Meanwhile, back in Kansas...

[JimC]

Freedom of religious practice is not compatible with any modern civilized country.

For anyone to pretend otherwise is living in dreamworld.

You can believe in anything you want but not for one second does that mean you can put that belief into practice

Damn it, you mean I can't stone adulterers to death when I feel like it!?

[MrJonno]

damn it, you mean I can't stone adulterers to death when I feel like it!?

I'm afraid man's law trumps god's and you will have to burn in hell for all eternity. Secularism its the work of the satan

[Hermit]

Freedom of religious practice is not compatible with any modern civilized country.

Freedom of religious practice is basic to any secular, modern and civilised government, but so is freedom from religious practice. Both of those fundamental tenets distinguish modern, civilised governments from theocratic ones.

[MrJonno]

Freedom of religious practice is not compatible with any modern civilized country.

Freedom of religious practice is basic to any secular, modern and civilised government, but so is freedom from religious practice. Both of those fundamental tenets distinguish modern, civilised governments from theocratic ones.

Except that plainly isn't true or it would be legal to discriminate against blacks, jews, catholics, atheists on religious grounds when running a shop which it plainly isn't

If someone says my god says this therefore I must do it, its well within the remit of a government to lock you up for it if its against the law of the land

[Hermit]

Freedom of religious practice is not compatible with any modern civilized country.

Freedom of religious practice is basic to any secular, modern and civilised government, but so is freedom from religious practice. Both of those fundamental tenets distinguish modern, civilised governments from theocratic ones.

Except that plainly isn't true

What isn't true? That a tenet of any secular, modern and civilised government is freedom from religious practice?

[pErvinalia]

Yeah, we have freedom of religious practice, right up to the point that it starts impeding too much on other's rights to be free of that shit. I think we'd all (apart from Seth) agree that the balance is too far towards religious bollocks.

[Hermit]

Yeah, we have freedom of religious practice, right up to the point that it starts impeding too much on other's rights to be free of that shit. I think we'd all (apart from Seth) agree that the balance is too far towards religious bollocks.

Exactly.

[mistermack]

Damn it, you mean I can't stone adulterers to death when I feel like it!?

Everybody must get sstoned.

[Svartalf]

Yeah, hemp for the people

[MrJonno]

Yeah, we have freedom of religious practice, right up to the point that it starts impeding too much on other's rights to be free of that shit. I think we'd all (apart from Seth) agree that the balance is too far towards religious bollocks.

So why even mention the word religion, why not say you can do anything you want as long as it doest infringe on others (infringement is defined by the state of course).

The only reason religion is mentioned purposely is so you can infringe on others.

The word religion covers everything from sacrificing children at dawn to owning a bible. When a word covers that much it becomes legally meaningless

[pErvinalia]

Religion has special status. And like all good bullshit stories, it changes over time. It shits me it has special status.

[MrJonno]

Religion has special status. And like all good bullshit stories, it changes over time. It shits me it has special status.

Fine but someone needs to define 'religion', is being a marxist any less of a religion that being scientologist. Something that has a special status needs a special meaning

[pErvinalia]

Who knows. It's whatever the prevailing cultural thought is. Am I right in thinking they've made Pasterfarianism a real religion in the UK?

[MrJonno]

Who knows. It's whatever the prevailing cultural thought is. Am I right in thinking they've made Pasterfarianism a real religion in the UK?

Religion doesnt quite work the same way in the UK, being a religion doesn't give you charitable status/tax breaks. Many religions do have charitable status but not for the praying but for the actually feeding the poor (possibly while praying)

Scientology for example is considered a religion for the purposes of marriage (we just had our first Scientologist wedding) but is not a charity.

I'm not sure when the term 'religion' has any legal meaning here, I know its important for marriage, some groups but not all are named specifically in hate crime legalisation.

In employment religion specifically refers to 'philosophy', you can't sack someone for being a Christian but nor can you sack them for being a marxist, an environmentalist or a 'libertarian'. You can of course sack anyone for gross misconduct if they are a complete dick while practising their beliefs. Praying behind the counter at Mcdonalds while everyone trips up over you is not going to go down well

[pErvinalia]

You should be able to sack someone for being a libbo. It's only right.