As far as I can tell, Christians in this country have been giving more freedoms to more people since its conception.
So please tell me where a freedom has been rolled back.
(For those that want to knee-jerk and say a person's right to same-sex marriage, it has never been a constitutional nor has there ever been a legal precident in the entire life of this nation.)
2007-01-03 02:42:38 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well since christians dont call the shots and our government does id say none!
2007-01-03 02:43:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 4⤋
They're trying very hard to take away the right to an abortion.
Not trying to start an abortion debate here, but abortion IS a right/freedom that the Supreme Court has upheld as constitutional. Was it an original freedom? No. But it has been the precident for 30 years. And fundamentalist Christians are trying very hard to take that right away.
There is also a little matter of the Pentagram as a legitimate grave marker for fallen soldiers that the VA has been dragging their heels on for a very, very long time. You want to try to argue that the majority of people in power at the VA aren't Christian and aren't discriminating against those dead soldiers because of the CHRISTIAN propaganda attached to the pentagram? Didn't think so.
I don't think there are nearly as many people out there saying that Christians have TAKEN AWAY freedoms as you think there are. Most people are shouting about Christians BLOCKING freedoms and rights - such as gay marriage - not taking them away.
)O(
2007-01-03 02:48:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
As to abortion, marriage, censorship, etc., you can't blame that on Christians. Those are a result of the makeup of our society. Christians aren't the only people against all these things, Buddhist generally are, Islam, Judaism, and many more. To say this is a Christian issue is ignorant and spiteful.
As to marriage, you are right, it is not a constitutionally protected right; it is state determined. Someone argued the Constitution provided equal protection for all, which is right, can't all men and women get married? States have the rights to make laws they believe will benefit their societies. Unless those laws infringe upon fundamental rights (a little more to it) the laws only have to be rationally related to the purpose (and they do not have to support the relation with facts or statistics). It is wrong for the courts to legislate.
To blame any of those things listed above on religion is wrong. These things are a result of our government, and if you disagree with it we have a system for taking care of that...voting. We all need to have more respect for each other; we must quit the finger pointed and hatred and have individual responsibility.
2007-01-03 05:46:28 · answer #3 · answered by straightup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some Christians are trying very hard to take away freedoms of those who don't share their views. My friend had a Christian pharmacist refuse to fill her birth control prescription because he believes that birth control is immoral. Apparently, he has that right to express his religious views even though they infringe on her right to fill a legal prescription. Abortion rights have been restricted as others have mentioned. A couple of years ago I spent several months in Idaho on a work assignment. In the news there a young woman was fired by a religiously conservative boss for deciding to live with her boyfriend. Apparently, this was okay because of some archaic law they had on the books. Recently, it was reported that zealous Christian military chaplains have been infringing on the rights of those aren't Christian in the military. Pagan soldiers are not allowed to have a symbol of their faith on their gravestones.
Some Christians seem to be pushing rather hard to have their religious symbols erected in public spaces which violates the concept that the US government favors no one religion but promotes freedom of belief for all without favoritism.
I think it boils down to when two rights collide. Ones right to be Christian or have certain beliefs against anothers right to disagree and live the way they wish. I don't think Christians should have the right to tell others how to live. Its fine with me if you want to follow some personal code derived from the Bible in your personal life but why should you be allowed to push it on others if they are not harming you?
2007-01-03 03:05:47 · answer #4 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try to put up a Wiccan symbol in a public place. Try putting one up on your private property. Try putting up Hindu or Shinto shrines anywhere. Try being a Muslim in America. Try being an open atheist and run for public office.
Go ahead and try, and watch what happens. Christians will suddenly be conscious of the Seperation of Church and State for public displays. They will be at your door demanding you take down your "offensive displays". They will vociferously object to the presence of a "pagan shrine" being anywhere they can see it. And never mind the glares and outright harassment that comes with being an American Muslim. As for the atheist for office...in some states it's not evel legal.
2007-01-03 03:04:04 · answer #5 · answered by Scott M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
religions of all kinds do have a definite affect on people. some good and some not good at all.
Depending what you call a freedom and who wants what to say one is lost or gained.
What religion does is close minds to what is and teaches what they think should be.
All religions teach by fear and hatred. They claim they do not but just listen to what they have to say to their members during their meetings and it is very clear That fear and hatred prevail.
Luckily Christians tend to push aside the old outdated myths and eventually face what is real.
The churches are always years behind what is.
2007-01-03 02:58:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The right to teach proper, useful education, particularly in science and sex ed.
The right to operate one's business (particularly bars or liquor stores) at the hours of the owner's choosing.
There was that whole prohibition thing that failed miserably.
Some cities even have laws requiring people to go to church, and some have sodomy laws about what's legal to do in your own bedroom with consenting adult partner(s) of same or different sexes or even your own spouse. And didn't you ever watch Footloose? Some towns actually have ordinances against music and dancing.
Also banning books from libraries (which just puts them higher on my reading list).
2007-01-03 02:56:28 · answer #7 · answered by KC 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Can't really argue too much, as everyone will hate me. However, christains seem to want to put morals on everyone, like the ten commandments. Personally, it doesn't bother me, but what about all the other religons? If there are ten commandments, then what about all the other religous rules being publicly displayed?
Also, the right to do what people want to do with their lives. You don't like abortion. Then don't do it. You have no right to tell other people that they can't have an abortion because YOU and YOUR RELIGON think it is inhumane. It is their Freedom to choose what they will do with what is available, not yours to say it is illegal because your religon doesn't like it.
Finally, Christians seem to think(not exactly sure here) that violence, death, and all that other stuff is related to video games, movies, books, and other things. Personally, if people are that effected by just watching something, the populace is completly retarded. Really, violence and death has been around longer than religon, so putting blame on things that deal with violence is just foolish.
2007-01-03 02:52:31 · answer #8 · answered by Smallz 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There have been some pretty major ones, actually. The Southern church movement before the Civil War advocated slavery on religious grounds. The passage of the Volstead Act which led to the prohibition of alcohol grew out of the Christian Temperance Movement. Blue laws and "dry precincts" still remain from those days. The right of women to vote was long opposed by Christian religious leaders as violating religious law. Today, Christians are fighting against the rights of gays to live with equal status as other Americans and they are constantly fighting against the plain reality of science by denying the existence of such facts as evolution and attempting to have it removed from schools.
True, it has been hard for Christians to "take away" our rights - but they are usually at the forefront of attempting to deny us greater rights.
2007-01-03 02:48:05 · answer #9 · answered by texascrazyhorse 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
The Constitution of the U.S was based on Christian ideals . On your money it says "in God we Trust" , why is it that all the other religions can object to christians , in America. Yet Christians are critisised for their beliefs. I think Christianity is quite forgiving , at least women have rights , and Furthermore when we lose Christian laws that is when society loses all its meaning , this is why the world is so degenerate.
2007-01-03 05:26:48 · answer #10 · answered by TakeNoticeNow 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since America has the most freedoms of any other country, I'd say none. Try going over seas and speaking out against the government like you can here. Bet you don't see daylight for quite a while.
2007-01-03 02:46:00 · answer #11 · answered by sister steph 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