They can make a tidy little profit and they would be guaranteed to pack the house on any given Sunday.

Sounds like a win win to me.

No argument that we should be more civil and respectful of one another, but this debate is actually in the State Legislature where "government" is deciding whether or not to give up some control over our lives and release us from some of the questionable laws they previously passed.

The no beer and wine (and even liquor, although it is not an issue in the current debate) mandate was passed by a legislature that was beholding to the religous right. Remember the Blue Laws in the north? Puritans did that (yes I know they were communal socialists, but don't let that distract you). In some cases it took 200 years to rid ourselves of that unreasonable and oppressive governmental regulation.

Religion has a very important place in the founding of our country and even the current governing of same - although sometimes it is hard to believe that with abortion on demand and pornographic artwork created with tax dollars, but I digress.

Nevertheless, abortion on demand and pornograhic artwork are actually protected by the Constitution and we all need to recognize that. I said recognize - not respect. Pornographers, abortionists and those support and fund them are vile and sinful people, but government has no role in controlling that. God will sort it all out later, but for now we must understand that we cannot legislate morality. Can't be done. Should not be done.

What we as parents and religious leaders can do is not patronize the smut merchants and the abortion doctors and teach our children the same. Do not insert government into a role for which they are not prepared. Government has been trying for a long time to raise our children so we didn't have to (I speak of public schools) and that has been a serious failure.

Naturally that means parents should spend more time raising their children correctly as mine did and I assume yours did as well. That would be a good place to focus - on the family - just like Dr. Dobson preaches.

While we're at it, we should shut down all alcohol sales on Saturdays--the original sabbath--out of respect for Orthodox Judaism and the Seventh Day Adventists. (How did Sunday come to play the same role as Saturday as a "day of rest"? I understand the church's emphasis on Sunday as this was the day of the resurrection. But does it follow that the observance of the "Lord's Day" must follow the pattern of the sabbath? I just don't see it.)

If we are going to "enforce" Sunday as a "day of rest," then I suppose that church staff should not be permitted to do whatever they do on Sundays--particularly in the megachurches. Church work is, as you likely know, anything but restful. I know, too: many years ago I was a pastor while attending a seminary. Monday was the most blessed day of my week back then. (I have long since apostasized into philosophy--and, naturally, beer-drinking. To paraphrase Mark Twain, "Suppose you were a philosopher. And then suppose you were a beer-drinker. But I repeat myself....")

You have to know that your argument just will not fly in this day and age. There is much confusion over the relationship between church and state, but I'm inclined to think that the enforcement of a religious belief about the significance of Sunday crosses the line. It's rightful place is as a plank in the theocratic platform. Calvin's Geneva has a place for such laws, for instance. Or al-Zawahiri's caliphate.)

The abolishment of blue laws poses no hindrance whatsoever to the Sunday worship on the part of the faithful. I cannot see it as an "encroachment" upon religion. Rather, it is a rolling back of some religious encroachments on our society.

Trying to define what is "necessary" work on Sunday is very difficult in order to suit even for most people. Hospitals, three shift operations, police, available food for those working, the military, on and on, can't just stop on Sunday.
It is not the ability to purchase alcohol, or anything else, on Sunday that is the principle involved. It is the fact that religion pressures government to pass laws favorable to specific religions.
Most wars have been caused by religious differences due to co-mingling it with government.
Let religion have their rules for each individual, but don't force such on all others.
I know we all feel better when we think everyone is doing the same religious thing at the same time, but they don't. In the end each one will have to stand on their own. No group rules will help them.

Soooo let's see if I got this right.........I should rest on Sunday,and not buy alcohol, because your personal religious beliefs say that I shouldn't?...Huh....that's a good one.

Hmmmmm, realllyyyy,.....

Ok so ...following that same line of "reasoning", or "logic" as it were.......my relgion, one of them being Buddhism, believes in the principle of karma. This means that how you treat everyone, even animals, and mother earth will determine what happens to you in the after-life. Sooooo, for example, you can't just be nice to your churchy church friends for one hour on Sunday. You have to be nice to everyone the whole week, not just one hour. Let's try to make that belief a state law for one month. It will be a good experiment in how it feels to live by other peoples personal religious beliefs.

Let me know how that goes for you.

ps: since my days off are during the week my Sunday is actually Wednesday, so I guess if we are going to follow your little backwards plan...that means we can't sell alcohol on Wednesdays either.

Stay home and rest all week long if you want to, but stay out of my business, Hatcher. It's not up to you or anyone else to tell me what day I should be resting, or what days I can and can not buy beer and wine.

Your statement that "We need to enforce Sunday as a day of rest and recreation. I suggest someone at the Legislature introduce a substitute motion to close all non-essential business on Sundays." is absolutely obscence. You and your ilk have been unable to convince people to live by your personal rules of life, so want the legislature to force it on us.