Do some people really believe that faith/belief should stay out of the public sphere?

Question

That is the most nieve and rediclious perspective I have ever heard! Everything a person does, everything decision they make, everything they think comes from their core belief. This core faith goes with them everywhere they go and is involved in everything they are involved in. Politics, education, recreation, workforce, every area. I think they are trying to tell people they do not agree with to keep their core beliefs at home or church while they go their merry way with their tenacles of belief touching everything around them.

Answer 1

if you think it's fair to spread faith and religion across the public space, then people should have the equal right to do the same with aetheism, and even satanism for that matter

i don't think it's fair for me to have to listen to people thump their bibles and barrage me with scripture all the time, they may believe that i am wrong, but i am mkaing my choices which if you read the bible, was gods intention after all.

Answer 2

My faith is a part of my very being. It touches every aspect of my life. If you talk to me for more than five minutes, you know that I am a devout follower of Christ.

What some people mean when they say that faith should stay out of the public sphere is that people shouldn't use public forums to evangelize. Others mean that they should not have to hear anything at all about other people's faith. This is most generally aimed at Christianity these days.

It's kind of like the schools where Christian Bible clubs are not allowed to meet on school property, but fourth graders in that same school can have an entire section in their social studies curriculum where they become "Muslim" for a week.

Answer 3

Most core beliefs are the same in all religions, and are based on what most people want anyway. The common laws are also based on these. Since the laws and beliefs are so similar, they can't be completly seperated. The problem is, too many want to force more than what the core provides for. This is where they cross the line, making up their own rules along the way in many cases. They think that since the law is the same as their belief, it entitles them to force more.

Answer 4

No one is stopping you from going about with your core beliefs.

But if you mean that everything public should recognize and follow the rules of YOUR belief then you need to be stopped.

Your core beliefs will clash with the core beliefs of other faiths and result in discord.

Look to the Middle East today as an example. They are killing each other and soon Lebanon will be wiped out all together.

Answer 5

Some people truly believe in the separation of church and state. They see Religion as a crutch for the weak.

The difference is the separation of church doctrine and public morality. All to often church leaders will focus on the bible as inspiration for moral behavior. This alienates anyone outside of that ideal. Rather people should focus on the concept of public morality. Faith is important, but since society is made up of many religions it would be easier to come to a consensus on acceptable behaviors. From societies standard, not the church. This doesn't mean values of the church have to be ousted. But kept as a personal standard, on how you yourself conduct your life.

Religion can be a great help to those who seek that understanding, but forcing beliefs on others goes against what God wanted for us. Free will. The ability to choose a life with him or without. We should follow God's example and let people choose.

But then again, I could be wrong.

Answer 6

So the Christian belief system is the only right one? (I'm responding more to Angeltress here.) YOUR beliefs should be true for everybody, and because they're not true for everybody, people in Africa are dying daily of AIDS? Because the United States is not a theocracy (look it up) like Iran, which is EXACTLY what you're describing here, children are being arrested for drunk driving?

Have you people who truly believe that crap actually ever READ the Constitution? Do you know from what we declared independence in 1776?

I think you guys need to move to the Syria, or Egypt, or Iran, or Afghanistan, or Morocco--somewhere where the State IS the religious authority, and experience for yourselves what you're actually talking about.

Answer 7

Again this is a 'question' that is really just a statement of your opinion. In America, where there are so many different belief systems, who is to say which is the official belief? So yes, keep religion out of the public sphere.

Answer 8

Naive.
Ridiculous.
Tentacles.
Of course people think that. It's the very foundation of the separation of church and state. The only way to prevent religious persecution is to prevent the the majority's religious views from dominationg society.

I'm curious though, what core beliefs do you think atheists of my stripe have? I certainly cannot identify any of my own.

Answer 9

so like Rosa Parks, religous views should ride on the back of the bus?

faith is there anyway
religious views are not second class views
it's best that all views of a society get an appropriate hearing in the public squares

humanism and secularism is a type of faith
secular humanism is a type of religion and a religion competitor
museums of natural history are a type of faith in philosophical materialism

Answer 10

Where is this sphere located? I would like to visit it someday. Maybe even make it into a theme ride and set up my lemondade stand in front and sell lemondade for 50 cents a glass, and then I can charge people to enter and then I can set up a gift shop on their way out so I can make even more money. And maybe I would start selling hot dogs. Everybody loves a hot dog.

Answer 11

I like freedom and diversity and people who believe and people who struggle with beliefs or lack of beliefs. That is what this life is about. If you do not believe, you will not go to jail. It is your choice. You just need to understand some people disagree and they do have beliefs, and that influences them as your lack of beliefs influences you. Talk about it, but do not worry about it. Let people believe what they believe.

Feedback: You sound like a scary control freak. Maybe you aren't, so maybe you need to ask your questions in a more civil manner.