Tenn. court affirms that religious freedom isn’t just for Christians any more

[cleanhippie]

Guess what, folks? Muslims have the right to build houses of worship in America!

Shocking, isn’t it?

Apparently it is to some people in Murfreesboro, Tenn. They’ve been in state court trying to stop some Muslims from expanding a mosque there.

Why? Well, they just don’t much like Muslims.

As a legal argument, that leaves a little to be desired. And on Monday Chancellor Robert Corlew III of the Sixteenth Judicial District reaffirmed an earlier ruling and shot it down in flames.

“Those who are adherents to Islam are entitled to pursue their worship in the United States just as are those who are adherents to more universally established faiths (in our community),” ruled Chancellor Corlew. (“Chancellor” is a title applied to some judges in Tennessee state courts.)

Continued Corlew, “We have a duty equally to treat those whose religious beliefs are similar to the majority beliefs and to those whose beliefs are very different from the majority. If the zoning laws are too favorable to those seeking to build places of worship, then citizens should prevail upon their elected representatives to change those ordinances, but until they do the Court must apply those laws equally to Protestant Christians, Roman Catholics, Muslims, Buddhists and others.”

http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2011/09/01/murfreesboro-tennessee-court-affirms-that-religious-freedom-is-for-mosque-building-muslims-too/

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:applause:

[atreides1]

1. Good decision

[Tippy]

2. K&R...

[Skip_In_Boulder]

3. Oh the freaks are going to be in a tissy today.

[rug]

4. I'm glad you're cheering freedom of religion.

[cleanhippie]

7. I always do!

Never once have I advocated for anyone to NOT be able to believe what they want to.

[humblebum]

9. Belief is only part of the freedom. Expression is the other.

Don't pat yourself on the back too soon.

[cleanhippie]

10. Not necessarily.

IF one's expression intrudes upon another's ability to express, then its not.

[humblebum]

12. You would do well to remember that. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. The utter stupidity of the 'lawyer' trying to argue against the mosque must threaten his license

As the OP article says, he's been trying to argue that Islam is not a religion; and also, as the judge notes:

"The allegations presented at the initial hearing include assertions that this structure will be used as a base to undermine our laws and our government, and perhaps even serve as a base for terrorist or military operations," Corlew wrote.

http://www.dnj.com/article/20110831/NEWS01/108310310

The attorney's entire argument seems to be "look at me, I'm bigoted, I invite you all to join me".

[kestrel91316]

6. In Tennessee???? Wow.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. From the same state that brought us the Scopes decision.

Who knew that Tennessee loved both clauses of the First Amendment so much?

[NMMNG]

11. Score one for real 1st Amendment rights

They can be hard to come by these days, particularly in places like TN.