Makes me think of Joseph Smith, a man convicted of conning people using seeing stones (IIRC more than once) and jailed who, immediately upon release, convicted some idiots that he found a golden tablet that could only be read by himself using seeing stones. No one else got to see the tablets, no one else got to see the stones, no one else was able to verify any of his claims, and yet no one thought he might be a fucking conman. And now we have the blight of 18yo sheltered children in magical underwear roaming the world telling people they’re going to hell for not trusting in them.
And the powers that be think that tarot readings are dangerous.
I think the reason this particular shop was targeted for the “education” was because they are on TikTok and have a following. China must be involved or something.
What would you like to bet the police chief is an evangelical christian? Nobody else would care. Another case of people with with power trying to force everyone else into their idea of 'normal' behavior. These people are a poison in our society.
Unsolicited “friendly warnings” by uniformed law enforcement, especially the chief, seem eerily like “gee, nice place you’ve got here, it would be a shame if something happened to it.” It’s passive-aggressive intimidation, and an abuse of authority. Another example of an arrogant, small town chief who thinks he can push people around.
I don't know which is more absurd, tarot cards, or this law. Funny how they could outlaw tarot card readings for money, while allowing preachers a free hand to spew all manner of super natural nonsense in exchange for ten percent of a person's income.
Yup, time to jail all those prosperity preachers. After all, when was the last time you gave all your money to the preacher and god paid you back ten-fold!
Next, we need to jail all those meteorologists. First off, they’re still pretty clueless when it comes to predicting the weather.
And of course, Trump, he predicted not only weather events (see Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama, it didn’t), but said of the National debt; he alone could fix it; instead he added $8.2 trillion to the debt. Republicans also said that they know how to govern, even though, all evidence points to the contrary.
Time to round up all these witches; not because their make predictions, but because they suck at it!
I was once told, I’d be President one day. Imagine to my surprise, I’m not! How cruel was that clairvoyant nut-job? Needless to say, my life has been upended ever since.
Just another reason all these charlatans need to go!...:)
So ... the police won't strongarm church preachers because religion, but they WILL jerk around a tarot card reader for very little reason other than that they CAN. Got it.
Yeah, the immediate comparison to preachers predicting all sorts of future worldly events, as well as the future destination of their suckers' souls is fruit so low-hanging that someone could step on it.
As has been mentioned in the OP and in comments, it's likely that the Evangelical Christian mindset (for want of a better term) is in part behind the original law, possibly involved in this particular police chief's decision to warn, and would most certainly be the motive behind anyone actually filing a complaint.
So all that being the case, pointing out the comparability to the hundreds of Christian soothsayers in Pennsylvania otherwise known as preachers could be a useful argument to spur the state legislators to quickly and quietly abolish this law. Any defense of a defendant would include this argument in a collection of arguments, and at the very least would be embarrassing to the Cleric Class. Most of the state legislators would not want to do that.
What I'm wondering now is among the many absurd, obsolete laws like this one scattered across the country, how many target atheists? We already know that the seven infamous states which still have prohibitions against nonbelievers holding office in their constitutions all had those clauses made at least technically null and void by the SCOTUS long ago.
BUT what about lesser statutes, state, county, or city laws and ordinances that still exist, and could cause plenty of trouble for atheists because they'd have to go through the difficult, expensive, and slow process of defending themselves? Complainants, even knowing that their complaint would probably be rejected in court, might want to file just for the harassment value.
It's pretty damned unusual for the top cop to handle something like this personally, rather than having a subordinate stop by the store to have a "friendly" chat instead; intimidation and shakedowns are beat cop work. And what did he think he needed backup for? Was he scared Mx Lawrence would hex his overbearing ass, or something?
This whole thing 𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 of Chad (because 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 his name is fucking 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘥) having a personal axe to grind.
Pennsylvania's legal landscape is littered with obsolete laws, some dating back to colonial times. As of a few years ago it was still a misdemeanor in this state to masturbate, fer chrissake. If that law has been repealed recently, I haven't heard about it, though I suppose it's possible. Every few years the legislature forms a committee to find and repeal obsolete laws, and they usually do find and act on a few, but there are scads left. I guess repealing the no-jerkoff law would be playing whack-a-mole, or something.
Makes me think of Joseph Smith, a man convicted of conning people using seeing stones (IIRC more than once) and jailed who, immediately upon release, convicted some idiots that he found a golden tablet that could only be read by himself using seeing stones. No one else got to see the tablets, no one else got to see the stones, no one else was able to verify any of his claims, and yet no one thought he might be a fucking conman. And now we have the blight of 18yo sheltered children in magical underwear roaming the world telling people they’re going to hell for not trusting in them.
