The Baptists who are not supposed to dance, is that not dance at all, or just as couples?

I’m pretty sure that it’s none whatsoever. I do know that they have a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol, to the point that students at Baptist universities are prohibited from imbibing even while away from school.

Of course, there’s Baptists and then there’s Baptists who hold Bible studies at the local brewery.

It’s difficult to make a blanket statement about Baptists as there are all different kinds.

But this issue clearly is the purview of the most legalistic of the fundamentalist ones. So, if you are a Baptist in a different category, this doesn’t apply to you.

The dancing issue is focused primarily upon avoiding sexual temptation so doesn’t apply to married couples. Oddly enough, that’s also why Orthodox Jews do the sex/segregated circle type of dancing. Same mindset.

Even tho something like belly dancing doesn’t involve touching, it’s definitely sexually suggestive so that would be out.

Folk dancing such as Irish step dancing presumably would be fine and presumably square dancing.

Most of the partnered dancing done by singles nowadays (especially slow dancing) is out.

That’s the basic gist of the issue. Obviously they are square against premarital sex, (as are the Orthodox) anything which creates temptation along those lines is to be avoided.

None whatsoever. Dancing really is all about sex.

@Nullo

That is such a perfect example of what I mentioned.

After a quick perusal of that site, I think it’s fair to conclude that this group (who would be catalogued as part of the Emergent movement) are on the opposite end of the spectrum from the legalistic Fundammentalists to which I made reference.

Interesting contrast. And a perfect example that it’s impossible go make blanket statements about all Baptists.

About the only safe one that would hold water (pun intended) is that Baptists believe immersion rather than sprinkling for baptism practice. Hence, the name.

Everything else is up for grabs.

So girls can’t take ballet? No tap dance, nothing? I always had assumed it was like the Orthodox Jews, which is fine with me, I love a good circle dance, but these Baptists can’t move their body to the beat of music? I just can’t imagine it. I was in my Zumba class today, loving it, and I guess that would be a no no.

@Buttonstc Interestingly, my husband’s paternal side are Sephardic Jews from Israel, and they have Belly dancers at their weddings sometimes.

@Buttonstc: I assumed he meant Southern Baptists (which of course are a diverse group themselves.).

@bolwerk

He who?
Are you referring to Nullo?

@Nullo “I do know that they have a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol…”

I wonder if they think it was a sin for Jesus to pass out wine to his disciples at the last supper, or to turn the water into wine at the wedding? I’m assuming they use grape juice for communion.

@JLeslie

Sephardic Jews afaik are generally different from the Ashkenazic Jews which produce groups like the Lubavitchers who presumably wouldn’t be having any belly dancers.

But I would assume it’s largely cultural since Sephardics come from the regions where belly dancing is quite commonly integral to the prevailing culture.

But my reference to that was more Baptist oriented and merely an illustration of the mindset of dancing = sex ( in barely disguised form)

Interesting that you mention ballet and tap. I have several close friends who are Baptists and I’ll have to run that by them.

The other thing about Baptists is the significant number of congregations who are proud of maintaining their autonomy. So they are not affiliated with a larger group such as the SBC. The Southern Baptist Convention.

The autonomous groups split hairs along all sorts of lines peculiar to that congregation alone. So conceivably, tap dancing could be fine for kids at one congregation but not the one down the street.

Such is the nature of legalism. It focuses upon the letter of the law rather than the Spirit of the law ( similar to the criticisms leveled at the Pharisees back in Jesus’s day).

@gorillapaws

Yes they definitely use grape juice.

And the hair splitting conversations which take place around the issue of Jesus changing water to wine are a sight to behold :)

Mind boggling.

@Buttonstc: the OP

@Buttonstc If you can find out about the ballet I would be interested. I grew up taking ballet, and I don’t think of it as sexual at all, except when a performance involves romance among the characters within the story. Ballet is straight back, tall posture, bottoms tucked in, I think of it as very formal, and more of a thing of beauty, as opposed to hip hop with a bunch of bouncing around, sway backs, and butts stuck out. Honestly, I find hip hop more suggestive than belly dancing.

@bolwerk

The OP is a she. Thus my confusion. Sorry about that.

Southern Baptists are generally among the most Fundy and conservative ones but there are plenty in Northern areas equally narrow minded.

I’m not sure that she was specifically referencing SBC churches.

Yes, I’m a girl. But, many get confused because of my name.

