"This is pure religious persecution," said Glen Stoll, who works closely with Hovind on legal issues.
I don't believe that the bible says anything about filing for permits as something that Christians should avoid. Nor is paying taxes. Thus, jumping up and claiming they're against your religious beliefs isn't going to work. Apparently, the state of Florida agrees with me:
"Scripture also says 'Render unto Caesar what Caesar demands.' And right now, Caesar demands a building permit," County Commission Chairman Mike Whitehead said.
If you want to submit yourself to God's rather arbitrary and non-sensical laws, that's fine. But as long as you're here, you have to follow these laws too.
And this isn't the first time Hovind's been in legal trouble.
According to Wikipedia (most reliable source on the internet, I know...) Hovind tried, unsuccessfully to file for bankruptcy in 1996 in order to avoid paying taxes. But he was found to have lied about his income and posessions.
In 1998, he attempted to avoid payments by claiming he could "revoke all signatures" on all documents he'd ever signed agreeing to pay.
In 2002, he tried, again, to file for bankruptcy and attempted to sue the IRS for harassment. IRS agents then raided his home and confiscated financial records. He was found to not posess any busisness liscences for any of his ventures and was making deposits totalling well over $1 million annually.
But apparently, forcing an American citizen to follow the laws, the same laws that every other American must follow, regardless of religion, is somehow persecution.
Some Christians seem to think that their religion supersedes the law. That's just not so, they have to obey the same laws that everyone else does. It's not persecution, when they're caught breaking them, which is something they don't seem to realize.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes get the impression that some of these people don't actually believe in their religion. Instead it's either a get rich quick scheme, or an excuse to avoid the law.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that slavery was also sanctioned by law and those who broke it paid dearly. A black looking at a white women was againt the law and called eye-balling and Blacks wwere hung for this crime. I have even heard of someone recently released from prison for eye-balling. So waht is law to someone who has been of victim of it?
ReplyDeleteWhat are taxes but another means to exploit the poor.
I enjoy the astronomy on this site and would perfer that time not be wasted on vices or the mis-understanding of those who practice religion. Religion is meant to re-align those that have gone astray. It is a task master for the child mind that will one day become an adult(enlightened). Scienctific they are not but science is also flawed because it deals with truth but does not deal with its sister the concept of love. Both can learn from each other.