If Christians believe their god can hear even silent prayers, then why is there need for this kind of disturbance to others?
If a rock band was practicing at someone’s house and disturbing the neighborhood, I would bet that most of the congregation members of this church would be demanding someone be arrested if the noise didn’t stop. Just because it’s religion, it’s ok to be ignorant to everyone in the neighborhood?
Ohio church noise bothers neighbors
MASSILLON, Ohio - Is it worship? Or disturbing the peace?
Neighbors of Worshippers of Christ the Warrior King Church [”Warrior King”?
] have petitioned the city, saying screams and sounds of glory and praise coming from the building are a nuisance. But church members contend they’re being harassed because of how they worship.
“Sunday morning is God’s day of worship,” the Rev. Troy Sowell said. “I’m not going to tell this congregation, ‘You’re being too loud.’”
Sowell says he’s open to finding a solution but is not going to forfeit his right to worship God.
Police responded to noise complaints three consecutive days during a revival last year, after the congregation moved in.
“They have a sound system over there that is very loud,” said neighbor Reginald Winters. “I’m in my house with the door shut, and literally, my windows are vibrating in my house. … This year, it’s started right back up.”
The church closed its doors and windows, but the complaints have continued, said Jerena Copeland, associate pastor.
Sowell said light bulbs have been stolen from the building and beer bottles have been wedged beneath the tires of members’ vehicles.Church members recently met with Police Chief Robert Williams.
“I’m still hoping for an amicable, diplomatic solution,” said Williams, an ordained minister and the son of a pastor.
By “diplomatic solution” he means “our way or the highway, and if it bothers you, too damn bad.” There shouldn’t have to be a “diplomatic solution” except to apologize for being inconsiderate and selfish, and tone it down. That is what would be expected from any other good citizen.
Someone in that neighborhood should start up a hardcore death metal band and practice near the church. When those who attend try to get them to stop through police action the death metal band can say it’s their freedom of speech and expression to continue their loud music.
Sound, in recent decades, has become one of new “WMDs”…or…”Weapons of Mass Disturbance”. In particular; one of the worst additions to the mindless arsenal is the Sub-Woofer. Low frequency vibrations at high volume will penetrate ANY structure; as I think we’ve all experience, even when driving in our cars…with the windows closed.
I had a downstairs neighbor in my last apartment, who, when he and his lady first moved in….unbeknownst to me…had a DJ sound system. A day after their move, I was about to take my usual evening nap, when all “Heil” broke loose…literally vibrating everything in the apartment; not to mention my brain! After dealing with the usual stomping on the floor, door knocking, and Manager office calling, things quieted down. I later found out, he was a “Professional” Latino DJ, with a HUGE sound system…yeah, like two “Extra Large Penis” sized Sub-Woofers!
Lots of people in today’s world are totally ignorant [or just plain stupid?] regarding the power of sound waves; particularly, LOW frequencies. [Add to that, the total non-caring about others’ quietude?] Additionally; MANY have EARLY, unrecognised, significant hearing loss from too much loud music…with ipods, etc…listening. It’s an outgrowth, I think, of the “Baby Boomer” [how apt!] generation’s love of excess. As a musician…and one who’s lived most of my life in apartments…I’ve always been intimately aware of the issue; and have gone out of my way NOT to bother others with practicing, etc. I even built a sort of “foldup/movable” (not easily!) sound booth [Padded cell?]…I do use headphones for everything; with moderate volume, even with that.
“Aren’t I so wonderful?…Sheesh!”
Yada, yada…
OK…back to a Post item…It’s interesting, RE Police Chief Williams, that HE’S also a “Son of a…(Bitch/Fuckhead?)…erm…Preacher Man”…AND an ordamned…erm…ordained minister. What a SURPRISE!!! OR…
WTF???
Of course, it’s an easy status symbol to add to one’s “slash” repertoire.
[as I’ve noted elsewhere on GifS!]
“Hey…did I just hear the Lawd calling me…or what?…Geez…I’d better grab my babble and get my slash resume updated!”
You know the drill:
Police Chief/Military Weapons Expert/Neighborhood Telescopic Voyeur Practitioner/Part-time Identity Theif/Youth Bowling Afficionado/Teenage Girl Softball AND Swimming Coach/Wine Connoisseur (Kind-of-sewer?)/General Cook & Plastic Bottle Washer/Civil War Reenactor/…yadada, yadada…and OF COURSE…lest we forget…
/MINISTER!!!
OY VEY!!!
AUM - We know that wouldn’t go in favor of the rock band, not at all. When my husband and I lived in Chicago next to a Catholic church, all kinds of noisy crap went on at the church, including a carnival in the parking lot right up next to our house, it was a nightmare! The noise went on till the wee hours of the morning with drinking, and yelling and screaming…Bingo numbers being called over a loudspeaker. Our bedroom windows were on the parking lot side and we had to TRY to sleep in another room. (I was pregnant at the time, too.) We called the cops and they said they would talk to them but could do nothing about making them stop. However, people in the neighborhood who had parties outdoors that got a little bit too rowdy, but nothing like the carnival bullshit, were told to cut it out or they would be arrested and taken to jail. People get away with all sorts of shit if it’s connected to their sky daddy beliefs.