I was not specifically referring to SBC. The first I heard of such a thing was years ago at my girlfriend’s wedding, they live in Michigan. She married a guy who was raised Baptist and everyone talked about how his parents actually danced a couple of dances at the wedding. it was a big deal. Before that I had not idea there might be people who don’t dance at all.

Just a side-note on Orthodox Jewish dancing: At traditional Ortho events, there can be other kinds of dancing besides “circle dances.” Lots of “simcha dances” (dances done at wedding and other joyous occasions) take other forms, like line dances. At these events, the males and females are divided by a divider. If the divider is high enough that the men can’t look on, some women can do some pretty rockin’ dancing.

@gorillapaws I don’t know how they square that.

@ J

I don’t see the objection to ballet being focused upon the feelings of the dancers as much as the men in the audience viewing dancers in form fitting garments.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be logical in order for something to be frowned upon either. There is a ubiquitously quoted Bible verse which covers a lot of bases in the hair splitting that occurs.

Namely ” Avoid all appearance of evil”

The evil in this case being the sexual temptation issues rather than dancing in and of itself.

I just realized that asking my friends about how their church views various types of dancing such as ballet or tap will basically apply to their particular Baptist Church and not all.

BTW. Baptists are not the only Protestant churches to forbid dancing, drinking, gambling etc.

Many fundamentalist groups do the same. Practically every denomination has a Fundamentalist branch stricter than the others, even Presbyterians. Go figure.

@answerjill Yeah, that’s thing, I am accustomed to thinking that noting isa problem when the sexes are separated, so that is why no dancing seems so extreme to me. That is why I am trying to figure out what no dancing really means among these Baptists. Jews never say they don’t dance, dancing is a big part of celebrations.

By the way I am Jewish, and I have been to Orthodox weddings. I think maybe you and @Buttonstc may not realize.

@Buttonstc I see. So if the girls are together in a ballet class, just girls, it might be ok. Same with men. That would make more sense to me. Still, we are not sure right?

@Buttonstc and about the feelings of th edancer, I did not mean the feelings in the ballet, I meant that performances where the dancers are romantically involved for the sake of the story are touching and dancing together.

You’ve often referenced being Jewish so I’m not surprised.

I lived in a house share for many years and the owner was Orthodox and over the years we had many many fascinating conversations. My best friend in Elem school who lived across the street was also Orthodox.

I’m just more familiar with Ashkenazi than Sephardic.

Do Sephardics have an Orthodox branch even ? Curious about that.

Yeah the whole ballet thing is one of those hair splitting things. Different Baptists will view it differently.

But the general rule of thumb is this whether Baptist or any other denomination, namely:

The more conservative and Fundamentalist the group, the more restrictive is the mindset on these fringe areas.

The most fundy ones are the ones who would much rather err on the side of caution. They prefer to avoid any questionable areas altogether rather than run the risk of “sin”. It makes for a very constrained mindset.

@Buttonstc I am not an expert. A woman who worked for me was Sephardic Orthodox, and in her Synagogue it was very mixed, both Ashkenazi and Sephardic. Here in America I kind of think of it more as you are Reformed, Conservative, or Orthdodox, rather than Sephardic or Ashkenazi, but in major cities like NY probably the groups are more separated would be my guess, but just a guess. And, I only think the Orthodox would be more separated if they are, because kosher observances vary slightly between the two, and the Orthodox are more “clannish.” Big cities like NY would have more population and hence more options for different temples. But like I said when I lived in FL the Sepharic and Ashkenazi observant Jews were very united where I lived.

Now, also keep in mind that in the US the vast majority of Jews are Ashkenazi, so that is who we are most familiar with here. My husband is Mexican, and the vast majority there are Sephardic. My impression from what I have heard from his father is that in Mexico they don’t really have reformed, conervative, and orthodox. I think they all mainly behave as orthodox, but many would be classified as Conservative by our definition I think. The Mexican Jews are very separated (or at least when my husband was young they were) from the rest of Mexican society. The terminology they use throws me also. My husband’s father would call his wife’s family Mexican (she is Catholic), and his family Jewish. For me that is odd, because I would refer to everyone who is a citizen of America as American, no matter what religion.

