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Yeah. But political interference will cost a church it's tax exempt status.

Churches are set up as 501(3)(c) charities and are therefore tax exempt. They are expressly prohibited from any political activity (PACs are a special case).

Political Campaign Activity
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all IRC Section 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches and religious organizations, are absolutely prohibited from directly or
indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or
in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political
campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made by or on
behalf of the organization in favor of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public
office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violation
of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the
imposition of excise tax.

From here.

You can report them for violations -

https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/irs-complaint-process-tax-exempt-organizations

Interesting. Thanks. This will definitely be used/passed on.

Exactly.

Always important to remember that many of those who founded what became the USA were religious extremists kicked out of Europe. That's going to shape your country.

I always found the number of casual, but sincere, references to being thankful to God at work quite disconcerting.

I always found the number of casual, but sincere, references to being thankful to God at work quite disconcerting.

You'd think for the amount of time they spend banging on about freedom they wouldn't so gleefully accept being subjugated by an omnipotent dictator in the sky.

It’s the praying before meals I always find difficult. The amount of times I’ve been a guest asked to lead the prayer sounded like some sort of off-brand, knock-off Monty Python life of Brian style moron…

When in that position , I think of it as an atheistic blessing rather than a prayer. Being able to congregate around a healthy meal in peace is something (that I find is) worth appreciating, and people tend to accept words to that effect that don’t mention Jehova or other fan fiction.

Americans understand they have a two party system so biden (might) still get votes as a not trump candidate

White colonisation of the middle east

Edit: is one position espoused by some.

There was an interesting speech given by one of the democratic senators (I think it was) recently about the oath of allegiance only gaining the “before God” bit in the 1950’s.

In general conservatives are extremely good at making their ideas appear as if they have always been there. Malala notes in her first book how the fundamentalist version of Islam that led to her being shot only appeared with spread of transistor radios in the 1980s.

Rubba-dub-dub thanks for the grub.

Idk if they still do it, but my kids nursery did a non-religious "thank you for the food" / Grace-type thing before eating.

Which struck me as a nice thing to do (like so many religious practices.

This is going to do my fucking head in now... but there was some tradition that I recently discovered was incredibly recent and really surprised me.

Americans right to carry military assault rifles in the street?

Civic Season and Juneteenth?

There is a Jon Ronson podcast about how the evangelical christians turned anti abortion quite recently. It's the "1000 Dolls" episode.

Tiramisu

One person one vote?

Ciabatta?

Pink for girls and blue for boys? (something we argued with the grandparents about)

Dogging?

Commence shovelling

Laudete Dominum et transiet ad munitiones. Amen

https://www.reuters.com/sports/tyson-gives-warning-paul-ahead-july-fight-2024-05-13/

Shouldn’t be newsworthy, and they’re banking on morbid curiosity getting them an audience, but it’s working.

It’ll be interesting to see Tyson in action, and to see how much age affects the very best. My money is on a rigged fight benefitting Tyson, not because they want to help Tyson win but because they want to lower the risk of Paul literally getting killed in the ring. Tyson’s nowhere near his peak, but he’s unbelievably quick for his age and probably hella strong.

It’ll be interesting to see Tyson in action, and to see how much age affects the very best.

It really won't, we know how age affects them. Roy Jones Jr was one of the best boxers there's ever been but in his last fights against tyson and Sergio Pettis it looked like he didn't even know how to box.

Evander holyfield was the undisputed heavy champion and he's still getting in the ring being treated like a punching bag and giving himself even more brain damage.

It's just a sad and depressing spectacle.