When we do it, it's education.
When they do it, it's indoctrination.
There are four sets of rules for human behavior, and they differ by culture. The four sets are legal, moral, spiritual and religious.
Some cultures combine the legal and moral, leaving the other two to personal preference. America is one example.
Others combine the legal and religious, enabling its leaders to impose laws and punish those who do not conform to specific religious beliefs.
Still others say spiritual behavior is an individual choice, and no group -- government or social -- can tell others how to approach or honor an Otherworld, or even to acknowledge that an Otherworld exists.
A major problem arises, however, when one society imposes its guidelines and rules of religious behavior on other groups within that society.
In some countries around the world, such a conflict leads to violence. And much as some would deny it, that same disagreement over how to behave and honor an Otherworld is becoming more common in America, resulting in violence, despite the Constitutional and legal prohibition on such behavior.
It is long past time that those who support violence toward minority groups actually read the Constitution.
"No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." -- Article VI
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." -- Amendment I.
When they do it, it's indoctrination.
There are four sets of rules for human behavior, and they differ by culture. The four sets are legal, moral, spiritual and religious.
Some cultures combine the legal and moral, leaving the other two to personal preference. America is one example.
Others combine the legal and religious, enabling its leaders to impose laws and punish those who do not conform to specific religious beliefs.
Still others say spiritual behavior is an individual choice, and no group -- government or social -- can tell others how to approach or honor an Otherworld, or even to acknowledge that an Otherworld exists.
A major problem arises, however, when one society imposes its guidelines and rules of religious behavior on other groups within that society.
In some countries around the world, such a conflict leads to violence. And much as some would deny it, that same disagreement over how to behave and honor an Otherworld is becoming more common in America, resulting in violence, despite the Constitutional and legal prohibition on such behavior.
It is long past time that those who support violence toward minority groups actually read the Constitution.
"No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." -- Article VI
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." -- Amendment I.
No comments:
Post a Comment