@JLeslie I know that you are Jewish and have Orthodox friends. We have discussed this before! In reference to your previous post—I find that in many parts of the world, outside of the US, the majority of synagogues follow Orthodox traditions (in ritual, prayer, seating, etc.), even if the majority of the congregants and other Jews in the area are not Orthodox in practice. Around the world, there are ortho and non-ortho Sephardic Jews. I have seen, as JL has mentioned, that in areas with a high concentration of both Seph and Ashk Jews, both groups (S and A) will tend to have separate synagogues. When I was in Strasbourg, France, the “grand” synagogue in the city is this huge building that contains 2 elaborate S and A houses of worship.

Back to the original question. Since there seems to be many different types of Baptists, is there a central Baptist something or other that lets Baptists know what they are supposed to follow? Or, does each church just kind of decide what their interpretation is?

I find all the variations in rules of different religions fascinating

Have you been watching footloose?

@cheebdragon I completely forgot about that movie. Right, the whole town couldn’t dance. I guess it is no dancing at all for some.

If I were Baptist I’d hate to be caught dancing. But the Mormons?
They have dances constantly and are not allowed premarital sex.
It’s all silliness to me. Rules and regulations.

@JL

The SBC is the largest, but not the only Baptist group so any church who chooses to affiliate with them does agree to their standard of rules.

The American Baptist convention is more liberal in policy if not in doctrine and any member churches subscribe to their own set of regulations.

But there are countless other Baptist groups of varying sizes each with their own set of rules on fringe issues.

I’m using the term fringe issues to cover all aspects other than doctrine.

But as I mentioned previously, Baltists, more than any other denomination, have many many autonomous churches who are not linked to any governing body. And they are all over the map both geographically and in practice.

So the simple answer to your question is No.

But at least that gives you an idea of why.

Such is typical of the wild and wooly West that is Protestantism. Some view that as a good thing, others not.

The Roman Catholic Church keeps insisting that they are the only authentic and true Church. And the Jews claim to be first. Everybody has their unique little place under the sun.

:D

@Buttonstc I think among the Abrahamic religions all of them agree the Jews were first. Outside of that I would guess that some easten religions might be older? Or, at least claim to be older. Not sure why being first matters? I guess maybe among Christians it might matter, because whoever is considered the first Christians would have been the ones to actually right the new testament or something? I think that is the Catholics, and then some Christians broke off “protesting” against the church. Or, do I have that wrong?

My girlfriend was raised Jehovah and they are organized and all on the same message every week, like the Catholics. I don’t think the Jews do that, but I have no idea really.

Back to the original question, I just find such joy in music and dance. One of the things I had on my list of what I want in my husband when I was young, was that he could/would dance. It is so hard for me to understand.

Can no-dance Baptists dance in private—like a husband and wife at home? I wonder about that….

@jill

Yes. A married couple dancing at home or (or anywhere else) is not a problem.

As previously mentioned, it’s not the dancing in and of itself that’s necessarily problematic.

It’s the connection with sexual temptation that is the crux of the matter.

If a group is opposed, on principle, to premarital ( or extra-marital) sex then anything making that more difficult to adhere to is to be avoided.

The underlying principle is not at all unlike the rationale behind the dress codes for
both Muslims and Orthodox Jews.

And if you’ve ever watched any footage at the type of stuff passing for dancing going on in nightclubs nowadays, it’s not hard to see the point.

You see these hoochie-mama girls backing their behind up to a guys crotch and grinding away and it leaves little to the imagination. But that’s what passes for dancing among todays youth.

Either that or wrapping their arms around each other, sticking together like glue, barely moving during a slow dance and sucking face the whole time.

Let’s face it. It’s basically foreplay in public with a soundtrack.

I realize that there are all different types of dancing and not everything is like that. But where do parents draw the line?

But you said you’re trying to understand. And for some people it’s just easier to avoid it altogether. It’s a much simpler approach for people who prefer to keep it simple.

They are doing the exact same thing for which Muslims are criticized as extremist in their dress edicts for women. I don’t really see much difference. That’s their particular way of dealing with sexual temptation.

That’s also why I mentioned that something like square dancing or other types of folk dancing aren’t considered problematic.

what it boils down to is censorship of anything perceived problematic for sexual temptation.

You can dance if you want to…...

I am an American Baptist, and I dance, badly. I mean embarassingly badly. I’m saying my wife is deaf, and dances better than I do.
My Mom was a Southern Baptist, and she danced, though she frowned on youth dances in the church.

Being ABC you are obviously with the Baptist less stringent on fringe issues.

