No problem with freedom of speech or religion
Submitted by A.I. Watcher on September 11 2001 08:14:31
In reply to to offend or defend, that is the question submitted by Splash! on September 11 2001 04:05:11
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I think they ought to be vigorously defended, both of them. But I also believe that freedom of religion ends where that freedom impinges on the rights and freedoms of non-believers. If Christians want to worship on Sundays and not be required to work on that day, I believe that's very reasonable. I don't have a problem with a law being passed about that. If Jews want to worship on Friday evening and Saturday, likewise. However, I strongly disagree that laws ought to be passed requiring the rest of us to observe religious days. I sometimes work on Saturdays and Sundays and I've been known to require my employees to do the same if they are not religious. Anyway, I have no problem with Chrisitans maintaining a political presense in order to defend their rights. The price of freedom is vigilence, as they say. My problem begins where the quest for freedom turns into an exercise in forced religion. Christians HAVE freedom of religion and speech. It's not even close to being threatened, at least not in North America. The First Amendment is very strong in the U.S. and equivilent Charter freedoms are perhaps even stronger in Canada. Witness Phelps. As much of a total dickwad as he is, there's no question that he will be allowed to continue his campaign of hate. My problem is Chrisitans who force their beliefs by influencing school curriculum, passing laws about morality, passing laws about social values based on their religion and passing laws about criminalizing loving behavior that is condemned in that terribly hateful, evil book you worship. |
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