It doesn't matter what the Constitution has to say on the matter, either. All the First Amendment says is that the government is prohibited from setting up an "official American Church" or from stopping anyone from worshiping however they see fit.
But don't get scared. It doesn't mean you have to shut up about your religion just because it annoys some people. It doesn't mean you have to stop practicing your religion.
What freedom of/from religion does mean, is that if you are in a position where you have power over someone else, rightly or wrongly, and that power is due to your government "job", you need to keep your religion in your pants, and keep your pants zipped. Until you are "off the clock", anyway. You have no authority to be preaching at people you are trying to coerce while they are paying you with money you had stolen from them on your behalf.
It means that what you believe on your own time is your business, but trying to pass or enforce "laws" based upon your religious beliefs- Sharia Law- is outside of what you have a right to do. It means using stolen money to promote your religious beliefs- any religious beliefs- is wrong.
Freedom of religion equals, in many cases, freedom from religion. Whether you like it or not. And believe me, even those who claim otherwise usually demand to be free of having other religions' ideas forced upon them- they just don't want to stop doing the forcing themselves. At least, that's what I have observed.
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Kent,
ReplyDeleteI think that same situation can be applied to nearly any free speech. It really isn't a religious issue until the supervisor tries to force a belief or practice based on that belief on the employee.
Global warming - unless that is part of your job, keep it to yourself. Politics, same.
frankly,i find all this talk of tolerance to be intolerant.
ReplyDeleteyour friend, frank
my own view is there are 2 types of people.one type wants 2 b left alone 2 pursue there life.the other type wants 2 tell the 1st type how 2 do it.
ReplyDeleteKent,Your take on it is correct.The founders would agree I think.They set it up so someone NOT like themselves could take the reins.
ReplyDeleteBob S.- The First Amendment doesn't restrict anyone but government employees.
ReplyDeleteA private company boss can talk about anything as long as no higher boss or company policy tells him not to. And as long as his actions don't violate the other person's rights. It's not OK to do things that violate a person's basic rights just because you only do it on your own property.
Basic human rights apply if the boss tries to force beliefs on an employee, and that's a higher law than the Constitution. But in that case, the employee's best course of action is to find another job and get out of that situation.
A Thought on Churches.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand if ones chosen place of worship is a 501(c)(3) the goverment has say in what can be spoken of. Or else the 501(c)(3) status can be removed. That tax exempt status is at the whim of a faceless burocrat. If the 501 (c)(3) status is reconsidered the back taxes will be applied. Thats how the screws are tightened. The only non government churches are non 501(c)(3)
Anonymous- You're probably right. Makes me wonder... where in the First Amendment does it say churches have to beg for that status? Seems like "make no law" renders that null and void to me. Just like the Second Amendment doesn't apply to gun owners, but only forbids government actions, seems like the First Amendment does the same with regards to all the things it supposedly puts off-limits for government and its "laws".
ReplyDelete