What I was describing is typical of the more fundy end of the spectrum.

But I can understand people being puzzled by that in this day and age. Doesnt reflect my viewpoint on things either.

But for some people it works.

I don’t judge people who feel it might lead to temptation. Like I said if they want to keep the sexes separated I get that, even though I do not agree with it for myself. Although, I do agree that I think dancing is out of control sexually among young people.

When I moved to Michigan as a college student, I was very annoyed that men seemed to only ask girls to dance during a slow song at the night clubs, I don’t want some guy I never met before pressing up against me. Where I grew up we didn’t have slow songs in dance clubs. Anyway, the reason those guys waited for slow songs was because they grew up in places where men didn’t dance much (probably not for religious reasons) and were simply clueless. They might get out there if they were drunk enough, but it was the “white man’s dance.” So, because these kids never really were around dancing, they couldn’t do it with any grace or decorum. Women dancing with their legs apart, pratically humping, its ridiculous. That is why I say that I think belly dancing is less offensive than hip hop sometimes. Belly is about the lure, hip hop is basically mimicking having sex. When I go to latin dance clubs it is about the dancing more than anything. Same if I go dancing with my parents and they are playing oldies, the couples really can dance.

Glad I’m Methodist, we had a dance teacher who came in and choreographed reviews to raise monies for our trips. They were fabulous trips!!! We had guys dress in girls clothes. that was hip in the 70s.

So I guess Baptists cant dance necked??

I did freak out when I saw the Preacher with a deck of playing cards…...

Some see dancing as the vertical expression of a horizontal idea. At Baylor University (a Baptist institution) the school newspaper used to advertise off-campus “foot events” which was a euphemism for dances!

Honestly, this is one of those things that makes religion seem bat shit crazy…..if something as harmless as dancing is going to piss god off, well then I am sooo fucked when I die.

So that means you’re ok with girls grinding their behinds into a guys crotch as is the current trend ?

Did you even bother reading the rest of this thread before making this “bat-shit” assumption ?

They are not interested in imposing this on the whole rest of the world. Their primary interest is avoiding teenage out of wedlock pregnancies and families wecked by infidelity.

This is their method for their members to avoid sexual temptation. You and anyone else not a member of their church is perfectly free to do as they please.

Why is that considered so crazy. Many other religious groups have far more stringent regulations by far.

It has nothing whatsoever to do with God being pissed off. It’s about people trying to live sexually responsible lives who object for their own sake. And in this current sex-saturated culture with teen pregnancy and divorce on the rise as well as infidelity (and wrecked families) making headlines all over the place, how is an attempt to steer clear of temptation suddenly deemed as crazy ?

I’m willing to lay a substantial bet that women like Sandra Bullock and Tiger’s wife would long for a man with some attempt at sexual restraint.

Dancing, for them, is just one SMALL part of a mindset of sexual responsibility for themselves and their children.

You may feel that it’s ineffective and raise your children as sexually permissive as you please. They have made a different choice FOR THEMSELVES.

It may not be YOUR way, (or mine) but why does that make it automatically “bat-shit crazy” ?

I’m not following your logic here.

@Buttonstc you don’t think that all dance leads to sexual temptation do you? That’s my problem with it.

No I don’t. Absolutely not. And I think it’s misleading to assume that all Baptists are against all dancing of any type.

Different ones draw the lines at different places. I honestly don’t know of any who would have a problem with Square dancing or similar. And you mentioned your parents attending dances with music like Swing and Big Band type music. The primary problem that most Baptists would have with that would be lack of skill ( certainly not sinfulness). I think Filmfann would be a good example of that :)

It’s not at all the same as teetotaling in regards to alcohol. That’s much more easily a slippery slope.

Dancing and it’s various forms is a lot more nuanced. And all but the most narrow minded die hards undersand that and make individual decisions for themselves accordingly.

Please ignore Hollywood stereotypes presented in the movie “Footloose”. That’s a cartoon simplification.

Whatever restrictions they have are clearly for themselves only and no attempts are made to impose it on entire towns. Good grief.

Different groups draw the lines for themselves at different points in exactly the same way that Orthodox Jews and Reform Jews do. It’s really no different. I’m sure that tons of people regard the practices of O. Jews (on many things other than dancing as well) with a mixture of skepticism and scorn. Having grown up with a close friend and family with these beliefs and later having detailed discussions with an adult friend, I understand the reasons behind most of it.