They should move that church near that Islamic mosque that annoys the hell out of people with the “time to pray” bells; I think this blog has covered that.
Stephen, yep…covered that in this post here
More obnoxious than church bells and chimes
I don’t think that religion should have any special status. If they’re violating the noise statutes of a township, they should be violated for it, no different than if my neighbors were engaging in a wild electric guitar solo.
But, y’know, we’re still a ways away from that, hehe.
It would be oh, so sadly ironic if the neighbors kept calling and calling the police about the church noise till the cops got utterly sick of it, then when an emergency happened at the church, no one responded.
karen, what would probably happen in that case is that the cops would respond to an emergency call from the church, but not the residents who keep calling to report them.
Yes. Christ must wander the earth, seeking those whose power might challenge his own and, in single honorable combat, behead them — ideally to a Queen soundtrack.
There Can Be Only One!
Star
Yes, you’re probably right.
Warren
I missed the part in the Babble where it said Jeebus traveled with a sound system. Obviously this church interpreted it in some passage. The talking ass, maybe?
But I can totally see him doing the beheading thin to a Queen soundtrack!
Speaking of warrior…look at this shit!
Warrior Jesus
Some of these god warriors love this stuff! All backed up with a specially cherry-picked Bible passage.
Jesus should challenge the other gods to Mortal Kombat.
Star, I thought no law could be made in favor of religion. I don’t know where I got that silly idea. Probably from some “goddamn piece of paper” (thanks Dubya) somewhere.
I missed the part in the Babble where it said Jeebus traveled with a sound system. Obviously this church interpreted it in some passage. The talking ass, maybe?”
There’s a hysterical scene in The Life of Brian, I think (did anyone else do a comedy on the Jesus story?) in which Brian is preaching and no one can hear him. It’s like “Wha’d he say?” and then they get it all wrong, of course.
It’s redundant to say that something in “The Life of Brian” is hysterical, isn’t it? Thought so.
Back in OK, I lived down the street from a holy-roller church. In the town where I lived there was a noise ordinance and it specified a certain decibel level beyond which was considered a nuisance. I called every f-cking Sunday and Wednesday to complain (as did other neighbours) and every f-cking Sun. & Wed. they were ticketed. They bitched, of course, and took the tickets to court and said it was violating their freedom of religion and yada yada.
Guess what? They lost.
But, they didn’t stop. They kept up the shit and collected ticket after ticket. I don’t know what happened after that. I moved (out of the state).
What ever-lovin’ assholes!
There’s a hysterical scene in The Life of Brian, I think (did anyone else do a comedy on the Jesus story?) in which Brian is preaching and no one can hear him. It’s like “Wha’d he say?” and then they get it all wrong, of course.
It was the Life of Brian and it was Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I think it was. He was preaching and the folks in the back couldn’t hear but were repeating what they *thought* they heard. “Blessed are the cheesemakers??”
;-)
I love Monty Python. In case anyone was in doubt.
Stardust
“Speaking of warrior…look at this shit!”
I watched about 1/2 of it. I trust I didn’t miss much by stopping in the middle.
Praise Jeebus! Let’s dance…and kill…to a disco beat! And one…and two…and kill…and KILL!
YEEHAH!
Inaudible but no less annoying are these visuals:
In-your-face religious symbols: Super-sized!
And more are being built! They seem to be very popular — to the believers…
AtheistUnderMask:
Well, he’s got babality locked down, anyway.
As do most of his shrieking, spewing, shitting followers.
Sorry, the link fried.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatality_(Mortal_Kombat)#Variations
“It was the Life of Brian and it was Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I think it was. He was preaching and the folks in the back couldn’t hear but were repeating what they *thought* they heard. “Blessed are the cheesemakers??”
;-)
Yes, Lorraine, that was it. God, I love them, too. Can’t you imagine what they’d be making of the situation today. (Well, Terry Jones is writing some very fine pieces - google his name to find them) I think I’ll try to find LoB in the library for the weekend.
(Well, Terry Jones is writing some very fine pieces - google his name to find them)
Thanks, Catherine! I’ll check it out. I think those guys are amazing. I was in undergraduate school taking Latin when LoB was released and I almost split my side laughing when the Romans started making Brian conjugate his Latin! Though no one was holding a sword to my throat in school, it certainly felt that way sometimes.
I was fortunate to see LoB in its first run and got to mock the fundies picketing and protesting the movie. None of them had even seen it, yet they were protesting it. *sigh* But don’t forget to always look on the bright side of life.
Enjoy the movie this weekend! LoB and The Holy Grail are two of my favorites. And the Meaning of Life. Every Sperm is Sacred! Great stuff!
Disturbing the peace is disturbing the peace. Period. If I can’t blast the Cure or Pacini from my car, they can’t rattle windows with their PA system.
(And I own all three of the above mentioned Monty Python movies!! Faithful Yell, ‘Praise God’; Neighbors Demand Quiet — Is Race an Issue?
