Many Christian conservatives and even atheist liberals complain that progressives like myself are inconsistent when it comes to our views and defenses of religion. They often times say, "You guys have a double-standard, where you openly mock and criticize Christianity, but oddly defend Islam. Look at how Muslim countries treat women!"
I, for one, am not a big fan of organized religion. I was raised in a Christian household, regularly attended a nondenominational church with my mother and brother growing up, yet reached a point in my teenage years where I could no longer espouse myself to the typically sexist, anti-LGBT, anti-progressive rhetoric. The pastor's sermons started sounding progressively more like a Rush Limbaugh rant and it turned me off from the Christian faith, and honestly, organized religion altogether. Through my high school years, college, and even after, I found myself still oddly fascinated by the concept of religion. I read books about: Christianity, Satanism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Mormonism, Seventh-Day Adventism, Taoism, etc. I took college courses centering around world religions, even one which was called, "Philosophy of Religion." Through it all, I never found a religion which suited my ideals and compelled me enough to regularly attend services, however, it still fascinates me, and whether or not I agree with one's religious views, I feel they should be able to freely believe in and worship as they so choose.
Having said that, when I defend Muslims' rights in this country, I'm not defending how some Muslim-dominated countries treat women, just like when I defend Christians' rights in this country, I'm not defending how some Christian-nominated nations treat homosexuals. It sickens me how women are treated in some Middle Eastern countries. It sickens me how homosexuals are treated in some African countries. Heck, even though the United States has progressed far more than those nations when it comes to women's and LGBT rights, it still sickens me how they're treated here at times. When I mock and criticize Christianity, it's not because I don't believe Christians should be afforded 1st Amendment rights like everyone else; it's because that's the faith most practiced in this country and many Christians seem to feel they should be afforded more rights than those of any other faith, Muslims in particular.
I simply want for us to be more consistent, to cut it out with the double-standards. When a radical Christian opened fire on a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado a couple of weeks ago, while his actions shouldn't be seen as representative of the religion or its followers, neither should the Muslims who opened fire in San Bernardino, California last week. Like Christians when it comes to building churches, Muslims shouldn't have to jump through extra hoops to build mosques. Just like Christians aren't often prejudged in this country for their faith, neither should Muslims be, or people of any other faith. I don't believe in special privileges for any particular demographic; I believe in equality. Granting the LGBT community marriage rights isn't a sign of privilege; it's a sign of equality. Providing women equal pay for equal work isn't about privilege; it's about equality. Affording Muslims equal protections under the 1st Amendment of the Constitution isn't a special privilege; it's equality. I may not be female, black, gay, nor religious, yet I will continue to fight for each and every person to attain equal rights under the law, for if one of our American brothers or sisters lacks this equality, what does the American flag and the Star-Spangled Banner actually symbolize?
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