Carmarthenshire parking fees plan 'a tax on religion', claims churchman

“For a man of the cloth, Reverend Leigh Richardson is surprisingly uninformed on church history and practice.
For example, "Going to church is a freedom people in this country have enjoyed for centuries."
Well, no it isn't. Until the 19th century attendance was compulsory, and it is only thanks to the efforts of religious dissenters that anyone could even choose WHICH church or denomination, and to the atheist MP Charles Bradlaugh that we have true freedom of belief since.
Or,"Being charged to go to church is a tax on religion and it happens nowhere else in the world."
What, then, is the tithe, why is there a point in all church services when money is collected from the communicants, and why do even the poorest attending feel under such social pressure to give money they cannot afford?
But really, why this unholy fuss about paying to park a car? Shouldn't Christians, as stewards of their Invisible Friend's creation, be walking, taking a bus, or at least car-sharing? My dear grandmother - a real old school Salvationist - always did say her fellow worshippers got too soft when they went all middle class and started swanning about in fancy cars!”

“Among other occasions, I have to pay to park while I do my volunteering work, while I visit people in hospital, while I'm collecting for charity, while I'm shopping for my neighbour, and while I am attending my chosen social clubs. Why should I have to subsidise the parking of people whose chosen social club is called a church? The suggestion that sitting on a church pew is somehow worthier, especially to the extent of deserving state subsidy, than any other activity is ludicrous. I understand that the removal of any benefit can be, in the short term, upsetting for anyone; but it's not so long since most of us didn't have to pay to park in our town centres. It's time for churches, and church-goers, to accept reality and stop thinking themselves special.”

“Among other occasions, I have to pay to park while I do my volunteering work, while I visit people in hospital, while I'm collecting for charity, while I'm shopping for my neighbour, and while I am attending my chosen social clubs. Why should I have to subsidise the parking of people whose chosen social club is called a church? The suggestion that sitting on a church pew is somehow worthier, especially to the extent of deserving state subsidy, than any other activity is ludicrous. I understand that the removal of any benefit can be, in the short term, upsetting for anyone; but it's not so long since most of us didn't have to pay to park in our town centres. It's time for churches, and church-goers, to accept reality and stop thinking themselves special.”

“I always say, if people truly wanted to follow Christ, they'd spend their Sunday mornings doing good for others, not singing songs to god in an expensive building and patting themselves on the back for being good Christians!”

“Live a life free from delusion - Go Atheist, you know it makes sense.”

“Dewbree Thoughtful comments well expressed.”

“Sunday is like every other day of the week and the sooner church goers realize that the better. After all just as many muslims go to Friday prayer, and that's' not a special day”

“I think people can be moral and lead a good life without using religion as a moral compass. The god of the old testament pretty much wiped out all of humanity apart from Noah and his family because he didn't like what humans were doing. And depending what other holy books you read the punishment for turning your back on religion and choosing not to follow certain faiths anymore is death.
I agree that there are a lot of good stories in holy books and there are some good examples of people being decent, but the negative stories far outweigh the good ones.
at a guess, 90% of all religious people are fine and upstanding people. But the fanatical side of religion is accountable for so many deaths. You don't see many fanatical atheists killing people just for having a different opinion.
You have the catholic church that has covered up so many dodgy priests and their wrong doings with children that were in their care. They would rather people die of HIV than educate them on the use of condoms.
The first gospel of the New testament was written approx 50 years after the death of Jesus. The bible was then put together by a Constantine in roughly 320ad purely to be used as tool to control people.

With so much evidence being available to support various theories, such as the big bang, evolution etc. I don't see how organized religion has a place in modern society. Religion has never changed its ideas or thoughts on anything since it was first created by man all those years ago. Science will change theories in accordance with what evidence is provided.

I find it difficult to believe that so many people live their life hoping for rewards in the afterlife. If these rewards don't ever happen, no one can ever come back to complain.
In the big picture we all live a very short life, hopefully with people that we love and care for. My personal outlook is that I want the rewards with the people here and now and live my life accordingly.

This is my first time of ranting on here so forgive me for going on a bit. I'm going to do some work now before I get the sack!!”

“The taxpayers aren't here to fund religious activities. Fund them yourself. Why should non-religous people pay more tax so that religious people can park for free?”

“Sod that should read 'by everyone' not 'my everyone'”