Crazy, in the news...
“The country can be no stronger than its families... I really believe if what the Supreme Court is about to do is carried through with, and it looks like it will be, then we’re going to see a general collapse in the next decade or two. I just am convinced of that. So we need to do everything we can to try to hold it back and to preserve the institution of marriage.”
“Talk about a Civil War, we could have another one over this.”
~James Dobson
An Open Letter to the Desperate and Emotionally Fragile Religious Right:
I trace the roots of my faith tradition to the great
defenders of religious liberty, the Anabaptists. I trace my family roots to the
French Huguenots. Both of these groups faced actual religious oppression.
Because of their religious beliefs, the Huguenots and
Anabaptists were jailed, tortured and killed by the tens of thousands by other Christian
groups. Actual oppression for their beliefs.
I contrast that with the religious conservatives of today in
light of the recent discussion of marriage equity. These conservatives are
sounding emotionally desperate and speaking in the most drastic of terms, as if
a simple marriage ceremony were the End of Times and the Devil, himself, was
out stealing souls and spreading pestilence.
This is NOT religious oppression, people. You are NOT being
oppressed for your religious beliefs. You are still free to believe what you
wish.
When the Huguenots were told, "Abandon your faith tradition and embrace Catholicism or we will rip out your tongue and burn you alive!" ...that is oppression and a denial of religious liberty. This is not comparable in any way to "If you're in the flower business, you will be expected to sell flowers, even if you disagree with the event or people."
When the Huguenots were told, "Abandon your faith tradition and embrace Catholicism or we will rip out your tongue and burn you alive!" ...that is oppression and a denial of religious liberty. This is not comparable in any way to "If you're in the flower business, you will be expected to sell flowers, even if you disagree with the event or people."
No, we are simply saying that if you are a business owner,
we expect you to not discriminate against one bloc of people. That's all. We
are not asking you to endorse certain marriages. We are not demanding that you
change your religion. We are not demanding that you marry someone you don't
want to marry. We're just expecting that business owners should not
discriminate, that's all.
Don't want to endorse a loving marriage between two people?
Fine, don't endorse it. But if you're in business in the public marketplace,
you can't discriminate. IF your religious beliefs demand that you discriminate
against some perceived “sinners,” then THAT part of your belief will not be
allowed, just like if your religious beliefs demanded that you kill infidels,
THAT part would not be allowed. Otherwise, believe as you wish.
Your religious liberty ends where another's rights begins.
This is not oppression or the end of the age. Lighten up.
You just sound ridiculous and you are an embarrassment to your faith and the many people who have
actually faced oppression and injustice.
