Buddhists experience 'blatant discrimination' at Mulliken board meeting

From https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2020/08/06/buddhists-experience-blatant-discrimination-mulliken/3300915001/

Buddhists experience ‘blatant discrimination’ at Mulliken board meeting

Kristan Obeng
Lansing State Journal

Than Oo and members of his Buddhist congregation wanted a brick-and-mortar location to worship.

The former Mulliken United Methodist Church, which had been on the market for months, seemed almost perfect for their needs.

[...]

One trustee’s reasoning for the denial “shocked him,” said Mesick, who has served on the board since last year.

Debler "said she is not comfortable giving the building to another religion,” said Mesick. “I was angry and disappointed. That is blatant discrimination and opens up the village to a lawsuit.”

[...]

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10 replies	Author	Time	Post
Buddhists experience 'blatant discrimination' at Mulliken board meeting (Original post)	sl8	Aug 2020	OP
K&R!	SheltieLover	Aug 2020	#1
All my life I've heard that Buddhism is NOT a religion. Of course I've seen that it is. But it	abqtommy	Aug 2020	#2
Who says it's not a religion?	JustABozoOnThisBus	Aug 2020	#3
In my experience it's mostly Buddhists that deny it's a religion... thanks for your input.	abqtommy	Aug 2020	#4
They might deny that it's a religion, but ...	JustABozoOnThisBus	Aug 2020	#5
Bozo, many Buddhists don't take religious exemptions on their taxes.	Nitram	Aug 2020	#8
Actually, I think you will find that in some countries Buddhism is practiced as a religion, while	Nitram	Aug 2020	#7
The sad thing is that the "Christian" who gave that reason for denying a permit probably really	Nitram	Aug 2020	#6
But then the very practice of "religious belief" opens the door to much mischief! Thanks for your	abqtommy	Aug 2020	#9
"Belief systems" are inherently subjective, and thus prone to bias.	Nitram	Aug 2020	#10

Response to sl8 (Original post)

Fri Aug 7, 2020, 10:17 AM

SheltieLover (18,829 posts)

1. K&R!

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Response to sl8 (Original post)

Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:08 PM

abqtommy (8,201 posts)

2. All my life I've heard that Buddhism is NOT a religion. Of course I've seen that it is. But it

seems that now we need a definite clarification... Maybe the courts will provide that.

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Response to abqtommy (Reply #2)

Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:44 PM

JustABozoOnThisBus (20,727 posts)

3. Who says it's not a religion?

It involves faith, and ritual. It's a religion. If some Buddhists buy a surplus church or mosque or temple, it will continue to be not taxed, because it's a religion.

I doubt if that question will become a court case.

Now, light a stick of incense, bang a gong, throw back a shot of Jack, be one with the universe.

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Response to JustABozoOnThisBus (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 7, 2020, 03:49 PM

abqtommy (8,201 posts)

4. In my experience it's mostly Buddhists that deny it's a religion... thanks for your input.

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Response to abqtommy (Reply #4)

Fri Aug 7, 2020, 04:49 PM

JustABozoOnThisBus (20,727 posts)

5. They might deny that it's a religion, but ...

... do they take the religious exemptions from paying taxes on the temples?

You can't have it both ways. Or, maybe you can, depending on religious (or not) beliefs.