This thread wasn't intended to be an argument about who's belief is right or wrong – that will always be a dead end. What is was intended to be about was the ethics of belief – the rights and responsibilities of belief, especially where the actions they generate impinge on those who hold contradictory beliefs.

Had McFarlane said to the gay couple' "I CAN'T advise you because I haven't the knowledge or experience to do so" that would have been a responsible stance for someone in his position, putting the onus back on his employer. However, by saying, in effect, "I WON'T advise you because your actions go against my beliefs, even though those actions are lawful and do no harm to anyone else", he was fairly and squarely in the wrong because he was demonstrating an unreasonable prejudice.

Whatever beliefs we hold, we have to be responsible for the actions that come from them and cannot expect these actions to be upheld in law when they impinge on the rights of others.


theleveller - member fron sanity