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Does it irritate the crap out of anyone else when polling places are in a church? I have to go to Christ the King Lutheran church tomorrow.

Marcie1974 8 Aug 13
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33 comments

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0

Wouldn't bother me, unless it is a Mosque.

@OlderMusicGeek
The building itself is neutral. The ideology practiced within is cruel, oppressive, deceptive, theocratic and totalitarian. It is the ideology which bothers me.

@OlderMusicGeek There is only one Islam, defined by the Qur'an and example of Muhammad.

@OlderMusicGeek has deleted his comments and left the building. I suspect that he is a supporter of the ersatz "religion of peace".

1

You don’t have to go.

I agree. Mail-in ballot or vote early , problem eliminated.

@PickledRick or don’t vote. Makes it way easier.

But I like going and voting on the actual day. I don't care to set foot in a church unless it's for a wedding or funeral and then I'm only doing it out of respect for the couple/deceased. As others have said, it seems like a violation of church and state. My city has plenty of schools and government buildings they can use.

1

churches are often the only building in a community that is large enough to handle an election. it's a matter of convenience

It’s summer and there are plenty of empty schools in the city

@Marcie1974 elections aren't always held in the summer

2

Seems like a clear violation of separation of church and state.

Agreed. Plus, unless it's a wedding or funeral, I REALLY don't like setting foot into a flipping church.

7

Might be the only useful thing they ever do! And considering how much they save not having to pay taxes, seems only right that they provide some sort of public service or benefit. Fortunately, my voting station is just an activity building on the church property and not decorated with all the Christian tchotchkes.

dkp93 Level 8 Aug 13, 2018

Didn't think about the tax angle of it, that makes me feel better.

1

nah its just a building

Exactly.

0

No. It's one of the few places that has the space for the number of people coming in and out and it's not like they have anything else going on on a Tuesday

GwenC Level 7 Aug 13, 2018

It’s summer, most schools are empty

1

Honest, no thunderbolts for your being in just a building for a few minutes.

2

It should be illegal. It would be if government was truly secular as the Founders intended.

1

As I see it, as much as the church in some cases is allowed to interfere with matters of the state, the least they can do is host a polling place or two.

0

I’m not terribly bothered most of the time. I used to be confused by the number of people who mistook me for a priest or preacher. It was later pointed out to me because of my empathic nature. More often I am bothered when strangers approach and I’m not in a mood to counsel them. I listen anyway but I’m blown away that they saw past my mask of indifference.

1

I've been looking for a place to hold meetings for my art group but um looking for someplace free. I refuse to use a church facility.

2

I don't have any spiritual or religious reverence for buildings. To me It's like going into a "haunted" house.

JimG Level 8 Aug 13, 2018
2

My polling place used to be the basement of a Catholic church. I didn't care. Then it was the auditorium of a middle school. Now it's the civic center. Just so long as I can show up, sign in and vote I really don't care where they hold the election.

1

I wasn't an atheist the last time I voted. Since, my polling also in a church, I will not to thrilled to step into one to vote this time.

1

I don’t mind. I just want to make sure my vote counts.

1

As long as no one tries to preach to me or get me to join the church, nope. I'm happy to have somewhere to vote.

1

It's just a building. Don't assign things to it. While I'm a non-theist, I enjoy the art while I'm in there -- not that I'd take home any of it. It just gives me something to do while waiting for whatever.

0

Bwahahaha! If the voting booth is done directly below the steeple, vote by drone!

0

I see it as consistent. Most, 80% or so, of the electorate is partisan and sees itself as a member of one of the Left or Right congregations under the umbrella of the Left or Right religions. Faith in the little tin party gods motivates actions of their respective blindly following cattle.

It is uncanny when observed functionally, the number of similarities between religious groups and cults and their political cousins. They all promise big and deliver nothing. Gifts, offerings, etc. of money are always essential to paving the roads to Paradise or Utopia. They both have saintly icons and heroes leading them to the promised land.

Nope, I disagree. Churches are the best places for ballot boxes; in close proximity to the 'poor boxes' supporting not the poor, but sexually sick old men who pastor the flocks or lead the faithful, the comrades, to the boxcars like so many Judas goats.

0

Nope. Churches are fascinating despite their use. Well, the old ones are.

1

I've never had to do that. I would greatly bother me.

1

Mainly just because of the smell

1

It's a building - it's better than standing out in the rain - no one is asking you to throw "holy" water at your face or pray.

1

Think of it as a museum.

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