So much talk about pastors and priests being jailed for hate crimes. Priests with friends in Canada say "It is happening, they are being fined for what they say about the Bible." Lawyers and politicians argue "No, a hate crime bill in the US will not effect what people say, only what they do."
I understand the outrage at crimes committed against a person because of something they cannot help like their gender, race, age, or possible physical impairments. When I was a child, a man with Down's Syndrome in my town was beaten by a bunch of football players from the high school-- all he was doing was handing out candy on Halloween. The anger that burned in me then, and even still does now, increases at the thought of this man's life being difficult already and the idea that he was less capable than most grown men at defending himself.
But speaking in church can be a hate crime? Again, I can understand to some extent. I'm Catholic now-- do you know how many sermons are preached in Protestant churches each Sunday about how all Catholics are evil? I've suffered through more sermons than I can count about Mother Theresa burning in hell because her faith was based on witchery. But I don't believe those preachers should be censored. I can't even support people who want to silence the Imams who preach that Muslims should conquer the US. I could never assume a law will control someone's mind, nor would I want it to.
I hope the people's right to free speech isn't jeopardized. I'm stunned that in a day when the president talks about how euthanasia and aborting a disabled child are "private matters" there is so much talk about prosecuting people for they say in the privacy of their place of worship.
(And once again, Richard Dawkin's organization proves obsessed with the habits of Christians, more so than even I am! They have a lot to say about this matter. His website is as pathetic as the fundamentalist pages that devote themselves to the minutia of the science community just to say "They are so wrong." Why do Dawkins' people waste so much energy thinking about these things? Shouldn't they be out engineering crap and making vaccinations?)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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3 comments:
"Shouldn't they be out engineering crap and making vaccinations?"
[smile] No, because he's just a spokesperson. He doesn't actually do any applied science. And, unfortunately, I haven't really heard about any real science he has done--or cited. He mostly just uses some (arguable poor) logical arguments that have very little to do with science at all.
~Luke
That's probably true-- Dawkins seems to be a preacher of sorts himself, right? I'm going to begin Hart's "Atheist Delusions" this week-- have you heard of it? It a survey of more recent Christian history and addresses how guys like Dawkins distort the relationship between the Church and culture.
Those who speak ill of another Christian belief system in the way you are discussing aren't really preaching about Christ. They are preaching about their own right-ness. So their beliefs become a form of egotism rather than Christ based.
--Robin
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