Are we a Christian nation

[Wifezilla]

we allow "everyone's" freedoms to be for only a few and not others---just a bit, it won't hurt......

Or "it's for their own good". I have heard that phrase used as an excuse to have group prayer in school or as an excuse to force people to give up eating meat. Both are examples of coercion its just that one is approved by people identified as being on the right and the other is identified with those on the left.

Both are wrong and go against individual freedom and favor group thinking.

 

[FarmerChick]

sure-----every thing we "think" is based on religious oppression-----gender oppression---etc.

is all about human beings and our traits


I honestly don't think ever anything will change.

We will tolerate more as something is in our face over time.


Life inter-racial marriage.

In the "olden days" it was not "allowed" and people suffered for it dearly thru the lives.

Now humans are a "bit more allowing".

As we realize people are just people thru the ages, we become more allowing.



As long as we are different and want different things and situations in our lives over the globe----we will never agree. But can we say----all deserve this right and truly let it happen? Probably not.


and yes, "I KNOW WHAT is best for you!"
UGH



If we allow everyone to be themselves and truly be to themselves we would be fine. If we keep individual freedoms and never base anything in those freedoms against religion, gender, age, etc. we would be fine----but we can not do it!!!!!! We try and try and are getting a bit better---but humans are humans.

It is never about religion, age, gender, sex preference----it comes down to MANKIND. Us humans. Our thoughts, our traits, our inner beliefs, our protection of our livihoods, our survival instincts, our "I want to live and thrive" and if you threaten me in anyway---you will be eliminated.


---just rambling out some thoughts----

 

[patandchickens]

Yes, I don't have the direct cite sitting in front of me, but it was in a newspaper article. It happens, Pat. Now you can spend hours scouring google to prove me wrong, that's fine.

Sorry, I have things to actually DO around here. You'd have to find it yourself if you want me to believe it. (I really AM interested, though).

Even if it did happen somewhere, in some fashion, once, though... that hardly constitutes systematic nationwide discrimination... :/ Certainly nothing whatsoever compared to *actual* systematic nationwide discrimination as it often has occurred in reality, against other groups.

People sure do like to throw around that word "discrimination" - sometimes it is justified but oftentimes these days it seems to mean, as a previous poster suggested, that the speaker has gotten only 99.5% their way instead of 100%.

Pat

 

[Wifezilla]

Google is your friend....

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=religious+discrimination+christian+jewelry

 

[farmerlor]

It comes from banning Christian crosses in school yet allowing hijabs. It comes from the assault on Christmas from so many fronts. It comes from the suppressing of anything Christian. This is coming from a non-Christian, who has been observing this assault for years now.

As for the hijab, I don't really think you're comparing apples to apples here. An article of clothing worn because of your faith is different from wearing the particular symbol that represents your faith. There are many Christian and Jewish sects that require the women to be dressed modestly or have their hair covered.

 

[patandchickens]

Well obviously I know where google is but could you point me to the *particular reference* being referred to here? My whole point is that I'm not in a position to spend (as Anne says) hours wading through a miscellany of returns in hopes of finding the one thing she is referring to...

(although, again, it seems to me that one instance would hardly constitute systematic discrimination...)

Pat

 

[patandchickens]

As for the hijab, I don't really think you're comparing apples to apples here. An article of clothing worn because of your faith is different from wearing the particular symbol that represents your faith.

Exactly. That's why I'd like to see the original article, because if it is *literally* that you cannot wear a cross but can wear the hijab in that one school, I do not honestly see the big problem. Unless they allowed the hijab but did not allow clothing required by other religions, in which case that *would* be discrimination.

Pat

 

[DianeB]

It comes from banning Christian crosses in school yet allowing hijabs. It comes from the assault on Christmas from so many fronts. It comes from the suppressing of anything Christian. This is coming from a non-Christian, who has been observing this assault for years now.

As for the hijab, I don't really think you're comparing apples to apples here. An article of clothing worn because of your faith is different from wearing the particular symbol that represents your faith. There are many Christian and Jewish sects that require the women to be dressed modestly or have their hair covered.

I see children were the hijab, crosses, saints images and the star of David at schools in California. In Paris, they have banned the hijab but not the cross. As a religious rights issue, it is wrong to ban people from practicing their faith or wearing religous symbols. Obviously, it does not hurt anyone. I think that it is a way for gov't to marginize certain people or ideologies. At least, that is how they are using it in Europe.

For many people, a crucifix or a saint's image is just as important as a hijab. They feel that it protects them and conveys their commitment to God.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

How about I give you a real life comparison from personal experience and leave Google out of it???

I have a friend who follows Wiccan beliefs. If we are out somewhere, she wants me to not mention anything about MY beliefs but expects me to listen to her talk about her life as a "witch". I cannot pray around her or talk about praying, because my prayers offend the very fiber of her being, but she will tell me that she prays to the goddess and I am supposed to be accepting and not be offended. I cannot talk about what the Bible has in it's pages, but if she wants to discuss something she read about something she believes, that's supposed to be OK.

She is offended if I'm in a car with her and I have my Bible with me, but she can have any one of her reference books with her.

She carries a worry stone, wears a pentagram and has a triquatra tattooed on her back. She doesn't think I should wear anything that points to God, and if I were to wear anything that would be considered Christian she doesn't want to be seen with me, or she'll publicly make fun of me.

OR I should say, she used to. I removed myself from having much contact with her because frankly, I was tired of trying to respect her choice of beliefs while she ridiculed and buried mine in the ground.

In high school, I was reprimanded for praying publicly in the lunch room before eating. I was told if I wanted to "pray" at school I would have to take myself to the library to do it. I never once asked any other students to pray with me, I'm talking silent pray asking a blessing for my own personal meal. I was told by a teacher to leave my Bible in my locker, I wasn't allowed to carry it to class....even though all my other classmates were free to carry any unrelated to the class books they wanted to. It wasn't like I was reading it in class, my teacher was simply offended that it was sitting on my desk.

So, please, don't tell me it doesn't happen. I have experienced it first hand.

 

[big brown horse]

I think you need a better friend. (Not b/c she is Wiccan, because she is mean.)