Sonny Clark
Diamond Member
- Banned
- #1
[ This is a piece that I wrote on 5/18/2006. ]
Religious Agendas vs. General Public
Religious groups and organizations, often times, will inject religious overtones into issues that are before the general public. This is in an effort to draw attention to their causes. By doing this, their objective is to make it appear as though these issues are exclusively religious concerns, and not concerns shared by the general public. Objectives shared by the public, in general, and the religious side, in most cases, are one and the same.
Some religious groups and organizations have made attempts to label issues such as abortion as being primarily a “religious” issue, though this is a common concern throughout the general public. If we omit the religious overtones from the issues concerning abortion, we find that both the general public and religious groups have the same concerns. The same can be said of gay marriage and prayer in schools, with little difference once the religious overtones are removed.
The U.S. Supreme Court and the ACLU have weighed many cases involving what can only be very loosely described as rights under religious beliefs and practices. Adding religious overtones to an issue, for the most part, doesn’t mean that issue carries any more weight than the same issue without the religious aspect tacked on. Most issues labeled as being primarily religious in nature, can easily be crossed over to the general public’s side (without religious overtones) and basically retain the same concerns.
“Religious Rights” is actually a misnomer, though the separation of church and state allows for freedom of religion, it does not grant explicit rights not given the general public. We have a right to practice our religion, but we do not have the right to impose our religious beliefs on others.
Such issues as abortion, gay marriage, prayer in schools, displaying the “Ten Commandments” in public buildings, and wishing someone a “Merry Christmas”, are all issues concerning the public in general, not concerns primarily of religious groups and organizations. Removing the religious overtones to these issues reveal the basic concerns we all have when it comes to civil liberties. Freedom of speech is not a religious right (again, a misnomer), it’s a constitutional right granted to each citizen, equally, without respect of religion.
Religious agendas are nothing more than issues that concern the public in general, but with religious overtones injected, to give them the appearance of being somewhat exclusively religious in nature. We can crossover from one side to the other, almost every issue labeled as being part of a religious agenda, remove the religious overtones, and have an issue which concerns the public in general.
When we see and hear politicians, candidates running for office, and other public figures align themselves with religious groups and organization, supporting and endorsing their agendas, it’s not religious causes they’re taking up, it’s causes the general public has concerns about, but with religious overtones injected.
The closer we get to elections, and the more we’re showered with campaign speeches, it’s a given that some candidates will align themselves with religious groups and organizations in an attempt to muster votes. Be aware that there’s very little difference, if any, between religious agendas and the concerns of the public in general.
Religious Agendas vs. General Public
Religious groups and organizations, often times, will inject religious overtones into issues that are before the general public. This is in an effort to draw attention to their causes. By doing this, their objective is to make it appear as though these issues are exclusively religious concerns, and not concerns shared by the general public. Objectives shared by the public, in general, and the religious side, in most cases, are one and the same.
Some religious groups and organizations have made attempts to label issues such as abortion as being primarily a “religious” issue, though this is a common concern throughout the general public. If we omit the religious overtones from the issues concerning abortion, we find that both the general public and religious groups have the same concerns. The same can be said of gay marriage and prayer in schools, with little difference once the religious overtones are removed.
The U.S. Supreme Court and the ACLU have weighed many cases involving what can only be very loosely described as rights under religious beliefs and practices. Adding religious overtones to an issue, for the most part, doesn’t mean that issue carries any more weight than the same issue without the religious aspect tacked on. Most issues labeled as being primarily religious in nature, can easily be crossed over to the general public’s side (without religious overtones) and basically retain the same concerns.
“Religious Rights” is actually a misnomer, though the separation of church and state allows for freedom of religion, it does not grant explicit rights not given the general public. We have a right to practice our religion, but we do not have the right to impose our religious beliefs on others.
Such issues as abortion, gay marriage, prayer in schools, displaying the “Ten Commandments” in public buildings, and wishing someone a “Merry Christmas”, are all issues concerning the public in general, not concerns primarily of religious groups and organizations. Removing the religious overtones to these issues reveal the basic concerns we all have when it comes to civil liberties. Freedom of speech is not a religious right (again, a misnomer), it’s a constitutional right granted to each citizen, equally, without respect of religion.
Religious agendas are nothing more than issues that concern the public in general, but with religious overtones injected, to give them the appearance of being somewhat exclusively religious in nature. We can crossover from one side to the other, almost every issue labeled as being part of a religious agenda, remove the religious overtones, and have an issue which concerns the public in general.
When we see and hear politicians, candidates running for office, and other public figures align themselves with religious groups and organization, supporting and endorsing their agendas, it’s not religious causes they’re taking up, it’s causes the general public has concerns about, but with religious overtones injected.
The closer we get to elections, and the more we’re showered with campaign speeches, it’s a given that some candidates will align themselves with religious groups and organizations in an attempt to muster votes. Be aware that there’s very little difference, if any, between religious agendas and the concerns of the public in general.