Another year in Georgia, another year where “Christian” interests harpoon efforts to allow the sales of alcohol on Sunday, in large part due to efforts by the Georgia Christian Coalition, which is “vowing to make Sunday [alcohol] sales a Republican primary issue”.
Dear Georgia Christian Coalition: you’re doing more damage than good. Show me what part of your Bible shows Jesus running around lobbying King Herod and Caesar to make the 10 Commandments the law of the land? From where I sit, your efforts on issues like this do nothing but turn non-Christians off to the church, and to the message of Jesus. Well done.
Jesus didn’t spend his time telling unreligious people what NOT to do. He spent time building relationships, hanging out with people that religious folks didn’t approve of, and knew that changes in lifestyle come from the heart, not from legislature. He did spent a good bit of time chastising religious people (Pharisees & Sadducees) who were obsessed with rules and rituals (sound familiar?).
Even more hollow is the moral ambiguity behind the focus on this one issue. If selling alcohol on Sunday is bad, why are you not leading the charge to introduce laws to ban alcohol sales every day, or prohibit selling anything on Sunday? Why allow the sale of lottery tickets on Sunday, and why not close down “gentlemen’s clubs” on Sunday or every day as well? Taking an annual stand against six-packs on Sunday is posturing – if you’re going to take a stand, at least stand for something more than an awkward compromise.
Lobbying against Sunday alcohol sales in the name of Jesus drives people away from wanting to become or even associate with a Christian, and harms the Republican party you so closely tie yourself to. Try being known for what you’re for, instead of what your against, and focus on people, not laws.
Rob's Blog - Technology, Atlanta, Startups and Stuff 
Don’t even get me started on organized religion..meh.
The Sabbath, the one Jesus practiced did not fall on Sunday.
If I may, let me pint out that the “Christian Coaliion” doesn’t get to vote on this issue. Your state legislators do. They are merely expression their viewpoint on the legislation which they ought to be doing. Obviously you disagree, which is your right. Now, why not do the sensible thing and contact your legislator and lobby YOUR position? Instead of trying to tell a Christian group what their beliefs are.
It’s not just Georgia where stupid laws like this continue to get propped up by “well-meaning” lobbyists. Tennessee is going through a similar issue that also keeps getting shot down. Beer sales are allowed on Sunday, but nothing else.
The really stupid thing here is that high-gravity beer and “regular” beer can’t be sold in the same place. Beer below a certain alcohol content can only be sold in non-liquor stores, while liquor, wine, and high-gravity beer can only be sold in liquor stores. That means that if I want a bottle of wine and a 12-pack of Newcastle, I can’t buy them in the same place.
Well said, Rob. I was actually googling West Egg Studios and happily found your insightful blog. Interesting, well thought-out, and well-written.
Rob, 2 words: GROW UP. If arguments about having your alcohol is as deep as you ever get, you have more problems than worrying about being able to drink EVERYday of the week, instead of six. Which, actually you can drink 7 days, if you are coherant enough to drive to the store on Saturday and spend still more money to enebriate your ill will toward your unlikeable self. People with habits, whether physical or psychological, just aren’t happy unless they can get everyone to join in their misery.
Again, Rob… it’s time to grow up. Put down the bottle, make some friends, have real conversations with people. It’s not that bad. Really, it isn’t.
TM
You write: “Jesus didn’t spend his time telling unreligious people what NOT to do.” This reminds me of The Secret– which quoted Mother Teresa explaining that she would rather go to a peace rally than a war protest. Putting positive energy forth instead of negative.
I moved to GA from MI six months ago and it took a few months to register in my mind that I couldn’t buy booze on Sundays. It was a cute relic law to me at first, an oh how cute the South! kind of feeling. Then it just became annoying because I run a bakery and use booze in some of my cakes. I need to buy my ingredients.
The last thing the economy needs is regulations discouraging commerce!
I found your blog through Creative Loafing– are you a guest blogger? I was confused.
-E
Emily,
I didn’t know my blog could be found through Creative Loafing. Got a link?
-Rob
Dear mdx9668 / TM,
Sorry I didn’t approve your comment sooner – I didn’t notice it and wasn’t trying to hide your glowing treatment of me.
I really enjoy how you declined to address ANY of my points or provide logical support for views opposing mine. Instead you resorted to personal attacks about someone you don’t even know. Classy. Interestingly, I had “real conversations” with “friends” last night at Taco Mac, and managed to even do it with a beer bottle in my hand. I’m sure you have some additional insulting words for me based on that rather than addressing the issue at hand.