This Week In Religion–The Christian And Jewish Edition
CHRISTIANS
It only get worse:
I don’t care if it rains or freezes
As long as I got my plastic Jesus
Sittin’ on the dashboard of my car.
If a cop gives me a ticket
Jesus tells him where to stick it
If the religious nuts in Tallahassee have their way, Jesus will be moving from the dashboard to the license plate.
Led by state Sen. Gary Siplin, D- Orlando, the legislature is considering two new license plates.
One shows The Cross and the other shows Jesus on The Cross. The former is for Protestants and the latter is for Catholics.
A similar plate was passed in South Carolina and it took a Federal judge about fifteen minutes to grant a preliminary injunction. A final trial is set for later this year.
Personally I prefer the one showing the crucifixion.
Not withstanding the fact that he was born a Semite and lived and ate among the poor, apparently he had time to regularly visit 24 Hour Fitness and get plastic surgery.
How else do you explain that License Plate Jesus is really one buff Anglo?
You get the feeling that he did the Twelve Stations of the Cross right after he finished doing serious “cardio.
Jesus clearly wanted to be crucified. Because if license plate Jesus did not want to get crucified, he could have definitely kicked major Pharisee and Roman butt.
In a final note, the Guv has indicated he will sign the Jesus license plate bill. His re-election slogan looks like bad news for Kottkamp: “Crist and Christ in 2010.
JEWS
In a tribute to political muscle, oops, I mean respect for religion, the North Broward Hospital District proudly announced that it used our tax dollars to build a mini synagogue (a minigogue?) at the Coral Springs Medical Center.
It is solely for the convenience of Jews who don’t want to walk to synagogue on Friday or Saturday. You can see the story here.
While public hospitals often have a meditative room that patient’s friends and families use, this is the first time I have ever heard of public money and public space being used to construct a place of worship for a particular religion.
If that does not violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, what does?
More to the point is Article I Section 3 of Florida’s Constitution which says: :“No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.
Hopefully the ACLU and the ADL will look into this.
“That was no pig that was a Mexican.
Yakov Litzman, the Israeli Health Minister, has put the “yahoo’ back in Netanyahu. He has concluded that naming the potential pandemic “Swine Flu is insulting to pigs. He has called for it to be renamed the “Mexican Flu.
Check out the story here.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:04 am
What about the “Can a Brotha get a Break” Tag?
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/04/a-brotha-can-get-a-plate-senate-says.html
April 29th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Sam Fields is at it again. He is obsessed with others beliefs.
Sam, isn’t Jesus more a part of most peoples’ lives than manatees or the space shuttle, which are featured on plates? For all we know, the manatee is prayed to by a small group of environmentalists in the Everglades.
Sam, isn’t Jesus’ positive message just what is needed in today’s depressing times?
This is not a violation of the First Amendment separation of religion since individuals, not the state, pay for license plates.
Sam, start worrying about yourself more and quit worrying about the beliefs of others.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Dear Mr Outhouse:
I worry about the constitutions of Florida and the United States and stopping the extremists who want to destroy it.
I was sure we would be hearing from yu about Senator Nan Rich’s bill which passed the Senate 38-0. It outlawed beastiality. That will cut into your dating.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Jesus belongs in my heart, not on my license plate.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I’m a Christian and I object to the government advertising religion such as on the state license plates.
It is a degradation of religion, which should be more than a booster club.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I have this question for you, Mr. Fields.Would the state Legislature be so quick to have a license plate for Mohammed? L. Ron Hubbard? What do you think?
April 30th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Sam, where would the extra money raised by these license plates go?
For instance, the money raised by UF plates go to the university. Manatee plate money goes to a group dedicated to preserving the manatees. Where would this money go?
April 30th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Sam you are the anti-christ
April 30th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Dear Holy Ghost,
Legislative approval of specialty tags is highly political. right to lifers got one and procchoicer were denied…so it goes.
Dear Question
The money is for the Toomey Foundation out of Bradenton which seems to be involved in funding scientifc research. A bit of a disconnect I am trying to learn more. I will file update
April 30th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
You go Sam! You gave me my laugh for the day—thanks…