What I am debating is the need for zoning laws to be enforced with all parties rights being considered. There is a point (a debatable point) at which a bible study could morph into a church. If that area is not zoned for a church,h then a church shouldn't be allowed.
Being a theologian by trade and by belief, and an Army Chaplain of many, many years, I have see all manner of definitions of what people think of when they use the word “church”. Personally, I would consider the small gathering in the home to be a “church”.
You are probably thinking of a big building with parking lot and all kinds of programs.
In my opinion, it is incredibly unAmerican to impose laws that prevent residents of a neighborhood from building their own church building in their own neighborhood. Things such as schools, churches, stores, clubs, etc., MUST naturally be close to those they serve; that is, in residential communities.
Taking the Church out of the discussion for a moment, what right is being violated if 7-20 people come over to someones house?
Is there something about "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" that you don't understand?
So what if it morphs into a church? Just how big do you think a church would have to get before it outgrew someone's house?
Your scenario is ridiculous.
Are you sure you're on the right website?
“There is a point (a debatable point) at which a bible study could morph into a church. If that area is not zoned for a church,h then a church shouldn’t be allowed. “
Do you propose the same restrictions for any large gathering or only those that involve Christians?
Gasp. Is this still FREE REPUBLIC?
I don't know if you've ever been to Utah, but in Utah, the LDS Church builds its churches right smack dab in the middle of new residential tracts. I don't see a problem with Churches being in the middle of residential areas. What is the harm?
Oh, and BTW the way the Government defines a "church" for purposes of the first amendment, the mere mention of God in a building could qualify the building as being a "church".
FWIW, a church is an assembly of like minded believers in some religious doctrine or dogma and I don't want the government deciding whether or not some assembly of believers in a residential area is going to be designated a "church" for the purposes of shutting down the right of these people to assemble together.
A zoning law which violates the first amendment must be narrowly tailored and must be religiously neutral and content neutral. These zoning laws violate the freedom of speech, religion and assembly (and if they pass out church bulletins, then it also violates freedom of the press).