Would you stone me if I said Jehovah in a public place?

Question

It seems that are secular nation seems to be moving toward this, at least desiring people to be imprisoned for speaking about God.

I find it strange that most people on here do not take offense to religious freedom but are probably the same people trying to stop pastors from preaching against homosexuality.

Answer 1

LOL...well, I agree that America is turning into a Monty Python sketch - but not in the way you think. Nobody's trying to prevent you from being religious. But your religious freedom is guaranteed by the religious freedom of everybody else in the country - which is why we have separation of Church and State. Secular society is exactly what allows you to worship as you choose - so you ought to defend it AS a religious person.

If we decide that America is officially a "Christian Nation," as a lot of "Christians" seem to think is desirable, the next question would be - Which brand of Christianity? And odds are it wouldn't be your brand!

Answer 2

I would probably say "gesundheit". Maybe even offer you a tissue. Certainly the thought of picking up a rock wouldn't enter my mind.

I am not mocking you here, just trying to show you that this statement is ... well, a bit silly. If you're speaking of the US, would you tell us where you are seeing people calling for the imprisonment of someone exercising his/right of free speech by speaking about God? Yes, there's hostility out there, but there are also little things known as laws. If you believe the laws are moving in an ominous direction -- vote, speak to your congressional representatives, get a grassroots organization going ... in other words, do something besides standing there and claiming persecution where none (yet) exists.

Answer 3

Cute. Honesty no I wouldn't, but then I am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I was raised, and later as a Christian reminded to treat ALL with love.

And YES I have noted that it is becoming more and more the practice that talking about sexual things is fine, but say you think something is wrong and you are a bad person. I have often wondered when things like ped filia would be considered ok. Then I saw part of a show called Family Guy which appearantly features an old man who is constantly trying to seduce minors, and it is considered humorous. Scary.

Answer 4

That's a pretty ridiculous claim you're making there - what are you, Bill O'reilly? Can you provide any examples of 'are [SIC] secular nation...moving toward this, at least desiring people to be imprisioned', or are you just making a claim that'll feed your sense of persecution in order to fulfill John 15:19-20? Links or you're just making **** up. Personally, I think you're just being silly.

I'd also point out that there's a difference between speaking about one's god in public and doing so in the way of the Westboro Baptist Church (the 'god hates america because it doesn't execute homosexuals' people who hold up their signs outside of US soldiers' funerals) - I don't plan on stoning people in either case, however - I'm an American Citizen and I love freedom. I'll fight to the death to preserve those freedoms for EVERYBODY, even those jerks, and even for you.

ADDENDUM: You keep making these assertions with absolutely nothing at all to back them up. Why is that? Just because you take your god's word on faith doesn't mean anybody has to take yours on faith.

I don't at all care if a preacher wants to babble about how his god doesn't like a certain group of people it created. HOWEVER, I certainly DO have a problem if said preacher and congregation go forth and attempt to have their views codified into laws that *everybody*, even the people who don't believe in their god or a particular interpretation of their god's message, has to obey. Preach against the 'evils of homosexuality' all you like, but quit using your god as an excuse to manipulate laws and restrict their civil rights.

Answer 5

That seems a bit drastic. What evidence do you have of that. The only thing I would think imprisonment for would be if you were harrassing people.

*why would you find it strange that we would be against pastors preaching against homosexuality.
When I say I am fine with religious freedom, I do draw the line against religion inciting hate against sections of the community.

Answer 6

What an ugly assertion. No, we wouldn't ever want to imprison somebody for something so trivial and individual. Secular society only wants God out of Schools and Government, and possibly off billboards. I have no desire to influence what you say or do about religion in your own home, in Church, or with friends.

Answer 7

I think you are exaggerating something terrible here.

We sometimes get religious preachers with loudspeakers yelling at and over everyone in the street and this would simply be a nuisance whether they were spouting stuff about Christ or promoting any thing else, noise nuisance. So go ahead so long as you aren't yelling or saying anything obnoxious.

If you think you are being discriminated against because you may not be allowed to continue to discriminate against homosexuals then you are a human rights offender.
Human rights must always trump religious rights where one impinges on the other.

Answer 8

Interestingly, even the Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH ... was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.”
http://www.jehovantodistajat.fi/e/20040122/article_02.htm

(Psalms 83:18) That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth

(John 17:26) [Jesus said] I have made your name known to them and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them


The bible uses the Divine Name ("YHWH" or "Jehovah") nearly SEVEN THOUSAND TIMES. The bible writers refer to the Almighty by His personal name more times than by "God", "Lord", and "Father" COMBINED. There is no other personal name used in the bible more than the personal name of Almighty God. It seems clear that Jehovah wants his name to be used, while insisting that the Name be used respectfully.

(Exodus 20:7) You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way
http://watchtower.org/e/bible/ex/chapter_020.htm?bk=Ex;chp=20;vs=7;citation#bk7

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/na/
http://watchtower.org/e/20040122/

Answer 9

Secular nations have freedom of speech and religion. No one has ever been stoned in the name of humanism.

On the other hand, people should be jailed for attempting to limit other's freedoms in the name of religion.

Answer 10

No but in India the Hindu would beat you and imprison you and in any Islamic country they would stone you.