saltoftree

Can I just lay down some groundwork and preface this by saying that I'm a Reddit newcomer? An r/virgin, if you will? So please mind me if I lack the proper etiquette when it comes to doing one of these; I might need a little handholding.

Just based on the above, you already have better social skills than like...68% of Redditors. You are gonna do just fine.

I was in a small group in a church that was probably closer to Osteen than the RCC (call it non-denominational with some fire-and-brimstone Pentecostal ancestry?)

Anyway, one of the group members says "I'll listen to a little Joel uh-STEEN (pronounced exactly as I've written) now and again, if I need some inspirational brainwashing."

I'm sitting there thinking yeah... That sounds about right.

Country don't mean dumb...

No, they don't. The standard varies (preponderance of the evidence in civil, beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal) but in either case the burden is on the plaintiff/prosecution.