2006-10-21 15:58:35 · 26 answers · asked by windwillow2004 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I means being allowed to pursue your own version of the Universal Truth without worry that you will be harmed or descriminated upon for your path or beliefs. It means being allowed to teach my children what I think it important for a spiritual life without another authority figure telling them that I am wrong.
Peace!
2006-10-21 16:09:36 · answer #1 · answered by carole 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Appendix D - Freedom of Religion
"Ramblings" by Uncle Wayne
"Freedom of religion" is an oxymoron that has been hiding in America since the days of our founding fathers.
There is nothing free about religion. That alone would be tolerable. Everything has a "price tag"; why not religion?
Oye, oye, oye: Today I am selling religions. (Not really, but let's pretend.)
Roman Catholicism is the bargain basement special of the day. It will cost you only a few drops of water (on your forehead).
Southern Baptist Conservatism comes in at a little higher price. It will cost you a hot tub full of water.
Evangelism is a little more expensive. It will cost you a bucket of tears and a public confession that you have previously been an evil person, because, of course, you have previously been controlled by the Devil.
Buddhism will cost you nothing. But, of course, that will be what you get; nothing. a la Nirvana
Judhism is the cheapest religion per day. Each day you simply pay a few tears, a few worries, an ounce of guilt, and an ounce of confession. Then, the rest of the day you can plan and plot and make a lot of money. "I should be so lucky." a la God forbid
Atheism is economically cheap, but socially very expensive. It will cost you a cup of loneliness and two cups of rejection (considering that 90% of Planet Earth believes in God, or at least a supernatural power or concept).
Hinduism costs you a few cups of humility. The liberal would say "a few cups of tolerance". Of course, Hinduism is not really a religion; it is a philosophy with the following set of instructions.
1. Don't step in my flower garden.
2. Don't tug on Superman's cape.
3. Dont pull the mask off of the Lone Ranger.
The Koran, ah the Koran: It can cost you nothing. Or, it can cost you your life.
The Bible is often accused of being a book of "pick and choose" which part you want to follow or which parts to take out of context. But, the Koran is the real McCoy of "thesis, antithesis, synthesis". Well, maybe not synthesis. Rather, it, the Koran, is a collection of "instructions".
The result of the Koran is not a synthesis, it is more like "be good unless you want to be bad".
2006-10-21 23:08:25 · answer #2 · answered by MrsOcultyThomas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The freedom to believe what you want (or nothing at all) without the government dictating whether those beliefs are valid or not. As long as it's not illegal and you're not hurting anyone, people should be allowed to believe what they want.
But the current president does not allow that. In his first term of office, he stated that Wicca was not a real religion because it did not agree with his closeminded beliefs. It was none of his damn business to begin with.
2006-10-21 23:08:51 · answer #3 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means the freedom to worship or not, as I choose. I have every right not to worship anything.
It does NOT mean that I have the right to denigrate any other religion.
It does NOT mean you have the right to tell me I am wrong for not believing in God.
It does NOT mean that I cannot freely represent my religion if I have one. I can and will send a Christmas card to all my friends and family, even if some of them may be Jewish or Hindu. Doing so is not proselytizing, it is celebrating what YOU believe in. If you want to not offend your friends of another religion, send them a card celebrating their religion on their religious holidays.
2006-10-21 23:06:28 · answer #4 · answered by MickyD 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It gives me the right to go to a Methodist church this Sunday, a Presbyterian next Sunday, a Mormon the next, a Catholic the next and so on and so on. There is not one denomination greater than another. The Government does not dictate a certain religion, but gives all equal rights. That is what makes America a wonderful, and great country.
2006-10-21 23:07:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means being equally represented no matter what religious beliefs you have or don't have. When the government promotes one religion over another, it represents the people unequally. It makes people of all the other religions second-class citizens. Even if the government generically promotes belief over non-belief, it sets up non-believers as second-class citizens.
"E Pluribus Unum" means "Out of many one". It is the idea that this country is strong because of its constituent parts. "In God We Trust" represents at most 86% of the people. It divides this country, giving special promotion to those who happen to "trust" in gods.
2006-10-21 23:00:15 · answer #6 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The right to practice any religion you choose, be it Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddism, Satanism, paganism, or atheism. Neither the government nor any individuals have the right to force any religion upon you. Individuals do not have the right to use religion as an excuse to harm other individuals, be it physically or psychologically.
2006-10-21 23:05:31 · answer #7 · answered by zandyandi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Freedom of religion means that I will not be dragged into the street and murdered like some of my ancestors were, for their beliefs. I hope it remains free in America.
2006-10-21 23:04:18 · answer #8 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The freedom from having my government endorse one religion over another.
2006-10-21 23:02:05 · answer #9 · answered by Eldritch 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Freedom FROM religion. Or at least that's what I'd hope, but it seems America is starting to ignore the "separation between church and state" act as of late...
2006-10-21 23:00:37 · answer #10 · answered by Nick P 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