I started to write…

by Steph on February 5, 2008

…my list of five things for which I’m thankful. What came immediately to mind was the Bill of Rights. I thought about making an exception and posting ten positive things, but then I realized that I wanted to delve into some of these things more deeply than I normally would in an aside. But I’m ADD, and in thinking about the First Amendment and freedom of religion, I realized I have something else to say. I’m sure I’ve talked about it before, but I think it bears repeating.

I’m 100% for religious freedom. You follow whatever faith you like, even rooster-worship, if you want. Don’t follow any spiritual path at all, if that suits you better. Whatever it takes to get you through another day without hurting yourself or anyone else is a good thing, in my never-ever humble opinion. I would ask respectfully, though, that should you choose to follow a particular path, you’d please keep in mind that you’re no more assured of being “right” than any other human being, regardless of what any sacred texts to your faith say. In light of that, how about you keep your faith out of our government? Unlike getting your peanut butter in my chocolate or getting my chocolate in your peanut butter, mixing religion and government is not delicious. Not even a little.

I’d like for us to remember that America is great because it is a melting pot. It is a giant mishmash of cultures and religions and traditions, and it is beautiful. I’d like for those of us who believe in God to remember that Her house has many doors, and for those of us who don’t believe in God to remember that it never killed anyone to show a little respect now and then. Mostly, I’d like for all of us to understand that no matter how right we believe our paths to be, we should not, must not force others to comply with our beliefs.

Like a country gas station after midnight, comments on this entry are closed.

{ 10 comments }

1
Vote -1 Vote +1d
February 5, 2008 at 10:08 am

“Unlike getting your peanut butter in my chocolate or getting my chocolate in your peanut butter, mixing religion and government is not delicious. Not even a little.”

I LOLed at that one!

I don’t really have much to say to this post because I agree with it.

Oh and it would be a good cross post in Spirital Fodder as well.

2
Vote -1 Vote +1Noel
February 5, 2008 at 2:25 pm

Preach it, sister. I do *not want a theocracy in my White House, thanks.

3
Vote -1 Vote +1Debbie
February 5, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Amen! And I mean it literally and figuratively.
(Can you mean “Amen” figuratively? I like to think so.)

If more people spent time practicing their faith — whatever it is — and less on condemning other people’s faiths, we’d be on the right path.

Debbie

4
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph
February 5, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Thanks. I was kind of proud of my Reese’s reference. :grin:

I’ll go post it over there later then. I feel weird posting over there. It’s like I’m posting to your LJ. I know, that’s dumb, but there you have it. LOL.

5
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph
February 5, 2008 at 5:47 pm

Me neither, especially not one that’s wanting to curtail more of my freedom.

6
Vote -1 Vote +1d
February 5, 2008 at 5:52 pm

Please do dude. I want it to be a community where everyone posts shit.

7
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph
February 5, 2008 at 5:54 pm

Debbie – now it’s my turn to say “Amen.”
Also? I just went and checked out your blog. The Powerpuff girl thing? Yeah, I’m hooked. :grin:

8
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph
February 5, 2008 at 6:07 pm

d – Done. :)

9
Vote -1 Vote +1Missy
February 6, 2008 at 7:42 pm

Fuh real dude. I’m with Debbie. More wars have been waged in the name of “God” than anything else. I can’t imagine what God has to say about that but I’m sure its not “Whoot! Good job! The pearly gates are wide open!”

10
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph
February 6, 2008 at 9:11 pm

I think because it’s an election year, we’re seeing a whole mess of people blogging about their politics, and frankly, a lot of them are people I look at differently now because of their politics…or more correctly, their intolerance of other people’s religious beliefs as demonstrated by their choice to ignore those religious beliefs when voting.

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