Tag: religious freedom

May 21, 2015

The Difference Between Religious Freedom And Religious Freedom

painting of The Puritans landing in America
The Puritans

In the national debate over religious freedom and Religious Freedom Restoration Acts passed in some states, it’s important to define our terms. Religious freedom means one thing to religious conservatives and another thing for progressives who support church and state separation. I don’t know if it’s good to know the debate has been going on since the founding of this country.

Sheila Suess Kennedy at the Indianapolis Business Journal had a post about the history of religious freedom:

Read the postThe Difference Between Religious Freedom And Religious Freedom
May 12, 2015

Response To My Letter Supporting Same-Sex Marriage Goes Old School – Still Draws Wrong Conclusions

created image saying no to Religious Freedom Restoration Acts

Last month, as co-chair of the Secular Coalition for Ohio, I had a letter to the editor printed in the Columbus Dispatch about the firestorm over the attempt by Indiana to discriminate against LGBTQ people by using a Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Someone who opposed my letter responded to that letter by sending a typed letter to my house. Below is the letter in question and my response.

It should be noted that my response was mailed to the address on the envelope but was returned back to me, unopened – addressee unknown. It really doesn’t help your cause if you use a fake address or refuse to be responded to using the same method you used to rant at me.

Read the postResponse To My Letter Supporting Same-Sex Marriage Goes Old School – Still Draws Wrong Conclusions
April 30, 2015

Marriage Has Been Redefined Before

April 24, 2015

If Right-Wing Christianity Is On The Decline, Why Am I Not Seeing It In My State House?

crowd Protesting Indiana's bad religious freedom bill
Crowd protesting Indiana’s bad religious freedom bill March 2015

We are on the cusp of probably seeing same-sex marriage bans joining school mandated prayer in the dust bin of history. The road from DC is looking like an end to religious privilege. The war has instead moved to the state houses around the country where the right-wing is doing all it can to deny basic human dignity and worth by forcing Christianity on the residents of their states.


In a Salon article, Evan McMurry, from AlterNet, detailed at least four areas the right-wing religious conservatives are flexing what muscles they have left:

Read the postIf Right-Wing Christianity Is On The Decline, Why Am I Not Seeing It In My State House?
January 27, 2015

Mormons Will Stop Fighting LGBT Rights As Long As They Get A Free Pass On Their Bigotry

October 15, 2014

Hobby Lobby’s Idea Of Religious Freedom Isn’t Really Religious Freedom