And the powers that be think that tarot readings are dangerous.
I think the reason this particular shop was targeted for the “education” was because they are on TikTok and have a following. China must be involved or something.
"A Pennsylvania police chief told a tarot card reader they could be jailed under the law"
Should have seen that coming.
What would you like to bet the police chief is an evangelical christian? Nobody else would care. Another case of people with with power trying to force everyone else into their idea of 'normal' behavior. These people are a poison in our society.
Unsolicited “friendly warnings” by uniformed law enforcement, especially the chief, seem eerily like “gee, nice place you’ve got here, it would be a shame if something happened to it.” It’s passive-aggressive intimidation, and an abuse of authority. Another example of an arrogant, small town chief who thinks he can push people around.
“for gain or lucre,… tell fortunes or predict future events.”
So, no churches in town?
I don't know which is more absurd, tarot cards, or this law. Funny how they could outlaw tarot card readings for money, while allowing preachers a free hand to spew all manner of super natural nonsense in exchange for ten percent of a person's income.
Yup, time to jail all those prosperity preachers. After all, when was the last time you gave all your money to the preacher and god paid you back ten-fold!
Next, we need to jail all those meteorologists. First off, they’re still pretty clueless when it comes to predicting the weather.
And of course, Trump, he predicted not only weather events (see Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama, it didn’t), but said of the National debt; he alone could fix it; instead he added $8.2 trillion to the debt. Republicans also said that they know how to govern, even though, all evidence points to the contrary.
Time to round up all these witches; not because their make predictions, but because they suck at it!
I was once told, I’d be President one day. Imagine to my surprise, I’m not! How cruel was that clairvoyant nut-job? Needless to say, my life has been upended ever since.
Just another reason all these charlatans need to go!...:)
“plenty of church leaders literally claim to predict the future ”
Anyone live nearby and up for a lawsuit? 😇
Anyone else think this had more to do with Mx Lawrence being non-binary/genderfluid than the tarot readings?
So ... the police won't strongarm church preachers because religion, but they WILL jerk around a tarot card reader for very little reason other than that they CAN. Got it.
Bullies gonna bully.
Yeah, the immediate comparison to preachers predicting all sorts of future worldly events, as well as the future destination of their suckers' souls is fruit so low-hanging that someone could step on it.
As has been mentioned in the OP and in comments, it's likely that the Evangelical Christian mindset (for want of a better term) is in part behind the original law, possibly involved in this particular police chief's decision to warn, and would most certainly be the motive behind anyone actually filing a complaint.
So all that being the case, pointing out the comparability to the hundreds of Christian soothsayers in Pennsylvania otherwise known as preachers could be a useful argument to spur the state legislators to quickly and quietly abolish this law. Any defense of a defendant would include this argument in a collection of arguments, and at the very least would be embarrassing to the Cleric Class. Most of the state legislators would not want to do that.
What I'm wondering now is among the many absurd, obsolete laws like this one scattered across the country, how many target atheists? We already know that the seven infamous states which still have prohibitions against nonbelievers holding office in their constitutions all had those clauses made at least technically null and void by the SCOTUS long ago.
BUT what about lesser statutes, state, county, or city laws and ordinances that still exist, and could cause plenty of trouble for atheists because they'd have to go through the difficult, expensive, and slow process of defending themselves? Complainants, even knowing that their complaint would probably be rejected in court, might want to file just for the harassment value.
It's pretty damned unusual for the top cop to handle something like this personally, rather than having a subordinate stop by the store to have a "friendly" chat instead; intimidation and shakedowns are beat cop work. And what did he think he needed backup for? Was he scared Mx Lawrence would hex his overbearing ass, or something?
This whole thing 𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 of Chad (because 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 his name is fucking 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘥) having a personal axe to grind.
Pennsylvania's legal landscape is littered with obsolete laws, some dating back to colonial times. As of a few years ago it was still a misdemeanor in this state to masturbate, fer chrissake. If that law has been repealed recently, I haven't heard about it, though I suppose it's possible. Every few years the legislature forms a committee to find and repeal obsolete laws, and they usually do find and act on a few, but there are scads left. I guess repealing the no-jerkoff law would be playing whack-a-mole, or something.
Isn't an investment advisor someone you pay to predict the future for you?
My first thought as I read this: so how is this any different than any religion?
And then Hemant wrote: “ It’s no different, if my opinion, from people wasting their money on other frivolous forms of entertainment…”
LIKE RELIGION.
Just saw an article were Trump said “I am willing to go to jail if that’s what it takes for our country to win and become a democracy again.”
A) Yeah, right.
B) Please?