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Religion

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MineralMan

(148,998 posts)
Thu May 9, 2019, 11:02 AM May 2019

Some US Christians' Definition of Religious Freedom: [View all]

Not everyone thinks that religious freedom means the freedom to worship or not worship whatever religion you prefer. In the United States, there are many Christians who believe that religious freedom means that they should be free to discriminate against anyone, based on their own religious beliefs.

They want to be free to refuse to rent living spaces to anyone who believes differently than they do.
They want to be free not to do business with anyone who doesn't share their beliefs.
They want to be free to exclude people from parts of society if they follow a different religion or are atheists.
They want to be free to stop people who don't behave or live as they think proper from marrying or doing almost anything at all.
They want to be free to prevent people from doing anything that is proscribed by their religion, like using contraception or obtaining an abortion.
They want to be free to block groups who worship differently from being able to build houses of worship in their communities.
They want to be free to make criticizing their religion or mocking it a crime.

Their idea of religious freedom is for their religion to be free, but not yours. If you object to their freedom to discriminate against you, then they will say you are against religious freedom and must be stopped.

That's how many US Christians see religious freedom. In some states, they have even passed laws to that effect.

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Don't forget you aren't free to criticize religion Major Nikon May 2019 #1
I was adding that as you wrote your reply. MineralMan May 2019 #2
Ironically there are those who fail to see the contradiction Major Nikon May 2019 #8
That's why we see bills with titles like "Religious Freedom Act," MineralMan May 2019 #9
they want to be free to deny religious freedom to others. unblock May 2019 #3
That's the bottom line, isn't it? MineralMan May 2019 #4
They want to be free to proselytize in the workplace DBoon May 2019 #5
Yes, and in the public schools, too. MineralMan May 2019 #6
The conversation has gotten so bad... Thunderbeast May 2019 #7
Oh, yes. I go elsewhere when I see such symbols on businesses. MineralMan May 2019 #10
This makes it easy to to go elsewhere The Genealogist May 2019 #11
No, that means when they are done cheating you, you must forgive them Major Nikon May 2019 #14
Only if you're a Christian, too. MineralMan May 2019 #15
cultural evolutionary theories about religion generally hold that religious signalling Voltaire2 May 2019 #16
Yeah but whatabout China?!?!? trotsky May 2019 #12
What indeed? MineralMan May 2019 #13
Over 200 years and Protestants still HATE people ROB-ROX May 2019 #17
Why single out the Protestants? Mariana May 2019 #18
Because myths don't perpetuate themselves! Act_of_Reparation May 2019 #20
"An atheist on the Internet posted an unfavorable opinion about a religious topic!" trotsky May 2019 #21
With allies like that... Act_of_Reparation May 2019 #22
Nooo they are the image of their Wrathful God... uriel1972 May 2019 #19
Speaking only for myself, I appreciate the opportunity Pendrench May 2019 #23
That is the rational approach to learning about belief systems. MineralMan May 2019 #24
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