Tuesday, January 08, 2008
"Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion"
I saw this quote and it doesn't sit well with me. Why wouldn't a freedom of religion also include a freedom from religion? This quote, to me, implies that as long as you worship something that is ok, but if you don't worship anything that isn't accepted.
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Yes I agree. No religion is a the same as picking Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist etc..
I think this is being mispoke. I think what it means is that you are free to choose a religion or lack thereof but you are not "protected" from others religion as they practice it.
- Joe
I agree. Freedom to choose not freedom from exposure.
Sometimes it seems there's one thing you can't be with expressed passion in America without fairly severe criticism ( open flood gates)...... white and of the Christian faith. Just a thought.
And forget about being Christian and a democrat. I think some belive that to be an oxymoron.
Please note I am not infering these things with strong personal convictions, rather from observation and lots of it here in the bible belt ofthe west. My personal convictions..... I'll keep that way ;-).
I agree with Chrissy...I think the intent of the statement is that we our free to choose a religion, even if that choice means no religion, but we are not afforded a society that is, by design, devoid of religion. Unfortunately, that means everyone is going to be offended sooner or later. Some atheists are offended by "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Some Christians are offended that schools have to have "Winter Parties" instead of Christmas Parties. (And, I'm sure there's someone out there who feels religiously suppressed that they must be selected to "Winter Parties").
While I'm sure being Christain and white gets some heat, I've always thought that complaint was a little silly. For some reason, a fair amount of Chirstain's have this victim-complex that doesn't make sense to me, being the dominate religion in the states and all.
And if you really want some heat, try being atheist. When was the last time you saw an atheist run for public office?
I don't know that the Christian plays a victim role, rather than a supressed one. There are 2 scenarios playing against one another. The "shhh" on the Christianity side and the Christian extremists. It would seem that one creates the other. The extremist is caused from rebellion of supposed suppression and the silent party in fear of being labelled an extremist.
My point simply was, when's the last time you heard someone say "Don't say Happy Hannukah because that's not fair to the Christian community." Yet put Christmas in place of Hannukah and your averages should change. Majorty or minority shouldn't change the rules of consideration.
As for an atheist for office, there's a thought. As long as they weren't from the school of thought that " 'I' am God" there might be a small chance in hell. If they were however, yikes. Besides, I don't think the country as a whole is prepared to go full on existential just yet.
Ah yes, the War on Christmas. When was the last time you had programming on TV that was mostly Hannukah programming? Or on the radio? Before the 'War on Christmas' when was the last time most of the commericals or people in the stores said Happy Hannukah to everyone?
The reason people were offended is because there was no acknowledgement (or very little) of other religions during the season. That is why Happy Holidays is the more popular phrase now. Not because Christianity is being surpressed, but to be more inclusive of the diverse nature of religion in America.
:-) I'm all for a Happy Hannukah Charlie Brown, but haven't seen one yet. But other religions are jumping in on the commercialization band wagon.
If other religions are unrepresented then my advice to them is represent. But no one should be offended if a recognized holiday is used in greeting. A polite exchange of "Merry Christmas" to be replied to with "and Happy Hannukah to you" shouldn't be offensive.... in my opinion. Eh. to each his own. If someone is offended because I offer them a Merry Christmas or Happy Kwanza because of my religious convictions or social association, then perhaps an alternate saluation of "Kiss my ass. I bathed so it's clean" might be received better. :-) Perhaps the sensitivity meter needs to be adjusted.
I agree with that sentiment, although I would argue that the opposite is also true and people shouldn't be offended if someone wanted to be inclusive and use the 'Happy Holidays' greeting intead.
I agree.
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