But I’m sure keeping two separate sets of dishes for meat and milk products could be judged harshly as “bat-shit crazy” by some skeptics.

But they aren’t requiring it of the whole rest of the world. Only themselves.

People whose religious practices are so different from the rest of society are always judged more harshly than those who blend in seamlessly.

But does that qualify them as crazy ? If they aren’t harming anyone else or trying to impose their practices on others, who am I to judge.

Are those who surrender to the promiscuity encouraged by our current culture any happier than those who have chosen restraint ? Food for thought.

The era of free love proved that free love (as in rampant promiscuity and drug use) isn’t always free. As in every area of life, there are consequences. Different groups of people make different choices. Who am I (or anyone else) to judge those making different choices as crazy ?

@Buttonstc I certainly did not think all Baptists were against dancing, hence the way I worded my original question was, The Baptists who are opposed to dancing, which I hope implied to everyone that I was only talking about the select group of Baptists who don’t dance, but I realize that sentence could be interpreted as all Baptists, which was not my intention. I did clarify that I know many Baptists who do.

Now, your comparison to keeping separate dishes, I think that is nuts, and I would agree that Jews do not require of it of anyone else, it is their choice to follow their interpretation of God’s laws, but is it really true that the Baptists who feel dancing is vertical sex really don’t judge others who do it, and would prefer to not have themselves probably especially their children exposed to it? I think their is a group of Christians who would love to make laws in America that would turn us into a Christian Country, and for that matter I hear them trying to pull historical examples all of the time that supossedly support their mixing of church and state. I think this is a minority of Chirstians, but the minority is large enough and loud enough that they seem to have some effect. I have not really heard it in regards to dance, but certainly with other things. But, maybe you are only talking about dance in your example? Look at the topic of sex specifically, certainly there are Christian and individuals who are trying to limit sex education in public schools, even though a parent always has the right to not sign the permission form to allow their children into that class. It is not compulsary, unless it has changed since I was in school. I don’t think we can say as a blanket statement that the Christians just want to be left alone, and they will leave everyone else alone.

Ortho Jews have a joke. It goes something like: Don’t have sex—it could lead to mixed-dancing!

That’s a very good point about mixing church and state.

But my comments were specific to those Baptists who are anti-dancing Not to sex education and related issues. I was merely trying to explain their reasons behind their stance so that it would at least somewhat comprehensible to those puzzled by it.

There is a scary group of fanatics who would like to remake the US as a Theocracy but it DEFINITELY is NOT the Baptists. They are much more deeply rooted in a weird combination of offshoots from the Orthodox Presbyterians and various Neo Pentecostal groups.

I had initial qualms about giving more specifics because some of it scary stuff and doesn’t lend itself to casual perusal and consequent over reaction and applying it to all conservative Christians.

But truth is important so I think it bears mention.

If one wants to identify the real wingnut contingent, who are even repudiated by other conservative Christians like Ralph Reed and Jerry Falwell (before his death) there are a few terms to understand.

Do a little Googling on the terms “Theocratic Dominionism” and “Christian Reconstructionism”. Be alert for quotes from the writings of Gary North and R. Rushdoony and to a lesser extent the writings of Greg Bansen if you want a true glimpse of the real wingnut idea guys.

This is where a lot of this posturing to bring the country back to it’s Christian roots is coming from.

Just be clear that I’m certainly NOT defending or advocating their ideas. I did quite a bit of research into this and I feel that the more people who know about these nutbars, the less likely there will be a widespread acceptance of their ideas and goals.

Also don’t assume that they represent mainstream Christianity. I’m not referring to you JL but more to anyone else reading this.

I’m a firm believer in the importance of maintaining a clear separation of Church and State. We have seen way too much of the havoc wreaked historically and currently when those two are aligned. (The Crusades in response to the spread of Muslim conquest and control are obviously the most glaring examples. One being as harmful as the other, because each wanted total control with nothing to check their power and ambition.)

Yes, there are those Christians trying to control others. But they thankfully are primarily fringe fanatics.

I want to do whatever I can to make sure they stay that way.

@Buttonstc You know, I never group all Christians together, and I think the fanatics are a minority as I have said, but until you wrote your last answer here, I never thought of what type or branch of Christianity was trying to change and control the country. I had always just called them the religious right, but never gave a moments thought to whether they were Methodist, Baptists, whatever. You gave me something to think about. Thanks for your answer.

