wonder what’s wrong with people. A church in North Carolina has apparently decided to start excommunicating Democrats. From the web site of the TV station that aired the story (at [http://www.wlos.com/](http://www.wlos.com/), but the link may drop off their front page soon and I can’t find a permanent link): > [@](#): > > East Waynesville Baptist asked nine members to leave. Now 40 more have left the church in protest. Former members say Pastor Chan Chandler gave them the ultimatum, saying if they didn’t support George Bush, they should resign or repent. The minister declined an interview with News 13. But he did say “the actions were not politically motivated.” There are questions about whether the bi-laws were followed when the members were thrown out. Way to lead them back to the flock, Pastor! Now you truly have the congregation you deserve. Specifically, a smaller one. “Not politically motivated.” That’s a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/2 "2005-05-06T16:21:37Z")
So much for separation of church and state! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/3 "2005-05-06T16:30:29Z")
The pastor is an ass and getting kicked out of that church is the best thing that could have happened to those people’s souls. Now they can find a better church. Good thing it wasn’t a Catholic church. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/4 "2005-05-06T16:31:07Z")
No, that is seperation of C&S. I can’t blame the pastor for his actions. I might think they’re stupid, but he has the right to take such action if he wants. Or, in other words, in America one has the right to be a dumbass if one wants. God knows I’ve exercised that right from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/5 "2005-05-06T17:22:46Z")
They have Democrats in East Waynesville, NC? ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/6 "2005-05-06T18:07:50Z")
I’m an atheist, so I don’t know why this makes me so mad. Maybe it’s the insinuation that God takes sides and that the pastor knows what side He’s on. Maybe it’s the naked aggression of it. It’s the logical extension of Rove’s electoral tactics, but no one else has had the gall to actually start purging Democrats from their church. What’s next? Rule by divine right? Look, you might be a Democrat because you’re a sinner, but you’re not a sinner just because you’re a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/7 "2005-05-06T18:11:14Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > No, that is seperation of C&S. > > I can’t blame the pastor for his actions. I might think they’re stupid, but he has the right to take such action if he wants. > > Or, in other words, in America one has the right to be a dumbass if one wants. > > God knows I’ve exercised that right from time to time. And we should exercise our rights to take away any tax exempt status that his church enjoys. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/8 "2005-05-06T18:13:05Z")
> [@vibrotronica](#): > > Look, you might be a Democrat because you’re a sinner, but you’re not a sinner just because you’re a Democrat. Indeed, one could infer from Jesus’ teachings that a collectivist society was divinely mandated. On a more realistic scale, the social justice and worker’s rights platforms of the Democrats should strongly resonate with Christian teachings. No US political party has a monopoly on Christian values. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/9 "2005-05-06T18:15:49Z")
Haw haw haw! Yeah, they’ve got Democrats in Waynesville–it’s just down the road from me, and like most NC communities, there’s yellow dog Democrats, libertarian Democrats, and hippie-peacenik Democrats. Hell, the place has a Quaker church in it. That’s practically like having a statue of Lenin in town square. I feel comfortable in saying this move won’t be a net gain for the Waynesville Republican party: while I side with Democrats most of the time, I know that most folks (including most Republicans) are decent folks, and this is an indecent move. I feel sorry for the folks kicked from the church, but I hope they remember that the Lord works in mysterious ways. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/10 "2005-05-06T18:18:19Z")
Quick, somebody revoke that church’s tax exemptions. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/11 "2005-05-06T18:19:15Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > And we should exercise our rights to take away any tax exempt status that his church enjoys. I was gonna make exactly the same point. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/12 "2005-05-06T18:22:09Z")
I’d be all about taking away their tax-exempt status, too. If he wants to be rendering unto Caesar, I say, let 'em render! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/13 "2005-05-06T18:25:28Z")
What government body oversees such matters? Would a complaint to the IRS be in order? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/14 "2005-05-06T18:34:17Z")
[Here](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/6/84353/67437) are ways and links to take various actions. [Here](http://dailykos.com/story/2005/5/5/211218/4946) is more information. [Here](http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=106778,00.html) is how to report this fraudulent church to the IRS. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/15 "2005-05-06T18:38:10Z")
Chan Chandler? Is that short for Chance? Channel 7? Chanel #5? Maybe Chandler should follow the mantra… “Love the democrat, hate the liberalism.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/16 "2005-05-06T18:49:53Z")
And I say Rejoice! This is brimming over with crunchy goodness! It rips aside the veil, and shows us the Whore of Crawford in all her pustulent horror. My bet: the Moron Tabernacle Choir (Hannity, Limbaugh, _et. al._) will ignore this development with intensity, and you can damnsurebethca the Pubbie apparatus will avoid the subject like a leper. They get thier mileage by insinuation and gesture, The Leader makes references that imply “I am with you!” without the unpleasant restrictions that attend any actual committment. Thus, he gains the support without cost, he gets the Godgoons in lockstep without offending those rational Republicans who ought to be puking thier collective guts out. But clear cut gestures like this make vague platitudes impossible. What can they say? What sort of vacuous statement of support but not really support can they cook up? I can’t _wait_ until someone sticks a microphone in Tom DeLay (R-Undead, the Worlds Most Cuddly Arachnid) and asks him about this! He’s hanging by a thread and dare not offend _anyone_! Oh, frabjous day! I chortle in my glee! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/17 "2005-05-06T18:57:25Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Indeed, one could infer from Jesus’ teachings that a collectivist society was divinely mandated. > > On a more realistic scale, the social justice and worker’s rights platforms of the Democrats should strongly resonate with Christian teachings. No US political party has a monopoly on Christian values. That was an insightful and wonderfully non-partisan comment. Does **Bricker** know you’re using his computer? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/18 "2005-05-06T19:03:34Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > That was an insightful and wonderfully non-partisan comment. > > Does **Bricker** know you’re using his computer? Ok…you can come and clean up my keyboard and monitor. My laughter spewed coke everywhere. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/19 "2005-05-06T19:04:00Z")
This wouldn’t be the first time a church (or cult, if detractors are correct) promoted a political party while disclaiming any political intent. First time I heard of kicking out the (political) infidels, though. You’d think the bretheren would gather round and pray for the poor deluded Democrats instead of cutting them off. I wonder if the pastor will change his mind when the collection plate shows the effects of a smaller membership. Seems like future benefits (with no guarantees) for cash down now is going to be a harder sell than ever. Didn’t this guy ever study basic arithmetic? Or marketing? He may be losing weight soon. Only politicians can eat votes. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713/20 "2005-05-06T19:15:09Z")
First of all, let’s not go overboard here. Much as I’d like this to be a smoking gun indicting Bush, Delay, etc. as the Big Meanieheads that they are, we can’t hold them more than super-vaguely-indirectly accountable for this (yeah, sure, we could argue that they’re promoting a culture of divisiveness which encourages this, yada yada yada, but that’s pretty weak). However, I’ll keep this in mind the next time someone starts babbling incoherently about how much meaner and nastier the left is than the right. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-religious-persecution-ever/302713.md?page=2)