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19
New York State Fortune Telling Penal Law ยง 165.35 should be broadened to religions and made a national Law of the USA
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Trick_Ganache is in New York City
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A person is guilty of fortune telling when, for a fee or compensation which he directly or indirectly solicits or receives, he claims or pretends to tell fortunes, or holds himself out as being able, by claimed or pretended use of occult powers, to answer questions or give advice on personal matters or to exorcise, influence or affect evil spirits or curses; except that this section does not apply to a person who engages in the afore described conduct as part of a show or exhibition solely for the purpose of entertainment or amusement. Fortune telling is a class B misdemeanor.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/165.35

I contend that this law when applied to religions does not prohibit the free exercise of establishments of religion. Merely, religious establishments are legally reclassified as shows or exhibitions "solely for the purpose of entertainment or amusement". They would be taxed like any other for-profit business, are free to set up charitable causes, and can say whatever they want about politics like Bill Maher. No one could say we are keeping religion out of schools either, as the afairs of various religious establishments could become standard historyt to study, critique, and learn about as they will.

Religion often relabels fortune-telling as prophecy and signs or sermons to "answer questions or give advice on personal matters" such morals, beliefs, and politics. Religions also relabel fees and compensation sought more or less indirectly as donations, tithes, etc, which, depending on the establishment, they make the customer think is demanded of them by some occult power, usually a God or revelatory text. At least one major USA religion claims to "exorcize, influnce or affect evil spirits or curses".

As an entertainment business model, I don't think religion as it is will fair so well with no longer captive audiences.

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1 year ago