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Showing posts with the label 1st Amendment

I'm not pro-Islam, anti-Christianity; I'm anti-double-standard, pro-consistency

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...

Constitutionalist Ben Carson confused about the Constitution

Self-described Constitutionalist Ben Carson appears to have trouble understanding the Constitution. On Sunday's Meet the Press , Carson got into the following back-and-forth with host Chuck Todd: Chuck Todd: "Should a President's faith matter?" Ben Carson: "Well, I guess it depends on what that faith is. If it's inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter. But if it fits within the realm of America and consistent with the Constitution, no problem." Todd: "So do you believe that Islam is consistent with the Constitution?" Carson: "No, I don't, I do not. I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that." In case Mr. Carson forgot, the First Amendment says this: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the ...

When gay marriage opponents label gay marriage supporters as bigots...

With there being the possibility that the Supreme Court could make gay marriage legal across this country, the gay marriage debate has been running more rampant than ever. Over the past few days, I've read through a number of these debates, which have typically included at least one person saying something along these lines - "I have no problem with gays, but I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. Why are the so-called tolerant liberals getting on my case about that? It's my opinion. As an American, I have that right. It makes me laugh that you all call me a bigot, yet you won't accept my opinion as is. Who's the bigot now?" What these very anti-gay marriage individuals seem to be missing is that most of us pro-gay marriage progressives aren't saying they don't have a right to their own opinion. If a person doesn't approve of homosexuality, while I may not agree with him/her, I'm not going to say he/she doesn't have a right to t...