alt.education

> http://www.youbetiam.com/index_files/Page4829.htm
> > < working on Sunday. Early Virginia law reads that "[a]ll persons
> < whatsoever upon the Sabaoth daye shall frequente divine service and
> < sermons both forenoon and afternoon" (Laws and Documents). Failure
> < to comply with this resulted in disenfranchisement or worse. For
> < example, in Connecticut, a man was not allowed to vote unless "he is
> < converted and a member of one of the churches allowed in the
> < dominion" (Connecticut). The penalty for non-attendance could also
> < be financial, as in Virginia, where non-church-goers were taxed a
> < pound of tobacco for one offense and a punitive 50 pounds for a
> < month's truancy (Laws and Documents).
> (and see the sources cited at the bottom).
>
> http://www.nha.org/history/hn/HN-summer94-colonialchurch.htm
> > < were chosen to patrol the town and arrest persons engaged on the
> < Lord's day in acts of recreation or pleasure. It was also their duty
> < to keep people awake during the church service. These Sunday
> < constables were called "tithing men".
> <
> > < terms; only church members could vote or hold office.

And the point is? If people who didn't know better hundreds of years
ago required citizens to recognize the flatness of the Earth, has that
any bearing whatsoever on whether the Earth is flat today (or ever
was)?