Religious Freedom vs Social Mores

[xoxoxoBruce]

I think everyone should be held to the same laws governing our behavior. They're the rules we live by and put everyone on an equal footing for base behavior.

The feds have said it's OK for some southwestern religious groups to use peyote which is against federal statutes for everyone else.
I'm fine with them making exceptions for religious customs but not with people taking liberties on their own. If some law is onerous to your beliefs, change it.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I'm fine with them making exceptions for religious customs but not with people taking liberties on their own. If some law is onerous to your beliefs, change it.

Well, the issue is still how far the government should go to make those exceptions.

In theory, I don't see why there should be laws against polygamy. If its between consenting adults and if they can support their offspring, it shouldn't be a big deal. Of course, in Utah, it usually doesn't work that way. Young girls are forced into it by parental and community pressure in little Mormon backwater towns.

This country seems to have a lot of problems with "victimless" crimes. Wanna visit or be a prostitute? Fine. Again, as long as its between consenting adults. In fact, I think the government should licence prostitutes and check them for STDS and hand out condoms. Save everyone a lot of grief. The same with drugs. Just don't use them and drive or operate dangerous machinery. If you feel like sitting around in the privacy of your own home and having a few hallucinations, I couldn't care less. Gay marriage? Whatever. At least you're less likely to be trying to pick up dates in the men's room and spreading AID's.

People run into problems when they hold the laws of their religion above the civil laws of the nation. Civil law should, in theory, anyhow, be pretty straight forward. You don't get to harm any one else by your actions - whatever the excuse you give. It doesn't matter if Allah told you to do it or if the fillings in your teeth were picking up commands from space aliens. You harm a child or an innocent adult and you pay the price. Otherwise, follow your bliss. I know that's hopelessly utopian of me, but that's what the voices in my head told me to type.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by marichiko

In fact, I think the government should licence prostitutes and check them for STDS and hand out condoms. Save everyone a lot of grief.

What'a amazing is that there is one county in the entire US that can do that. I do find it astounding that the US government hasn't found a way to put them out of business. As we can see in the minimum drinking age laws forced onto states by the threat of pulling highway funds, there are extra-legal ways of forcing compliance.

Of course as a parting gesture, the brothels could just take out a large ad in the New York Times and publish their client lists.

[Griff]

I try to apply the end of my nose rule to as many of these issues as I can.