And why are you putting 'faith based' beliefs at a premium above any other? And if any belief can invalidate any law.....then there is no law. Our system of laws is essentially voluntary suggestions.
Which isn't our system of law. Nor ever has been. Your 'should be' is a 'never ever has been'.
Right, laws are based on consent of the governed. They are based on people AGREEING on beliefs
of truth, justice and protecting freedom, peace and security.
I'm not putting "faith based beliefs above others" I'm saying that all faith based creeds should be treated equally.
The Constitutional laws specify that govt cannot establish religion or prohibit the free exercise thereof.
If anything, I am interpreting the laws to the broadest most inclusive extent possible,
by including secular and political beliefs equally as religious ones, and saying NO CREEDS should be discriminated against.
We all have equal rights to dissent or consent,
except where someone commits a crime or abuse and owes restitution or correction for causing a debt or damage to another. And still, in the "due process" of establishing wrong and how to make it right, I still protect people's right of defense equally even when they committed the wrong, to the same degree that they respect the same rights of others.
In short, the law of reciprocity, the natural Golden Rule still applies.
If you want your beliefs and right of defense and equal protection respected,
then you protect and defend the rights of others.
If you go around restricting or banning the practice of others, don't be surprised when they do the same to you.
That's a natural law that all people are under. We get the justice we give. What comes around goes around.
So even though IN WRITING it's just govt and public institutions requires to provide "equal protection of the laws"
I find that the broader rule in real life is reciprocal.
If you practice and enforce equal respect for CONSENT of others, you tend to get the same in return.
If you want govt to respect equal rights, then if you respect those rights, you exert greater influence in invoking that authority to ENFORCE that standard. It is similar to police who follow the laws are respected but police who don't are going to be fought against and not obeyed. Or parents who are abusive of power are not going to be respected the same as parents who are consistent and live by the standards they teach their kids who learn by following EXAMPLES.
If you want equality enforced by govt, it makes a HUGE difference for people to enforce those same standards. This isn't required by Constitutional laws, but I found it is true by natural laws.
That's why I find Christians and Constitutionalists who take personal responsibility for upholding the laws to invoke more authority and influence than people who don't follow the laws and just expect govt to enforce them anyway.
The citizens who are more consistent, and accept equal responsiblity as we ask of Govt tend to have more influence and authority. So that is why I urge all citizens to learn the laws and accept equal responsibility for enforcing them. Otherwise, you may always feel a victim or less in power than citizens who have taken on this authority.[/quote][/QUOTE]