The traditional meaning:
Freedom of belief, speech, practice, proselytizing, etc.
The new revisionist meaning:
Freedom to restrict services against, or to hate, denigrate, despise or oppress others.
That amounts to rewriting language history. It's revisionist. It's ugly … it's wrong.
Bigotry defined
Bigotry
[BIG-uh-tree] NOUNIntolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.
Source: The Oxford Dictionary
Bigotry exemplified
Christian bigots are
trying to redefine "freedom of religion" to suit their need to
discriminate without penalty. Perhaps they need to be reminded that "Do
unto others…" is not just a nice catchy phrase to tell our kids to get
them to behave well.True followers of Christ -- the majority of U.S. Christians -- need to speak up. Your silence is taken as agreement with those practicing bigotry. Pilgrims fled to America to escape state-such imposed religion. True Christians need to start standing up and shouting, "Not here! Not now! Not ever! That's not who we are!"
Islam increasing, Christianity decreasing
For those who think
an official state religion is just fine, tell me -- what happens when the
majority of Americans follow Islam?
Islam is growing; Christianity is shrinking. Think, people; think! In
that future, would it be OK for Muslims to legally refuse to serve women who do
not wear a hijab? Women not accompanied by their husband? People who are not
Muslims? That is … your own descendants?Our laws protect people and help ensure equal treatment of everyone. They are not to push your own personal agenda or that of your religious sect, no matter how fervently you may hold to your beliefs.
Personal religious freedom!
Believe what you
like. Worship as you like. Gather as you like. Pray as you like. But do not --
ever -- try to force your beliefs on
others. In the public realm, you have no right to impose your personal beliefs
on others who do not agree with you. That's just another form of bullying.
Religious bullying causes Christ to weep. It's time we put a stop such actions
before they escalate into even more damaging behavior.
"Be careful what you ask for"
Beware -- Payback is
a real bummer! When the tables are turned, the results for your descendants
could be disastrous! Don't shoot yourself in the foot and then later complain
that it hurts.
Millennials shun the church
And by the way …
two-faced bigotry makes Millennials cringe and shun the church (not just
"church"). They see us as irrelevant. Why would they ever want to
"be like that" and join us when they see such bigotry as representing
all Christians? We need to show them that are good examples of followers of Christ. Those who only claim to be followers but act otherwise can seem in the majority unless … and until … the majority speaks up!
Stand up and be counted!
"Do unto
others…" is not just a nice catchy phrase to tell our kids. It's way past
time to actually live it![Reminder: This is a moderated blog. Posting is not automatic. No "flames," cursing, or similar vicious or offensive vitriol are allowed. Such comments won't be published.]
