All Depends on Whose Golden Calf is Being Gored
From Pharyngula, the fascinating tale of a Christian Conservative family who learned what it's like to be a religious minority in America. The preacher from our Baptist Church in Houston faced a similarly sharp learning curve when his children attended a nearby public school where most of the other students were Jewish. He learned a profound lesson about religious freedom from the experience. Hopefully, others will learn it as well.
Labels: Religion
posted by The Local Crank | 3:05 PM
2 Comments:
It never ceases to amaze me how so many Americans, from across the political and religious spectrum, are so insecure in their own beliefs that they need to either a) have those beliefs imposed by law or custom throughout society, or b) be protected by an invisible sphere where all contrary beliefs cannot possibly be allowed. You know what I do when exposed to a political or religious belief contrary to my own? Shrug it off. I was actually fortunate while growing up that so many of my mom's best friends were Jewish, because they imparted to me a uniquely Jewish wisdom about what it's like to be a minority. They shrug it off and go about their business. Most of them are secure enough in their Jewish identity that they don't need to have their views imposed throughout society, nor do they particularly care when Christian beliefs are thrown in their face at public or private events. I think we could all stand to learn from their healthier attitude and composure.
School-prayer cases are often framed as a freedom of religious expression issue by "Christian conservatives." It's not. It's a "right to shove my religion in everyone else's face" issue.
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