Originally posted by: JediSage
I find it odd that we need to oppress freedom in order to attain it, however, I'll bite:
I never said that. All I meant was that how can someone have true freedom of religion, without having to right to chose no religion at all? without being able to chose not to belief
in God?
No, what it means is that they can't use/abbuse their position to support their religion
example: A school teacher can't use their position to preacher their religious views to thier students. However, that same school teacher has every right to practice his/her faith, As long as doing so doesn't violate someone else's rights.
Originally posted by: JediSage
Keep in mind that appeasing all faiths via a position of no faith is just as much of a philosophy as any religion. By definition it's excluding the people who believe and practice their faiths.
I find it odd that we need to oppress freedom in order to attain it, however, I'll bite:
I never said that. All I meant was that how can someone have true freedom of religion, without having to right to chose no religion at all? without being able to chose not to belief
in God?
Originally posted by: JediSage
So, in other words, anyone who assumes public office or works in government automatically abbrogates their right to the free exercise of religion? Must they now take a vow of official atheism prior to taking the position?
So, in other words, anyone who assumes public office or works in government automatically abbrogates their right to the free exercise of religion? Must they now take a vow of official atheism prior to taking the position?
No, what it means is that they can't use/abbuse their position to support their religion
example: A school teacher can't use their position to preacher their religious views to thier students. However, that same school teacher has every right to practice his/her faith, As long as doing so doesn't violate someone else's rights.
Originally posted by: JediSage
Keep in mind that appeasing all faiths via a position of no faith is just as much of a philosophy as any religion. By definition it's excluding the people who believe and practice their faiths.
Now, just how is the Government excluding you by appeasing you? Maybe its a philosophy as any religion as you say, but if it is, does that mean we should drop it and just pick a religion to support and what one should that be and why? Whichever one we pick is going to offend someone. All I am saying is the Government shouldn't be in the position of deciding what religion is right and what religions aren't. It should treat all religions equally and that includes Atheists.