Comments on: Is Gay Marriage a Threat to Religious Freedom? http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/10/03/49107 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:11:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: iDavid http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/10/03/49107/comment-page-1#comment-156186 iDavid Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:12:16 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=49107#comment-156186 Re Religious Freedom. Religion is anything but "free". Re Religious Freedom.

Religion is anything but “free”.

]]> By: Sister Vira http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/10/03/49107/comment-page-1#comment-156184 Sister Vira Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:04:10 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=49107#comment-156184 Marriage equality is not a LEGAL threat to religious freedom. Marriage equality does, however, threaten to further expose the hypocrisy of religion, and to erode the credibility of fundamentalist sects (such as Westboro Baptists, Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Muslims, Orthodox Jews etc.) who preach and practice bigoted values and beliefs. THAT is what these groups fear. Many of these groups STILL practice de facto racial segreation in their worship service, still oppose racial integration, still oppose interracial or interfaith marriages, and still regard members of other faiths or races as inferior. As society evolves and these groups fall further and further out of step with contemporary social values and mores, the groups temper the shrillness with which they articulate their beliefs, even if they still hold, observe, practice and transmit their beliefs more or less under the radar. These groups fear being further exposed, and they target GLBTs to galvanize the dwindling members of their so-called "faiths" around their cause, clinging to their bigotry to protect their "religion". Their legal rights have not been diminished one whit; instead, they themselves are their own worst threat. Marriage equality is not a LEGAL threat to religious freedom. Marriage equality does, however, threaten to further expose the hypocrisy of religion, and to erode the credibility of fundamentalist sects (such as Westboro Baptists, Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Muslims, Orthodox Jews etc.) who preach and practice bigoted values and beliefs. THAT is what these groups fear.

Many of these groups STILL practice de facto racial segreation in their worship service, still oppose racial integration, still oppose interracial or interfaith marriages, and still regard members of other faiths or races as inferior.

As society evolves and these groups fall further and further out of step with contemporary social values and mores, the groups temper the shrillness with which they articulate their beliefs, even if they still hold, observe, practice and transmit their beliefs more or less under the radar.

These groups fear being further exposed, and they target GLBTs to galvanize the dwindling members of their so-called “faiths” around their cause, clinging to their bigotry to protect their “religion”. Their legal rights have not been diminished one whit; instead, they themselves are their own worst threat.

]]> By: Christopher http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/10/03/49107/comment-page-1#comment-155945 Christopher Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:12:41 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=49107#comment-155945 It is, inasmuch as it addresses the whole proselytising tradition of religions. If religion were truly personal, no one would be out there trying to convert you to their way of thinking. Talk about mass conformity meets peer pressure! They must be really insecure to need the comfort of knowing others share their beliefs! It is, inasmuch as it addresses the whole proselytising tradition of religions. If religion were truly personal, no one would be out there trying to convert you to their way of thinking. Talk about mass conformity meets peer pressure! They must be really insecure to need the comfort of knowing others share their beliefs!

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