God in a Box

Literally. A big ugly concrete one.

Okay so I was on my way home today and was listening to NPR. Yes. I am an NPR fan. When the news isn't sickeningly repetitive.

So anyway, this story caught my attention when they led up to it with the phrase, "Church congregation wants to tear down their building. But they can't - stay tuned to hear why." (paraphrased) You can read the whole story here. So anyway, to paraphrase, this congregation wants to tear down their big ugly block of concrete (the church was built in the 70's in the popular "brutalism" style) and build a new church building, but the city won't let them because it's been made into a historic landmark. The church is suing the city claiming that this infringes on their freedom of religion. This is their logic, "Nothing expresses a church's religious exercise more than its architecture. And this architecture does not express our theology and our exercise. Brutalism is not our religious expression." My mouth dropped open at that.

This is what the experts have to say about it. "But it's going to be tough to win in court. Robert Tuttle, a church-state expert at George Washington Law School, says cost and inconvenience are not enough. The church must show its expression of religion is "substantially burdened." Courts have different standards on what that means, but often it's a high bar. Namely, he says, church members must show they cannot practice the religion without overhauling or demolishing it. "

Alright, that last sentence was when I started laughing. I think this is highly ironic considering that "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands." (Acts 17:24) I'm seriously considering emailing the district attorney of Washington DC with that scripture and telling them to use the bible against this congregation in this case!! I personally think it would be hilarious! But I don't think it would very effective considering this is a "Christian Science" church.

***Shamless plug*** DAVE wins this weeks award for the most spectacular blog post!!! Congratulations Dave. You are the most brilliant 13 year I know (no offense Leslie, but he takes the cake with this one!)