Church Under Fire for Making Noise
Controversy Over “Loud” Worship Heard All Around the Country An article that is a detailed followup to the previous link.
Why not? Get your asses down there with a decibel meter (without telling them in advance so they can turn it down just for you), and if they are in excess of legal limits, fine them, arrest them, or whatever you would do to anyone else in town!!! 50 people do not require a PA system. And I agree with everything ChuckA said.
First link didn’t work:
Faithful Yell, ‘Praise God’; Neighbors Demand Quiet — Is Race an Issue?
“Rather than come to us and talk to us, the first thing they [neighbors] did was go straight to the police.”
Because it’s not up to the neighbors to make grown men and women obey the law.
Oh, and I love how quickly the race card came out.
The arrogance of these folks is truly mind boggling. Lately there have been more ‘preachers’ on the New York subway system. Sometimes there are so many, that you can’t escape. During one commute last week, I got one on the first train I boarded, another in the passageway while I was changing trains and a third on my station as I was getting off. They often scream about jesus at the top of their lungs, which is a very special experience in a crowded train. What pisses me off is that no one has the balls to stand up to them. I am proud to admit that I have responded by saying that the bible is a con and that the big guy upstairs is a figment of their feeble imaginations but few have the guts or the cerebral horsepower to engage me in a dialog. What a surprise!
Where I grew up, a Pentecostal church down the road had a sound system that could be heard a quarter mile away (with the doors closed). They had a congregation of about 50-75 people. I went with my Grandma, once (because I liked her, not the church), and they were taking up a collection to buy an electric piano. “The old-fashioned one is hurting her fingers.” Was the explanation as to why they needed it.
One of my relatives confronted me outside, because she noticed that I didn’t contribute to helping purchase the piano. “You don’t need a sound system that can make ears bleed. Sell some of it, and buy her a piano.” Was my response. She hasn’t talked to me since, and my life has been much more peaceful.
-Berlzebub
Lorraine, back again. Wow, you saw the first run of LoB. I can’t even remember how old it is.
I don’t think they did this one, but it would have been good and fit with the whole “Christianity is peaceful” myth.
“Did you hear what that bugger said?” “No, he never.” “Yeah, he said the Greek shall inherit the earth. Not while I’m bloody alive. Let’s go get those sex perverts.” And they go off to war, leaving Jesus/Brian all by his lonesome.
I’ll find some Terry Jones links for you.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2047128,00.html Here’s one to get you started. He writes in the Guardian usually.
Hi Catherine,
Lorraine, back again. Wow, you saw the first run of LoB. I can’t even remember how old it is.
I think it was late 1978 or 1979 as I was a freshman at W&M then. Yep, I’m older than dirt. Or at least feel that way most of the time.
Seeing the protesters at the movie theater was the first time I’d ever really seen fundies in the flesh and for the most part they behaved themselves. Just marched about carrying signs. I thought they were incredibly stupid for protesting something they’d not seen, however.
The quote about the Greeks isn’t one I’m familiar with however. :-/ Not sure where I’ve been as it’s funny as hell. It would have been perfect in LoB!
Thank you so much for the link! I’ll be sure to check it out. Terry Jones is wonderful.
During one commute last week, I got one on the first train I boarded, another in the passageway while I was changing trains and a third on my station as I was getting off. They often scream about jesus at the top of their lungs, which is a very special experience in a crowded train.
Brooklyn Boy,
Can’t the transit security people or whoever do something about these nutcases? Talk about a captive audience! It sounds like hell on earth and incredibly stressful!
Just like with that Muslim place, my stance on the issue is, “If you break the law, you should be punished.”
The members of that church broke the law, therefore they should be punished.
Like I said on the mosque thread, I still think the church and mosque should be set up on opposite sides of the street from each other, and let the decibels fly! How long after that would they both be agreeing to abide by the noise and peace laws?
Or they might just end up sabotaging each other’s sound systems… Either outcome would be OK by me.
think it was late 1978 or 1979 as I was a freshman at W&M then. Yep, I’m older than dirt. Or at least feel that way most of the time.”
Well, you’re younger than I am. I only meant that I didn’t remember seeing it when it first opened, even though we must have been getting the MPFC on PBS by then, no?
The Greek thing I just made up because it seemed to fit. And I forgot “Every sperm is sacred.” I think I only saw that film once.
Keep on truckin’. Cath
Well, you’re younger than I am. I only meant that I didn’t remember seeing it when it first opened, even though we must have been getting the MPFC on PBS by then, no?
I just *feel* older than dirt most of the time.
I think MPFC was indeed on in the late ’70’s, but for some reason I didn’t see it until much later. 
But I had seen a lot of their sketches when I was 14 or so when I first saw And Now For Something Completely Different. That was a pivotal moment for me. Ah, the memories. 
Your Greek thing was *priceless* and it should have been part of a Python sketch.
If you have a few minutes, you should watch The Meaning of Life again–some real zingers in that one.
Great talking with you, Cath! Thanks so much!
If I lived there I would play Slayer really loud every Sunday to drown them out.