Seperation of church and state.

TrueDetailer

TrueDetailer

All About The Bling Bling
Not that its a big deal to me, but i noticed today that most voting stations are located inside churches. I don't get how this is allowed if theres supposed to be seperation of the two. Any thoughts, opinions?
 
I don't know about FL, but here on Long island it is done the one of the schools, or a local fire house.
In fact the Catholic schools are open because no polling is being done at them

"J"
 
TrueDetailer said:
Not that its a big deal to me, but i noticed today that most voting stations are located inside churches. I don't get how this is allowed if theres supposed to be seperation of the two. Any thoughts, opinions?
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It just makes sense logistically. Lots of buildings not in use during business hours that have adequate parking and plenty of room for people to move around and stand in line.

It's not like they are having religious services or preaching to the voters while the polls are open.

Also, in the biblical New Testament sense, the building itself isn't really the "church". The church is the people that gather together.

"In the New Testament, the ekklesia. In the Bible, this has no reference whatever to buildings or organizations but to the called-out assembly, the covenant people of God. In the overwhelming number of cases, the church or ekklesia of both the Old and New Testaments is the visible covenant community in a particular locale or region." Source: Glossary of Frequently Used Terms

Now if each "church" or assembly of worshippers was imposing their beliefs on those waiting in line to vote, then we would have an issue of church and state not being seperated but if it is just a matter of using a very convenient building, I don't see how that would be a problem.
 
The 'seperation between church and state' is meant to be about the seperation of the church having influance or control over state matters. The fact that voting is done in this church or that isn't a conflict of interest. They are community buildings that many people feel comfortable in. Where I grew up the voting was done in a school simply because it was the only place in town that could accomadate the parking needs. Perhaps in areas larger than mine it makes sense to put the polls somewhere that is easily accessible, won't distrub any businesses, and has ample parking. Sounds like most churches fit the bill. I'm sure the buildings are either rented or space is donated as a tax write off for the church, so there probably isn't anything shady about having the polls there.


edit: I just reread what Fuzz said. I probably could have just said 'ditto' and been done with it. :)
 
The Fuzz said:
It just makes sense logistically. Lots of buildings not in use during business hours that have adequate parking and plenty of room for people to move around and stand in line.

It's not like they are having religious services or preaching to the voters while the polls are open.

Also, in the biblical New Testament sense, the building itself isn't really the "church". The church is the people that gather together.

"In the New Testament, the ekklesia. In the Bible, this has no reference whatever to buildings or organizations but to the called-out assembly, the covenant people of God. In the overwhelming number of cases, the church or ekklesia of both the Old and New Testaments is the visible covenant community in a particular locale or region." Source: Glossary of Frequently Used Terms

Now if each "church" or assembly of worshippers was imposing their beliefs on those waiting in line to vote, then we would have an issue of church and state not being seperated but if it is just a matter of using a very convenient building, I don't see how that would be a problem.
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Fuzz, I am impressed. :yay
 
Ahh, but it is a conflict with some people beliefs. In a Cleveland suburb we had problem where at the last minute they changed the polling place from a school to a church. The polling ward happens to be in a large Orthodox Jewish population and their religion does not allow them to go into another place of worship and when the change was made it was to late to for mail in ballots. The news never did report what the fix was.I believe all government business should take place in government owned buildings.Just my .02
 
You know...the phrase "Separation of Church and State" never even appears in our Constitution. I believe it comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson....
 
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