Religious Liberty

I continue to be interested in the conversation around religious liberty.  Those on the right argue that religious freedom has been curtailed in recent years by liberals who suggest that government sponsored public forums should be religiously neutral.  For example there are those who lament that teachers and coaches cannot pray publicly at school or that public schools are restricted from celebrating Christmas.  I recently ran across a survey that helps bring this issue into focus.  A survey by the National Opinion Research Center for Public Affairs Research and the Associated Press found that 82 percent called religious liberty important for Christians, but only 72 percent felt it was important for Jews, 67% for Mormons, and only 61% felt it was important to protect religious freedom for Muslims.

(Check this link for a Washington Post Editorial)

Does this then suggest that not all of us truly want a nation that supports religious freedom?  Rather, it appears that what we really want is the personal freedom to express our beliefs but we don't want to hear from those who have different beliefs.  We speak of freedom but it is not freedom if it is only granted the majority class.  That is theocracy - the opposite of freedom.

A commitment to religious freedom entails protecting the freedom of those whose beliefs are not in the majority.  A commitment to religious freedom recognizes that my views, whether in the majority or not, should not be forced on children whose families may have a different story, a different culture, a different faith.

Lets be clear about whether we are committed to religious freedom - or whether we simply want the right to practice our faith while ignoring or denying the rights of others.

Political Correctness and our Values

I have been struggling with recent attacks on political correctness that have occurred during this campaign season.  There are those who suggest that the push to be politically correct is getting in the way of being honest and straightforward.  In fact Ben Carson has stated that we are throwing away our traditional values in the name of political correctness.

I don't understand that.  Can we clarify what political correctness is?   Is the attack on political correctness simply a disagreement about values?

I have assumed that to be political correct is to be sensitive to those who are different or marginalized in society. For example, I support gender neutral language.  I think we should avoid using "he" when we are speaking about males and females. Research has shown that language has power.  It provides the lens through which each of us views and interprets our world.  If I want to help create a world where women are equal, one of the important steps I can take is use language that is consistent with that vision.  Rather than destroying our values, it is an important step toward acting in a way that is aligned with my values.  

Another area where I hear people complain about political correctness is around keeping public places religiously neutral.   This often comes up at Christmas time when public schools are asked to avoid celebrating Christmas.  Again, the issue is our commitment to religious liberty.  My commitment to religious liberty and my concern for those whose faith is a minority requires that I exercise sensitivity in my speech and actions.  This "PC behavior" does not destroy my values and inhibit behavior, rather it is in alignment with my values.

Maybe the answer is do away with the term policitical correctness and simply have a values discussion.  I value gender equality and religious liberty.  I see gender neutral language and religiously neutral school celebrations as consistent with those values.  If you do not, lets talk about it.