Should religious groups be allowed to use public parks to prosteltyze?

[TrogL]

Poll question: Should religious groups be allowed to use public parks to prosteltyze?

Heard on the morning news that the Church of Scientology has set up a huge tent in one of the downtown parks. There's no sign on the door but once you get inside they pounce.

[LisaLynne]

1. Some fundies ...

have been doing this in a park in my city. I take my nephew there anyway and just ignore them. They haven't bothered me ... except for a couple of weeks ago when there was this really bad trio trying to sing. That was rather annoying.

[calico1]

4. Yes, but for a fee if charging a fee

is normal for any other group. I am sick of these fundy groups getting a free ride.

[eyesroll]

2. They should be subject to the same rules other groups are.

If a park district allows family reunions, football games, cub-scout activites, etc., the church/religious group should also be allowed. Fees and permits, if any, should be the same.

[StClone]

5. They may use the park

However if they start harassing the non-Christians they may be evicted.

[lightbulb]

3. Only if it isn't selective

A vomit worshiping cult that believes Hitler's ghost appears in drag to devout members should be allowed to set up a tent right next to the Scientologists.

[jeff30997]

7. Please don't trash my religion...

Hitler's ghost appeared in drag to me once. :evilgrin:

[napi21]

6. Sure, why not? If there's no sign, why would you go in?

I know if I were passing by a big tent in a park, I would be curoius about what was going on, but I sure wouldn't wander in just to find out! It could be a big private party ya know.

I'd also be surprised if they didn't pay a fee to put up that tent! I was treasurer of a pretty large car club, and we had a big get together every year and invited a lot of other clubs. We NEVER could get the space FREE!

[Squeech]

8. How can you legitimately stop them?

I can't see a way to curtail them without damaging constitutional protections of free speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion etc.

As for ways to maintain your own personal space, there's been a story going around the blogs lately of a commuter who, annoyed by a bunch of Bible thumpers giving impromptu sermons, started singing show tunes! This so disconcerted the fundies that they all left that particular subway car in haste-- and the singer's fellow commuters cheered.