Is it fair? please think before commenting. I am not being hateful or rude or whiny. I have lived both sides.?

Question

is there true freedom of religion in America if you are not in some form of the One God concept. I understand the desire to save one's soul. I was a very devout Christian for over 40 years, praying for others even in the streets. But I also know what it was like when the Hare Krishna stood in air ports and bus stations silently passing out their literature so openly. We as Christians felt as though we had won a huge battle when they were stopped, and yet here we were passing out our tracts and standing on the street corners loudly proclaiming the Word of God as though that were different somehow. Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons still knocked on doors. When people said they were not interested we persisted, and converted many. I have chosen another path now and am feared and expected by many to be as silent as the HK's because i believe something different. I know there are many who are tolerant. But to those who are not I ask, where is my freedom?

I still find tracts in public places and also work places. By the way, why are you becoming so arrogant and hateful with me? I am simply asking for sincere, thoughtful answers, not more condemnation.

And I never said any thing about the law being against anything I do. You don't know what my spirituality is and you are automatically assuming that i want to break the law. How do you come to these conclusions?

http://blog.myspace.com/seawolfsfire
If you really want to know about me, go there and read "I Believe in That", "Wolf Wind","Compare without Judgment" I call myself Eclectic Wiccan, and simply put, I believe in the energy of the Universe.

Answer 1

Our country was founded on freedom of religion, not freedom "from" religion.
The first amendment states that the free exercise of religion shall not be prohibited.
I think the Krishnas and anyone else who wants to pass out literature should be allowed, as long as they don't block people's free passage or become violent.
It is our precious right.
I myself am a follower of Jesus, or a Christian, but I would fight to the death for your right to practice whatever religion your heart would choose, because if one of us is prohibited from practising his religion, we all eventually suffer.

Answer 2

Freedom of Religion, and all the other freedoms we (as Americans) are supposed to believe we have, has been paid for by lobbyists and special interest groups. Every time we buy any product, be it fuel, groceries, what have you, we are giving money to a company or corporation. These companies fund politicians and the groups that get them elected. Hindus (the HK's included), Budhists, and other paths that prefer enlightenment to possessions often times don't have the resources to purchase products (most grow their own food and make their own clothes) and thereby pay for the freedoms offered to more well funded followers of other faiths.

It seems to some that the "minority faiths" get sqaushed under the force of the intolerant, and tolerance is often asked for (and by some of us, EXPECTED!!). Ever stop to wonder why that tolerance doesn't come? Can tolerance be expected from a people whose Divine Power demands that they not be tolerant ("Hey, Josh, kill all those Amorites who have lived there for 1000 years because I think they're naughty, and then you'll have the Land of Milk and Honey".... That sound familiar? How about, "Death to the infidel!"? Same god, different prophet) Point is this: if minority faiths want their rights back, they need to take them. That doesn't mean we should overthrow the government or anything (though George Washington said that having a revolution every 20 years or so would keep it in check), but it does mean we should vote (spend our money) more wisely. Stop buying fuel from arabian companies (Texaco, for example) and we won't be funding the war for their land (or funding the terrorists they arm and send against our brothers-in-arms); start buying electicity from wind powered utility companies and you support the effort to save our planet; when you DO go to the polls, don't vote for a Party Candidate, vote for a man who can do the job. By putting more effort into thinking before we spend and by researching before we vote, we can get back those freedoms that the majority enjoy (and that we have the right to enjoy as well).

Be well in all things,
Raven Winterstide

Answer 3

I'm sorry you had to go through that. I have befriended Buddhist monks, some Hare Krishna, JW, and Mormons. None of these people tried to convert me or force their beliefs on me. They all accepted me and saw me for the person that I am and I think that's all you want too. There is nothing wrong with being what you are. The only advice I can give is to accept others and they will accept you. I am curious, as to why you are feared. Did you deliberately choose a path that would make your life difficult or give you strife? And Why?

Answer 4

You are free to practice any religion you wish in this country. You are not free to break the law. That goes for christians too. Many Christians have been thrown out of malls and other private buildings for passing out tracts, etc. This is becuase those private buildings have no soliciting signs clearly posted and if you do and you are caught you are kicked out. HK's may be kicked out more often becuase the way they dress catches the eye of airport security pretty quickly. A street corner is a public place, but if there is a no loitering sign, and someone complains, any religious group carrying on there will be asked to leave.

Freedom of religion does not mean freedom to do whatever you want in the name of your religion. If you feel that the laws in public and private buildings inhibit your free practice of your faith that is a matter to be settled in court. You can challenge the constitutionality of that law based on freedom of religion.

Answer 5

Religious freedom is tricky...

I would say it is true that Christians have more freedom and rights to do what they want with their religion than the other beliefs here. And some are definitely discriminated against. (Just look at the VA controversy over letting Wiccan soldiers have a pentacle on their gravestones.) But I think that we should be happy that we have the freedom to choose what we want to be; even if we might be outcasted for it, we cannot legally be discriminated against.

Answer 6

you could take a seat anyplace you like, besides the incontrovertible fact that it is not well mannered to show and chuckle. on the different hand, evaluate that it would be thrilling for those no longer on the fence to observe you unbalance and fall off as a effect of your pointing and guffawing. So i assume it relies upon on whether or no longer you're a comedian.

Answer 7

After your long spiel, you asked where your freedom is. Just exactly what freedom are you yapping about ? What am I able to do that you're not ?
You seem to be secretive about what you converted to. Get it out in the open. Explain your gripe in plain English.

Answer 8

Is that why they're not there anymore? That makes me sad, what a shame. I really liked them. Once I bought a book from them that, while it didn't come near converting me, gave me some very valuable spiritual insights.

I think the spiritual world is poorer for their absence. :-(

Answer 9

You said "When people said they were not interested we persisted, and converted many", this is not quite accurate, as it is the HOLY Ghost who converts. WE can't convert anyone to anything.

Answer 10

"Freedom of religion in the USA" is:

an IDEAL
not
a REALITY!
.