Jul 19 2012

But…but…God’s law!

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Isn’t it always convenient how God’s law (as interpreted by his earthly propheteers) is always expected to trump secular law, even when the secular law is intended to protect the safety of mere mortals?

Tags: pious stupidity, sanctimony, zoning

18 comments

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1

garnetstar

19 July 2012 at 8:51 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Because fire safety ordinances are against God’s laws.

It’s in the bible, check it out.
2

Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls

19 July 2012 at 8:57 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

If it’s Dog’s law, why doesn’t Dog come to Earth and make sure we know it exists, and these folks have the authority to interpret this holy book It dictated.

More likely scenario:
*Dog looks at book*
*Dog zots the defenders as it doesn’t say what he dictated, but rather what the scribes wanted it to say*
3

Randomfactor

19 July 2012 at 9:01 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

The description of Solomon’s Temple is to be found in the Bible. It don’t say NUTHIN about no stinkin’ fire exits.
4

Zinc Avenger (Sarcasm Tags 3.0 Compliant)

19 July 2012 at 9:28 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

But how can they tell the difference between a secular fire that they’re meant to escape from, and a Divine fire that is sent to destroy them by a vengeful Lord? Better to make sure they die in every fire, just to be sure.
5

Audley Z. Darkheart (liar and scoundrel)

19 July 2012 at 9:28 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Well, duh. If god wants you to die in a fire, who the fuck do you think you are to doubt his divine wisdom?

(I kind of feel like that’s the same reasoning that the snake handling sects use.)
6

Pteryxx

19 July 2012 at 9:30 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Cited in the referenced post:

“I don’t think God intended on us to obey unlawful ordinances. If so, He must be pleased with Hitler huh?”

Well as long as you’re being reasonable about it. Because reasonable fire safety standards arejust like genocide.

Wow.
7

Bronze Dog

19 July 2012 at 9:32 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Cross-posted comment:

I’m reminded of a film I watched during a film appreciation class in High School. It was about a couple who started running around the country doing a church revival thing in big circus tents. One of the criticisms they had to fight against were fire codes, since they crowded the tents so much. Also featured was a person who criticized them for not making people better or doing anything productive, but instead whipping them into a cheap religious frenzy and collecting donations. They got the critic to sputter vaguely by asking him if Jesus was divine, as if it were an armor piercing question.

The film ended with the husband and several attendees dying in a fire, and the wife saying that she’ll continue the work. My thoughts back then, even as a liberal Christian at the time: “These people are supposed to be the heroes?”
8

anubisprime

19 July 2012 at 10:11 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

And god’s law & jurisdiction never so definitely exemplified by a recent claim by the Trayvon Martin executioner Zimmerman…it was in fact… “all God’s plan”

So that is alright then…I suppose he can go home now!

Just goes to show the common sense in believing in ‘de lawd’…you can commit any murder…steal any amount of property…rape any random victim…commit any and all impropriety and it is all good cos it is all god’s will…so there you go…a perfect reason to argue for a god after all!…only the jeebus besotted are to cowardly to admit that is the only practical argument and therefore omit one of the best reasons for proving they are not totally foolish in worshiping a sky fairy.
9

ImaginesABeach

19 July 2012 at 10:56 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Stories on this fellow indicate he’s one of those “sovereign citizen” types. No law applies to him unless he wants it to.
10

Vilém Saptar

19 July 2012 at 11:09 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I’ve become so accustomed to gumby, I started reading Whitehead’s words seriously, until I started to wonder what was wrong; why was my subconscious telling me something was off. And then I realized it wasn’t Pharyngula I was reading, but Alethian Worldview. I mentally gumbied his quote and everything fell in place.

PZ:

…protect the safety of mere morals?

Also, uh, you mean mortals, right?
11

shouldbeworking

19 July 2012 at 11:12 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

The godbot doesn’t have a pew to sit on. Gawd does everything in 2′s. If it was a holy fire there would be brimstone involved which may require breathing gear under OHS regulations.
12

dailydouq

19 July 2012 at 11:17 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

ImaginesABeach

Stories on this fellow indicate he’s one of those “sovereign citizen” types. No law applies to him unless he wants it to.

Especially since he’s already seen the inside of jail.
http://www.examiner.com/article/religious-persecution-or-media-con-job
13

feralboy12

19 July 2012 at 11:50 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Perhaps he’s seeking his Elmer Gantry moment. A congregation of 80 must have at least one Sister Falconer.
Hey, people need inspiring stories.
14

Ogvorbis: Dogmaticus sycophantus

19 July 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Hey, people need inspiring stories.

I’m more inspired by Aimee Semple McPherson.

(I have no youtube, so I have no idea if there is a version on youtube, but here are the lyrics (I especially love the verses:

Well the grand jury started an investigation
Uncovered a lot of spicy information
Found out about a love nest down at Carmel-by-the-sea.
Where the liquor is expensive and the loving is free.

Oh they found a little cottage with a breakfast nook
A folding bed with a worn-out look,
The slats was busted and the springs was loose
And the dents in the mattress fitted Aimee’s caboose.

))
15

robro

19 July 2012 at 12:20 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I guess when Pastor Salman said “you” burn in hell” he wasn’t just speaking of the after life.

Anyway, it’s the 11th or 12th commandment (depending on how you count’em): Thou shalt ignore local building codes.
16

carpenterman

19 July 2012 at 12:50 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

And you know… you just *know*… that if someone had gotten hurt in a fire or accident, the survivors would have turned around and sued the city for not enforcing those same codes their pastor is complaining about.
And worse… they’d have won!
17

Audley Z. Darkheart (liar and scoundrel)

19 July 2012 at 1:34 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

ImaginesABeach:

Stories on this fellow indicate he’s one of those “sovereign citizen” types. No law applies to him unless he wants it to.

Of course he is. His church is probably nothing more than a tax shelter. Oh wait, it most certainly is:

Salman also recorded a “Vow of Poverty” in 1994, in which he claimed any remuneration received when performing work, business or services among the general public is not his personal income, but is actually the church’s income and merely received by Salman for the church as an agent.

In upholding the city of Phoenix’s ruling, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Crane McClennen laid out the factual background, beginning with Salman’s 2008 application for a property tax exemption for his 31st Avenue residence in Phoenix, where he lived with his wife and six children, on behalf of the Harvest Christian Fellowship Community Church. Robin Hurt from the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office inspected the property to determine if it qualified and, during that inspection, found a sign on the outside of the property bearing the church’s name.

On the inside he saw a podium, folding chairs and other items typical in a place of religious worship.

Hurt determined the property was being used as a place of religious worship, and, as a result of that determination, granted the tax exemption.

In 2007, prior to being granted a property tax exemption as a church, the Salmans’ property taxes were $4,430.

(From dailydouq’s link. http://www.examiner.com/article/religious-persecution-or-media-con-job)
18

Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven

19 July 2012 at 11:02 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

“I don’t think God intended on us to obey unlawful ordinances. If so, He must be pleased with Hitler huh?”

Well as long as you’re being reasonable about it. Because reasonable fire safety standards arejust like genocide.

So this dipshit has decided that killing and burning people is the same as making baseline efforts to prevent people from being killed and burned?