Yes. I don't care what others believe. I do care that they justify hurtful policies that affect all of us with those beliefs. But, I don't know how to separate the two. Most believers, think that what they believe is actually true, and apparently don't need evidence to support those beliefs. And, if they are in a position to shape policy…
Yes. I don't care what others believe. I do care that they justify hurtful policies that affect all of us with those beliefs. But, I don't know how to separate the two. Most believers, think that what they believe is actually true, and apparently don't need evidence to support those beliefs. And, if they are in a position to shape policy many seem convinced that it's legitimate to use those beliefs to limit other people's civil rights.
J I have a grandson who has been sucked into an evangelical movement (god spoke to him). Initially, his mother, me, and others were going to the devil because we didn’t ‘believe. This has eased off somewhat, though probably I can go to the devil on my own—I gather that there are some stimulating poker games in hell.
Those are the "true believers" that Eric Hoffer first wrote about in 1951 and they are the scary point of the spear in any doctrinaire and dogmatic movement because they cannot be persuaded to examine their motivating beliefs. The 1st Amendment prohibition of the "establishment of any religion" was intended to prevent a Church of England situation from arising in this country and those who would use the power of government to force people into behaving as though they accept a particular belief system have been trying to work around it ever since. Any freedom including that of religious practice is necessarily limited by the possession of that freedom on the part of everyone else and by the responsibility to accept the impact of one's actions.
Without doing research I don't have time for at the moment, I believe you're right and, at least in the case of Utah, it's unclear that practical abandonment has occurred although the laws have been changed for the most part.
That I'd have to check Keith. I know that apostasy as a capital crime persisted into the 18th century at least in VA but the rest of the details are in the rusty part of the memory bank.
Yes. I don't care what others believe. I do care that they justify hurtful policies that affect all of us with those beliefs. But, I don't know how to separate the two. Most believers, think that what they believe is actually true, and apparently don't need evidence to support those beliefs. And, if they are in a position to shape policy many seem convinced that it's legitimate to use those beliefs to limit other people's civil rights.
J I have a grandson who has been sucked into an evangelical movement (god spoke to him). Initially, his mother, me, and others were going to the devil because we didn’t ‘believe. This has eased off somewhat, though probably I can go to the devil on my own—I gather that there are some stimulating poker games in hell.
🃏 I bet!
Those are the "true believers" that Eric Hoffer first wrote about in 1951 and they are the scary point of the spear in any doctrinaire and dogmatic movement because they cannot be persuaded to examine their motivating beliefs. The 1st Amendment prohibition of the "establishment of any religion" was intended to prevent a Church of England situation from arising in this country and those who would use the power of government to force people into behaving as though they accept a particular belief system have been trying to work around it ever since. Any freedom including that of religious practice is necessarily limited by the possession of that freedom on the part of everyone else and by the responsibility to accept the impact of one's actions.
Dave Actually I believe that it took some time, after the 1st Amendment, for some states to abandon their own ‘state religion.’
Da
Without doing research I don't have time for at the moment, I believe you're right and, at least in the case of Utah, it's unclear that practical abandonment has occurred although the laws have been changed for the most part.
Dave Actually I was referring to the original 13 states—esp MA.
That I'd have to check Keith. I know that apostasy as a capital crime persisted into the 18th century at least in VA but the rest of the details are in the rusty part of the memory bank.
Dave While you continue your research, I’ll check the dictionary to learn what ‘apostasy’ is.
LOL. I'll stay in touch.