Posted by deirdrehbrt on February 8, 2006, at 20:50:18
In reply to Re: NH Weighs in., posted by lynn971 on February 8, 2006, at 19:45:12
Lynn,
I honestly don't think that christians are losing all of their rights. They are though, losing some that other religions may have never had. I think that in many arenas, they are losing laws that specifically favor them.
Some of this loss I disagree with. Forcing a town to take down a monument of the ten commandments, etc. is, I think, wrong. However, if another faith with significant population wished to erect a similar monument to their faith, that should be supported.
Removing christian specific prayers as mandated prayers, is not wrong. Forbiding a christian student from mentioning Christ in an address is wrong.
If a pagan student is forbidden to wear his or her pentacle to school, I think that it is only fair that a christian be forbidden to wear a cross. They are both emblems of faith, and what is done for one should be done for the other. Personally, I think that all true emblems of faith should be allowed.
Christians have freedom to worship. Their ministers are able to marry their faithful. They are able to establish religious schools. They hold tax exempt status.
What is being lost is the expression of their religious beliefs in state sanctioned arenas. NO more teaching creationism in school, removing Christ from benedictions. (personally, I think this is wrong as long as other religions are allowed to mention their deities and are allowed to give benedictions) and other such things.
Again, I'm not anti-christian. I think horrible some of the things some christians have done, but christians should have every right to co-exist amongst others in a free country which promotes no religion above another.
That said, civil rights should not be based on the morality of any religion. Every person should have the right to vote, the right to work, the right to find housing, the right to worship whom they choose, the right to marry whom they choose.
No religion though, should be forced to marry a couple who they don't believe should be married. I don't want to force my morality on a church. It's a two-way street.
--Dee
poster:deirdrehbrt
thread:607584
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060204/msgs/607717.html