As we preach Christian morals, values and beliefs we’re also indirectly saying this is right and anything less or different is potentially wrong, bad or evil. We hear this day in and day out and it infuriates the devout Christian to the point of self righteousness and preservation through personal crusades. This is the same reasoning and logic as an Islamic Jihad attack on non-Muslim believers (many readers at this point take objection to that comparison from their own religious perspective and begin to justify in their minds why they are not like Jihadists). According to the CIA fact book, 2007 estimates 21.5% of Americans are not Christians who must endure these messages daily and are on the receiving side of the intolerance including massacre.
Our constitution prevents laws being written in support of a religious belief, it also protects our freedom of speech and press to discuss religious values and doctrine as a matter of public policy. With our free market environment, Christians at 78.5% of the population are the obvious profit target audience for mass media with no harm or disrespect intended for those of other religious beliefs or no belief at all. While not purposely influenced, devastating side effects occur and sadly are becoming more frequent.
There are basic human morals and values we all should believe in, such as it is wrong to kill another human except of course in self defense. Which morals and values are basic human values and which are religious values? Some are obvious like same-sex marriage while others are not, like abortion. If you’re an American and believe in our constitutional freedom of religion we need to come to this understanding first. Basic human morals, values and rights versus religious morals, values and rights.
Religion belongs in your church, home and community gatherings for like minded individuals exercising free choice without disturbance, interruption or persecution. Religion needs to teach tolerance of non-followers and believers; not conversion to save the soul they don’t recognize exists. Religion is not a cult to a mass as many followers as possible, so we would like to believe – prove it please.
If we accepted the law of the land includes freedom of religion where we may worship or not as we please, then we accept the law of the land must protect us all; not just majorities like the Islamic Republic of Iran. I love the The United States of America and even as a Christian I fear we are becoming them, the opposition - The Christian Republic of America.
If you agree we all deserve religious freedom and we’re not the opposing equivalent of the Islamic Republic of Iran then we must recognize our government and laws are above your Gods laws for the sake of this nation. How you follow your Gods law is an individual freedom of choice just as your neighbor can exercised his religious freedom not to worship any God at all.
Amen
God bless the United States of America
United we stand, freedom for all. Divided we fall into the dark ages, not standing tall.
In loving memory of the Sikh Temple victims