Right now they clearly are a minority and I want to do whatever I can to make certain it stays that way.

This particular faction is not that large numerically speaking and once their real agenda is made apparent, they are repudiated even by prominent members of the Christian right.
But their ideas have a tremendous influence disproportionate to their modest numbers. They have insinuated these ideas into numerous disparate Christian groups by being largely under the radar. So the more people who become aware of this the better is what I feel.

It’s a case of “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” being part of their strategy.

They have gotten better at minimizing the more unpalatable aspects of their agenda. They don’t openly declare that adultery and other sins would ideally be punishable by death (preferably stoning) but it is in their writings if one knows where to look.

Instead they keep the focus on things like the moral decay of America and the need to return to it’s Christian roots, yada yada yada.

I think that any group has the inherent right to lobby and petition for whatever causes are important to them. That has always been the American way.

Jews have as much right to urge support for the defense Israel as some Muslims do to press for a solution to the Palestinians plight. Christians likewise have the right to support pro life initiatives or whatever else. But when some wingnuts start shooting abortion doctors, that’s going over the line.

As long as things are above board, each group has the inherent right to lobby for whatever cause they choose and the people will decide what should prevail.

It’s the specter of the hidden agendas of ANY group which sticks in my craw.

So if shining a light on some hidden agendas helps, I’m glad to do it.

A little tangential here, but I feel the exact same way about the issue of the Mosque to be built a stone’s throw from ground zero. There are hidden agendas there which I find equally bothersome. But I don’t want to derail the current topic. That was just a little example.

I just dislike wingnuts of any persuasion :)

@Buttonstc I agree, extremists are a problem in any group. A quick question about ground zero, are you for the building of the mosque or against it? I wasn’t clear?

I am against any tactics by the government to abrogate their rights and force them to relocate because that sets a bad precedent.

However, I am for any efforts by the family and friends of the survivors and anyone else being re-traumatized by this to call attention to the extreme callousness of this project. Those who say it isn’t really EXACTLY on the gravesite are being disingenuous, to say the least. City blocks have a long side and a short side and it’s a scant two SHORT blocks away. Please.

And if it prompts an investigation into who is really behind the funding for this, so much the better. There are hidden agendas here. Of that I have no doubt.

I’m NOT questioning their LEGAL right to build there. I’m talking about the inherent hypocrisy in doing so.

If you are claiming to be a reliigion of peace, then why not do the considerate thing and voluntarily withdraw ? If you were previously unaware of the deleterious effect this would have on still grieving family members of the deceased (which I seriously doubt) why would you persist now that they have left no doubt about how this would affect them ?

It’s he same hypocrisy inherent in killing abortion doctors in the name of Christianity

In one case it’s extremist fanatical Muslims and in the other it’s extremist fanatical Christians. Same difference, IMHO.

If their intentions were totally benign, they would realize their misstep and voluntarily withdraw. But there are more cynical influences “behind the curtain” as it were.

I don’t know whether the frontmen realize how much they’re being used or are a part of it to some degree. But if compassion were truly in control here, it would be a different scenario.

That’s how I see it. I realize it’s not PC but it’s honestly how I feel about it.

BTW are you aware of the date chosen for the groundbreaking ceremony ?

Sept. 11 2011——The 10th anniversary. Try to convince me that has benign intent. I dare anyone.

I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night.

But seriously, I don’t want to derail this Q down that track. I basically wanted to give a thorough clarification to what you asked me about.

And I abhor hidden agendas.

Not all Baptists are narrow-minded fundamentalists.

@mattbrowne Sure, I know, we went over that in the thread and in my original question I was only asking about the Baptists who don’t dance, I know there are Baptists who do. I think maybe I worded the main question poorly, it can be taken two ways. It can be interpreted as though I am saying Baptists are not a allowed to dance, or of the Baptists who don’t dance, and I meant the latter.

@JLeslie – I think religions that try to control people’s lives too much are dangerous and should be criticized. Especially when it’s about human nature and healthy activities such as dancing. Not allowing people to dance is totally ridiculous.

@mattbrowne But not governments, I guess?

@Nullo – Mine doesn’t. A citizen got rights and duties. Wealth is a right and a responsibility.

@Nullo I know, it is awful when my government tries to tell me who I can share my bed with and what I can do with my body.