Jesus Fest

[JoeyKnothead]

From the article here:

...
Every August, a two-day festival called Jesus Fest takes place in Clarksburg. And each year, the county provides $2,000 in funding to the initiative — support that the ACLU is claiming must end.
...
“Fairs and festivals its not taxpayers money,� Watson explains.�It’s money we fund all fairs and festivals regardless of what the subject manner is. It is usually open to the public. And doing so that money does not come from property tax money. It comes from what I call devil’s money which is gambling money from video lottery and table games that the county has received.�

B.K. Vanhorn, who organizes the Jesus Fest, says that the festival gets the same privileges as other local celebrations. For instance, the commission also provides funds for the Italian Heritage Festival and the Black Heritage Festival.

For debate:

Is the above deal there supported through taxes?

Is using taxes to promote religious festivals a legitimate function of government?

[Oldfarmhouse]

Jesus is loaded. I'm sure he would have no problem coughing up the $2K for his fest himself.

[East of Eden]

Government is not establishing a religion here, so what's the fuss? Tax money pays for chaplains, for pete's sake.

[perfessor]

Government is not establishing a religion here, so what's the fuss? Tax money pays for chaplains, for pete's sake.

But IMO, tax money should not pay for chaplains.

And if endorsing a religion through tax monies is not establishment, I wonder what is. EoE, what would you consider to be an unconstitutional "establishment of religion"?

And here I thought you were a fiscal conservative.

[bjs]

The general rule in the USA has been that it is all or nothing.

Government funds can be used to help all kinds of festivals, religious or secular.

OR

Government funds cannot be used to help any kind of festival, religious or secular.

Personally, I think this is a good way to go. Treat everyone the same regardless of their faith.

[Goat]

The general rule in the USA has been that it is all or nothing.

Government funds can be used to help all kinds of festivals, religious or secular.

OR

Government funds cannot be used to help any kind of festival, religious or secular.

Personally, I think this is a good way to go. Treat everyone the same regardless of their faith.

Not quite. Government funds can be restricted from 'religious' festivals.. unless the same courtesy is provided to any religious group that wishes to use those funds. For example, if the Muslims wanted to give a Mohammed fest in that area, if they are refused, then they local government would also have to refuse the Jesus fest.

[bjs]

Not quite. Government funds can be restricted from 'religious' festivals.. unless the same courtesy is provided to any religious group that wishes to use those funds. For example, if the Muslims wanted to give a Mohammed fest in that area, if they are refused, then they local government would also have to refuse the Jesus fest.

True. So I stand by my original statement. Treat everyone the same regardless of their faith.

[Goat]

Not quite. Government funds can be restricted from 'religious' festivals.. unless the same courtesy is provided to any religious group that wishes to use those funds. For example, if the Muslims wanted to give a Mohammed fest in that area, if they are refused, then they local government would also have to refuse the Jesus fest.

True. So I stand by my original statement. Treat everyone the same regardless of their faith.

As long as they are not doing something inherently illegal. Child sacrifice at such a festival would not fly.

[David 2.0]

I'm probably going to get carded for this but...

The Jesus and Muhammad fest sounds lame.

I think my money should go to festivals of another sort.

Festival gives me the impression that I might get laid.

Perhaps a clown.

Jesus fest makes me feel like a message is being delivered.

You can't help that your italian.
Christian is a message.

[East of Eden]

Government is not establishing a religion here, so what's the fuss? Tax money pays for chaplains, for pete's sake.

But IMO, tax money should not pay for chaplains.

And if endorsing a religion through tax monies is not establishment, I wonder what is. EoE, what would you consider to be an unconstitutional "establishment of religion"?

An establishment of a particular branch, such as the Church of England in the UK or the other European state churches.

And here I thought you were a fiscal conservative.

I would be in favor of no government funding for any festival, save maybe the Fourth of July.