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This isn't an urban legend...it's apparently true:



Comments?

If they accept contributions or get financial assistance from others......they should be required to get a permit. Then at least the taxpayers get SOME return on that business venture of fleecing the flock.

Those darn FundaGelicals get so noisy and obnoxious with their praising of their FundaGelical "Lord".....I sure wouldn't want them in my neighborhood!!!

There is something about this that does not ring true.

I agree NBK, something is amiss.

If true, it makes me wonder what other home meetings would be required to pay thousands to have a few friends over. Avon comes to mind. Are those Amway people still pushing their home business products? What about cub scout meetings at home? Campfires in the back yard with those immitation flames? And let us not forget those council members who meet for lunch at the mayor's house. OR...is that maybe only two council members who meet for lunch to talk county business. Sure could get interesting.

The county rule requiring a permit is unconstitutional no matter from what angle it's viewed, imo. And so, btw, is the "no more than 15 people can gather or else one must obtain a permit" law here in NYC and elsewhere. (Pre-war Germany had same exact "laws" passed to curtail freedom of assembly and speech.) I'm reminded that one of the groups that helped organize the 2005 pro-peace march on Washington re: ending the illegal/criminal, unprovoked war on Iraq had to SUE the District of Columbia just to be "permitted" to walk on the public streets around the White House.

Big Bruddah rules. We just think we're "free" under the law.
That was gone long ago. Now it's the "law" that enslaves and nary a whimper is heard from the masses.

Hey, those laws protect vulnerable home-owners like myself from having large, noisy groups of boisterous FundaGelicals gathering and disturbing my peace and quiet.

Also.....even if they're quiet--if their gathering is intended to be a money-making venture then they should have to pay to get a permit and also should have to pay taxes.

Otherwise they should just move to an area zoned for profit by fraud and deception........maybe Washington D.C.

Does this mean no more birthday parties? Backyard cookouts? Prayer meetings? Baptizing in the cement pond?

Only if those things are done for profit and on a regular basis.

Might the home bible study be seen as a church? And would zoning prohibit a church in the quiet atmosphere of San Diego county? Or maybe the people live in a gated community?

Well, whatever; California is in dire straights and even schools are closing because of no money. So, what happened to all those lottery millions? Wasn't the lottery supposed to keep the schools afloat? Maybe Califorinans should move on down to Texas, the biggest state for bible study and John Hagee ministries which are loaded and tax exempt. Yeah, Johnny boy could easily throw 6 million at the problem of tax collectors and sinners in Calif.

I always like to recommend John Hagee ministries to bailout the economy. It's worth more than all the auto companies combined. "Thou shalt go where the money is".

Quiet churches are always welcome.

Obnoxious profiteering idiots must get a permit.

Sounds fine to me.

Why would the establishment clause not cover home bible study?

Depends on the Bible study. Certain Bible studies might be considered a Constitutional right......others might not.

Oh that's just plain silly Logos. It is or it isn't.

No, each case has to be decided on its merits or lack thereof.

The establishment clause has no "merits". Congress shall make no laws in the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof. Home bible study has its liberty under this religious freedom. It doesn't matter what is taught, what is said, as long as the claim is made as a religious gathering. Money's can be collected as donations, any amount, all under the "free exercise thereof" partition from government interference.

Home bible study can be used as a show of force by the Fundamentalists Christians. Greavances can be taken to the local city council for review. IF the home is in a restricted suburban type area, with zoning restrictions and the like, there might be a legal way to keep "the church" outside the premeters of that area. Otherwise, I don't see anything that can be done in solving the problem of Fundagelical invasion.

Here's what can be expected from Home Bible Study groups in some areas from my personal perspective: Three to six people at the beginning. By the fourth week (assuming the study is on a weekly basis), at least 24 adults, and their children, and their childrens toys. This includes pre-teens and teens. And what do children do while their parents are in study? They play, and they play all over the neighborhood. They explore other people's property, aggitate pets with their own pets they have brought along. Basically, the unsuspecting neighborhood becomes the unsuspecting babysitters.

One time I had to interrupt a bible study group because their children were throwing rocks and hitting passing vehicles in the neighborhood. These were like seven and eight year olds having fun and being obnoxious because their parents were not supervising them. The parents wanted to study the bible and their kids would interfer with that. So they put their kids outside. Anyways, I walked in unannounced and asked very clearly: How many of you are ready to pay damages on my car? After telling them what their kids were doing and they being unsupervised, which child neglect came into the picture, they brought their kids inside. I never saw them outside again. The bible study at that one home eventually went somewhere else. I suspect the home owner grew tired of having his home vandalized right in his face.