The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #129172   Message #2907852
Posted By: GUEST,Goose Gander
16-May-10 - 12:28 AM
Thread Name: BS: Religious beliefs - no standing in law
Subject: RE: BS: Religious beliefs - no standing in law
Back to the first amendment, two important points regarding religion - no established religion, and no laws preventing the free exercise of religion. The second premise flows from the first. Based upon this, religious beliefs have standing under US law. Of course there are limitations upon freedom of religion, just as there are limitations upon any freedom. You can't commit human sacrifice. Polygamy is still illegal as well. It's one thing to accept that there are limitations upon freedom of religion, and quite another to say that religious beliefs have no standing in law because they are subjective. The first is pragmatic, and reflects moderation and accommodation within a pluralistic society; the second not only fails to guarantee freedom of religion, it actually undermines the basis for the free exercise of religion.