My sister Sandy wrote last week to suggest that I pose a question of the week to see what people think about some of the current issues. So, here it is, a chance to express your opinion, react to someone else’s posts or perhaps even post a question of your own. I have two things that I am curious to hear what people think.
First, First Amendment. Freedom of Religion. I’ve been doing all of this research about the Puritans and the Polygamists. So, what is your opinion about freedom of religion. If your religious leaders received a personal revelation that plural marriage (polygamy) was the only way to reach the highest level in heaven. Since it is against the law in the U.S., would you leave to follow your religious beliefs –OR– do you believe, in accordance with the First Amendment, you should be free to follow your religious convictions?
Thoughts.
Second Question (in case you don’t like the first). Another friend attended an event last week and overheard an elderly relative of an acquaintance expressing his disgust and horror at the probability that a N**ger was going to be in the White House. This was not a young, rapper aficionado. This was a senior redneck. The friend confronted the elderly man but the rest of the guests tried to quiet her. Is racism condoned in your geographic area, in your family?
7 responses so far ↓
1 Michael // May 19, 2008 at 9:12 am
1 - A personal and meaningful relationship with your Heavenly Father should never have to include breaking U.S. law.
I believe God still has true prophets on the earth today, but “Beware of false prophets … Wherefore by their fruits shall ye know them.” - Matthew 7: 15-20
2 Karen // May 19, 2008 at 7:04 pm
1. OR would you leave your religion because the required practice is against the law or against your moral compass? I think that would be my inclination. I am sure it would be a difficult choice because if that is the culture you were raised in, it would be difficult to question the faith (especially when your religious prophet and the elders would likely be preaching that to not practice these behaviors would condemn you to eternal damnation). However, I think what would make me leave would not be the practice of polygamy but the practice of condoned statutory rape. Children need to be children not wives and mothers against their own will. In my mind it is less about freedom of religion than it is about freedom of self-determination.
3 Sandy Bowe // May 19, 2008 at 8:50 pm
1) Being raised Catholic (sporadic attendance, which definitely included holidays), I was taught to believe that I am a sinner who needs to pray for forgiveness, always. It was definitely a fear-based religion, which I bought into for many years.
Now, I know that I am on this earth to love and accept others. God loves everyone. In the past few years, I’ve observed the church I loved transform into a church of strong conviction and judgement. I no longer attend church because I will not financially support a church that believes so differently than I. Money gives them power and they need less power to spread their negative propoganda.
I agree with Karen that being raised in a polygamist sect would have an impact on your belief system. I don’t know if I would know any better. Students in our AP Psych classes have been studying cults and they have had many discussions about the mind-games used on the women and children at the FLDS compound. These people need some serious help. Simply watching the mothers speak on camera tells you how fragile they are. Many people have looked the other way for too long, it was time for the government to step in.
I also believe that religion and politics do not go hand-in-hand. Religion has no place in politics, which appears to be a primary focus among Republicans.
2) Unfortunately, we still have many racist people in our community. I can’t tell if they are more intimidated by a woman (because there’s a lot of Hillary bashing) or if they hate blacks (way too many black jokes and use of the “n” word ). Like your friend, I too speak up, but I think my words fall on deaf ears. Some people get that I don’t think it’s appropriate and others I think are too ignorant. Most of those people are Republicans and they have so much to be proud of, don’t you think?
4 Robin // May 21, 2008 at 7:25 am
1. I am a member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The more religion becomes entwined within the government; the more religion based morality becomes the basis for court rulings the worse off the country becomes.
2. Racism is very alive and well, if less visible, in the country. I think of this issue less as “racism” these days and more as “privilege”. Each of us has a certainl level of privilege in our day-to-day life. Privilege of race, of socio-economic class, of heterosexism, of ableness, of religion, of education. The list is rather endless. For example when my oldest brother sees the fear mongering around illigal immigrants and of “Spanish” becoming a second national language his sense of privilege of being an english speaking, white middle class male is being threatened. He takes these things for granted as the “up” position; that if something else became the norm than he is threatened. And that sense of threat or fear is the basis for all racisim.
5 Jason Behnke // May 21, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Answer.
No thoughts, beliefs, or opinions, ie..’religion’ Take proprietorship over any law.
Obviously most Americans are indoctrinated into a forced belief system by there parents and community. Fostering a basic mob paradigm. Any thought or questioning of set rules is grounds for ‘burning” or ‘beheading” of these free thinking infidels. There is a basic insecurity in the gross hypocrisy and exploitation of organized religion. It is this insecurity in their own indoctrinated beliefs system that works to atomizes and afflict pain and suffering on those outside the mob. This is disassociation from self, and said group, that fosters and creates hate. This hate manifests itself in “name-calling” and organized polictical areanas. That answers your second question.
You only need to ask about God, Gun or Abortion and you can really manipulate most sheep to keep submitting.
Most people use the word “God” as their moral interpretation of a divine arrogant right to judge others.
may I suggest some reading… Letters to a Christian Nation, The God Delusion, Tao Te Ching, and “The Power of Now” by Eckart Tolle.
there is no religion, there is no country, there is no law.
We are human.
6 Jordan // Jun 2, 2008 at 11:10 am
1. “No thoughts, beliefs, or opinions, ie..’religion’ Take proprietorship over any law.”
All laws are influenced by thoughts, beliefs, or opinions, ie ‘religion’. Without some sort of right-wrong belief, there is no need for rules and regulation. That being said, if there is no religion, no country, no law, or no morality, what is keeping us from killing each other? I do however understand your frustration with religion, the masses, and the government. I just think you are being a bit naive and ignorant … perhaps just as judgemental as those religious zealots.
Back to the original topic; I do not believe that governmental laws are the highest law. From a religious point of very, I strongly believe that God’s rules and those of governments are very separate. Breaking the speed limit will not damn me.
Oye!
2. Racism is everywhere. I think most of the time, it’s ignorance that leads to a sort of racism. With my family, it’s condoned, but still exists somewhat unknowingly. For example, my sister law once said, ” I discovered I have some racism in me. I saw a white guy dressed in ganster clothes walking down the street. I wasn’t scared of him at all. However, whenever I see a Mexican dressed the same way, I am a bit scared.
7 Sango // Jun 8, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I had Kevin (my son) read Jason’s comments. He read Jason’s comments, looked up at me and said, “I love that guy!” I told Kevin that I needed to think too much and occasionally look up a word in the dictionary. I guess I’m never too old to learn. Anyway, Kevin loved Jason’s comments!
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