Man faces fines of $500 a day for front yard zombie nativity scene

via

6 Likes

Free speech.

Does not mean freedom from criticism.
(And, as I’ve said in other comments on this thread, I am not defending the punitive legal action against him.)

I think that’s totally fair, though. It’s definitely a very rational way of looking at the world, and being able to divorce things from context is a really important skill, I think. (In case it’s not obvious, it’s one that I somewhat lack. :stuck_out_tongue:)

Oh, to be sure, they are, but they can also be informed by religion. I guess my point is people can come at goodness in different directions, the same way they can come at badness (faith and rationality alike.)

No, for sure. I think we’re on the same page now. Thanks again, mate!
(P.S.: I’m jealous you get to live in Austria. I spent a summer in Innsbruck two years ago and it was marvelous.)

3 Likes

Thank you, too :smile:

1 Like

Are those claimable as solely religion’s purview? Those are human qualities and have nothing to do with one’s belief in the reanimation of the earthly child of a deity.

Name some positive quality that you think is solely religious, and I will name a human quality that is just the same and transcends religion.

4 Likes

No, they aren’t, I grant you, but it’s a mechanism by which someone can come at goodness and shouldn’t be tossed out as being invalidated by the evils committed in the name of faith (which, by the way, there are a lot of horrible things done in the name of things that aren’t religion–nationalism is honestly a much bigger killer in the modern era.)

And, say it with me, scenery must abide by local building codes.

1 Like

Do you think that’s why atheists disavow religion?

I imagine atheists disavow religion for any number of reasons–some for ethical reasons, some because they don’t see the rational possibility of a higher power.
My point is not that all atheists are bad, or that religious people are a put-upon minority–just that there’s this narrow, myopic tendency for people to assume that all religion is evil and stupid and bad and dangerous and there’s this really irritating circle-jerk that reinforces that.

1 Like

How about a nativity scene with the people all represented by Furbys?

2 Likes

A great proportion of the Holy Building Codes is there just to empower petty bureaucrats and extort permit fees.

2 Likes

Yeah how dare this entrepreneur use a sacred holiday to raise awareness of his small business.

11 Likes

Are we still talking about dildos, or was that the other topic…

4 Likes

An even greater proportion are there to prevent people from dying.




http://press.hse.gov.uk/2013/scenery-collapse-turns-into-drama-for-worker/

But sure, every legislation and overwatch exists just to bother you personally. Maybe I’ll take you around to meet some crew members who watched their friends die because producers wanted to cut corners. They’re a fun bunch.

2 Likes

This guy’s rational calm demeanor makes me think he’s an atheist.

1 Like

I think the dear wife would quite like that.
Zombie Furbies, of course.

2 Likes

Which people?

1 Like

Fine. Show me how dangerous a garden shed can be.

Or why in one county you ā€œneedā€ a permit to run a cable through house, sometimes even just a signal one, and just a mile away you suddenly don’t.

Also show me where I said that ALL codes are wrong. Pare the rules down to the about 10-20% of the sensible ones, focus compliance resources on those, and nobody except the bureaucrats will mourn the rest.

4 Likes

I’m not cutting edge enough to decorate my house with wired up dildonica.

3 Likes