More thoughts – religion and public life.
I give you part 2 of my rant on the topic of religion.
Let me state this plain and simple – religion has NO PLACE in public service, politics, and policy. Period.
Let me begin my explanation by stating I have NOTHING against religion overall – my issue here comes of the largest problem with putting religion into these practices.
Which religion are you using?
There are a LOT of religions, sects, sub-sects, minor and major groups, subdivisions, and cults out there. Monotheism, polytheism, atheism, nature worshipers, idol worshipers, Satanists, take your pick. And in this country in particular – how can you possibly use any one religion as your example for public policy?
Let me make another clear statement – the Unites States of America is NOT a Christian country. Period.
Back in HS, I had friends who argued with me that we ARE a Christian country. Sorry, my friends, but I said it then, and I say it again now – Bullshit. Yes, Christianity is the majority religion, I won’t deny that – but having been raised as a Jew, I can tell you point blank that I take offense at the notion of this being a Christian nation.
How many forms does Christianity come in? Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans, Anglicans, Evangelicals, Baptists, Fundamentalists, Born Agains, Mormons, Presbyterians, Puritans…that’s just off the top of my head. And among those, how many sub-sects exist? And with all the things they disagree on – which one is right? Who’s form of Christianity are you going to infuse your politics and policy with?
So what about the rest of us who are NOT Christian? Judaism and Islam both are monotheistic religions with similar underpinnings to Christianity – but even these are divided into numerous sects and varying practices. Buddhists, Taoists, Pagans, Druids, Shintoists, Hindus…they practice a religion, too…and it is quite a bit different from Christianity. Are you saying their way is not acceptable?
Infusing Christian beliefs into politics and public policy is not acceptable in the USA. We are a melting pot of pretty much EVERYTHING under the sun – how can you suggest that the Christian ethical code is right for everyone?
History is full of conflict directly related to religion. Catholics vs Protestants in Northern Ireland. Christians vs Muslims during the Crusades. Muslims vs Jews since Israel became a state. Shia vs Suni sects of Islam against one another in Iraq. Constant conflict all over the world all because of differing beliefs in the unseen and the powers-that-be and establishing who is right.
America has more than enough dividing it – factoring in religion only makes matters worse. The founding fathers called for a separation of church and state for an excellent reason – we are NOT one and only one religion in this country. And as such, no one religion should have any specific hold on any aspect of our political system.
Over the past couple decades, there has been a serious erosion of this separation. Calls for prayer in school, allowing for religious entities to hold more sway and power and clout in various political circles, the never-ending abortion debate – NONE of this should be a part of government. Church and State are SEPARATE entities. The church doctrine, ANY church doctrine, has no place in politics. That is the way it should be.
Intelligent Design is NOT science. It is Creationism. You can teach Creationism in school – as a part of comparative religious studies, but NOT as a science. I don’t care if Evolution is flawed – it is still science. Intelligent Design is RELIGION.
If you have chosen as your line of work to be a pharmacist – you have NO RIGHT to impose your own moral code on the job. Your job is to take the prescription a DOCTOR has ordered for their patient and FILL IT – no more, no less. I don’t care if you are morally opposed to the Pill or to Plan B or whatever – you have NO RIGHT to impose your personal code on your job. If you have an issue – get another career – or go work at a pharmacy run by your church. It is not your place to make the call as to what you will and will not do – your job is FILL PRESCRIPTIONS – period. Do your job – or get another.
I work in a call center. I do not agree with all of my companies policies – I think some of them are pretty unfair. But I don’t NOT enforce them just ‘cause I disagree. I would lose my job for that. So by what right can YOU pull the same thing and get away with it? Your job is pretty clear cut – if you disagree with an aspect of it – tough. Do your job.
Harsh? Maybe…but this is a perfect example of religion having NO PLACE in public policy.
Everyone is entitled to their own belief, their own opinion. I have no issue with people having faith – my issue is when they think their faith is more right than anyone else’s, and that they have the right to impose it on us as such. We need laws in this society, won’t deny that, either. But the law of the state and the law of the church are separate ideals – and should remain separate.
Religion does not belong in politics. And vice versa, politics doesn’t belong in religion. Politics should be kept to the voting polls, Capital Hill, Congress, City Halls and the like…Religion should be kept to Churches, Temples, Cloisters and such. The two need to be remain separate. Period.
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