Riding with the Lord ...

This isn't about religion.

If you'd like to have a deep philosophical discussion regarding the existence of God, I'd be happy to meet you for a cup of coffee and be ready to have at it. I have a few thoughts on the matter.

This isn't about which religious sect is a valid one, although the one I'm talking about here is a particularly end-timey one, but no,  I digress... This is about public spaces, and specifically tax-supported public spaces, and what should and shouldn't be allowed there.

Everyday when I walk with my wife to the Avondale Estates MARTA station, we have to run a phalanx of religious pamphleteers. Inside the station, positioned near the BreezeCard kiosks, stands a group of Jehovah's witnesses, intent on handing out their "literature," mostly consisting of their flagship publication, The Watchtower. 

Feel free to peruse the links I provided, but I feel justified in describing them as a Christian Millennial sect that believes that the end times are coming real soon, now. Which is neither here nor there, but suffice it to say that I don't share their beliefs.

Regardless of their beliefs, though, they're a religious group, standing inside of a publicly funded mass-transit facility, selling their beliefs to the public, who are generally just trying to get to work. 

Besides the fare collections, which constitute a minor part of their operating budget, MARTA is funded by a 1 percent sales tax in Fulton and DeKalb counties along with some federal money. That's your money being spent to house religious instruction of a certain tenet, irregardless of your beliefs and wishes.

If they were Imams standing there, passing out literature praising the beliefs of Islam, and disparaging other religions, would you feel ok about it? How about fundamentalist Christians, passing their judgements on your lifestyle and choices? How about someone who believed that Christ was a space alien who ventured to earth to impregnate its women? How about some crazy atheist standing there, passing out literature talking about how your God is a figment of your imagination.

All of these religious views are equally valid (yes, some are crazy, but I won't say which...), but there is a time and a place for everything, including religious discussion. The point is that there is no place for this nonsense inside of a train station, and the Marta Police should put an end to it.

If anyone is spending time in a train station for any reason besides riding the train, escort them to the curb, where they are free to express themselves to their heart's content, just not on my dime, and not in my face on a daily basis.