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True Religious Freedom

Aren't you tired of all this bickering about religion.  Come on!  Does it really matter?  Our government was founded by people of Christian beliefs.  That has carried forward to much of what we see today.  "In God We Trust" on our money is a prime example.  No one is threatened by that, so why do so many people find the Ten Commandments in a court house so threatening.  Unless you disagree with the tenants of what is being displayed, who cares.  Surely the people who protest the display of Christian icons don't advocate behavior that is contrary to those who are making the display.  We may disagree on the origins of those mores, but why should that matter so long as the basic message is coming through.  There is no reason that all requests to display religious symbols which support the goals and morals of the society and government cannot be displayed in an equitable manner.

The real problem is one religion trying to indoctrinate others into their beliefs.  This is what we need to protect against.  Allowing a religious display on government property is not an attempt to convert others, so long as displays of other philosophies are not excluded.  Likewise, holding a prayer by the religion of the majority of attendees is not an attempt to sway the beliefs of others who may be attending.  They should just not participate in a respectful manner.  Why get upset about it?  Likewise, if Christians attend a meeting of primarily Buddhists, they should not get upset with the practices of that culture. 

The bottom line is to distinguish between attempts to convert and simple displays.  Of course, all displays -- both verbal and physical -- could be considered "advertising" and an attempt to convert, but the question must be asked: "Is it advertising or coercion.  The former is OK, the latter is not.

All people should have the opportunity to be exposed to all beliefs without prejudice.  This should be the underlying tenant of all religious freedom.  Any religion which fears it's believers may lose faith by being exposed to alternative views does not believe in true religious freedom and, therefore, would not receive the privilege of equal exposure.  That includes agnostic and atheist philosophies.

  Copyright © 2005 Milo Burns Last modified: 02/11/08