Why Every Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, non-Christian and Some Christians Should Oppose North Carolina Amendment One on May 8
The supporters of Amendment One’s passage have frequently offered the complaint that their religious freedom is at stake and threatened if this amendment fails, or if by some chance same-sex marriages are allowed, though that isn’t even on the ballet.
They would have folks believe that their right to practice and believe what they wish from a religious perspective is threatened some how or even restricted. This is of course for most Americans a cherished freedom; freedom of religion. By claiming this, and by the way not proving it, they are seeking to emotionally arouse those who aren’t bothering to examine carefully the issue.
First let me tackle the issue of how same-sex marriages restrict religious freedom. It doesn’t. There has been no proof put forward that by allowing people of the same sex to be married it somehow infringes on anyone’s right to their religious practice, or faith.
Allowing people of the same-sex to marry no more infringes upon someone’s religious practice or belief than does any person who does not hold Sunday sacred. The fact that some religions have another day as sacred does not infringe on anyone’s religious freedom. So you don’t believe in same sex marriage, fine; nothing compels you to have one or perform one. Your religious freedom has neither been dented nor destroyed.
What the proponents of Amendment One really want is absolute control over how religious doctrine should be interpreted and whose interpretation should be the basis of laws.
Religious texts, if we truly believe in religious freedom and separation of church and state, should not be used as a basis for civil law; not if we want to preserve true religious freedom.
And yet proponent of Amendment One and other laws and such would have us believe otherwise, that somehow this is their interpretation of God’s will for a God fearing Christian country. Somehow when I look at the founding documents I just keep missing the part that says our laws should be based upon some groups religious beliefs. Not there.
So here’s the deal. Even if you oppose same-sex marriages you should be scared of this amendment passing. And quite frankly this especially true if you are not Christian or if you are a Christian who does not believe in the strict interpretation of the Bible that the proponents advocate. The reason is quite simply that this is an amendment that seeks to impose a particular religious belief on everyone, even if it restricts another religion to practice as it’s doctrines teach.
While the actual language of the amendment contains no religious reference, one does not have to look to far to find the justification for the amendment being based upon the Bible.
This amendment, if it passes, is at its core a challenge to true religious freedom, because it seeks to impose a particular religious belief on all people regardless of the actual beliefs, it will impose a particular interpretation of one religious text over all others. It will also restrict the fulfillment and the obligation of some religions if it passes.
