Freedom of Religion

I think it is time to take a fresh look at what we mean by freedom of religion. My basic principle is freedom of religion should guarantee you the same rights that anyone else has, but it should not give you special privileges that no one else has. So for example:

• You should have the right to eat any foods you please and avoid any foods you please.
• You should have the right to live in any housing you can afford.
• You should have the right to wear any ridiculous fashions you please.
• You should have the right to cut or not cut you hair and beard in any absurd way you please.
• You should have the right to enter any premise that admits the public.

However, you should not have special privileges to:

• Beat or abuse your children, including such things as circumcising them when not medically mandated.
• Block your children from getting a basic education.
• Hide your face so that a bank cannot photograph you when you withdraw money from a teller or ATM (Automated Teller Machine).
• Refuse to wear uniforms or conform to dress codes in work places where everyone else does.
• Kill, harm, harass or libel homosexuals, women, children, blacks, infidels or any other group your religion claims requires maltreatment.

~ Roedy (born:1948-02-04 age:68)