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frau kaleun · 04-09-13, 06:07 PM

I think if you are going to compare "freedom of religion" with "freedom of speech" there's an important point to consider.

We may have freedom of speech and be free to express our opinions and say what we like, but we don't have freedom from the consequences of exercising that freedom. If we say something that someone else finds offensive, they are going to be offended. Claiming "freedom of speech" doesn't change that fact. If we say something other people think is stupid, or misguided, or claim that something is fact without evidence to back it up, we can expect some people to exercise their own freedom of speech and call us out on that.

Same goes for freedom of religion IMO. Sure we are free to believe what we believe, but we are not free to express it openly in the presence of others without risking the possibility that they will disagree and say so, or think we're foolish or deluded and say so, or ask for some kind of proof that's more substantial than "because God/scripture/my pastor says so." Those are the consequences of expressing one's beliefs in the company of those whose 100% agreement with those beliefs hasn't already been confirmed.

Having the freedom to do, say, or believe something doesn't exempt you from the consequences of exercising that freedom. And that's where I see a problem sometimes - and not just in the area of expressing one's religious beliefs, but other things as well. "But I have freedom of speech! I have freedom of religion! I have freedom to express my religious beliefs!" Well, sure, but other people have just as much freedom to disagree and say so. The fact that it's someone's cherished religious beliefs that are being disagreed with, or held to a scientific standard if being put forward as "science," doesn't change that.

Just my two cents anyway.

04-09-13, 06:07 PM	#288
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	I think if you are going to compare "freedom of religion" with "freedom of speech" there's an important point to consider. We may have freedom of speech and be free to express our opinions and say what we like, but we don't have freedom from the consequences of exercising that freedom. If we say something that someone else finds offensive, they are going to be offended. Claiming "freedom of speech" doesn't change that fact. If we say something other people think is stupid, or misguided, or claim that something is fact without evidence to back it up, we can expect some people to exercise their own freedom of speech and call us out on that. Same goes for freedom of religion IMO. Sure we are free to believe what we believe, but we are not free to express it openly in the presence of others without risking the possibility that they will disagree and say so, or think we're foolish or deluded and say so, or ask for some kind of proof that's more substantial than "because God/scripture/my pastor says so." Those are the consequences of expressing one's beliefs in the company of those whose 100% agreement with those beliefs hasn't already been confirmed. Having the freedom to do, say, or believe something doesn't exempt you from the consequences of exercising that freedom. And that's where I see a problem sometimes - and not just in the area of expressing one's religious beliefs, but other things as well. "But I have freedom of speech! I have freedom of religion! I have freedom to express my religious beliefs!" Well, sure, but other people have just as much freedom to disagree and say so. The fact that it's someone's cherished religious beliefs that are being disagreed with, or held to a scientific standard if being put forward as "science," doesn't change that. Just my two cents anyway.