Religious Freedom for All or Some?

One Logo of the United Church of Christ

Should a church and a pastor have the Religious Right to perform any ceremony within their own religion? Of course, you say. Shouldn’t the Catholic Church have the right to perform Exorcisms of Daemons, even though many people don’t believe in daemons? Shouldn't a Baptist Church have the right to perform Submersion Baptism even though it is potentially dangerous and could lead to infection and heart attack? Shouldn't many Christian churches have the right practice communion when they openly state they are feeding human body parts  to people which is illegal?

Of course, you say. So what about the United Church of Christ in North Carolina (1) that wants to perform their Sacrament of Marriage ? Of course, you say. Ah, but they want to marry same sex couples, and the State of North Carolina forbids the marriage of same sex couples.

See the problem? Religious Freedom either is or it isn’t a Right. If it is a right for some, it is a right for all. If not for all, then not for any. This is a very sticky problem for people with fundamentalist mind sets. They (maybe you?) cleave to the belief that only they have the right to do and say what they want, but others do not. They use their versions of Holy Scriptures to support their opinions and distortions.

Well people, it is probably time to get to the point of the Constitution and the Guarantee of Religious Freedom. Either it is, or it isn’t. And, the Supreme Court of the Land  said it is. Therefore it is. Period. And that means that backward and ignorant states like North Carolina are living in a bubble of prejudice. And that bubble will break, thanks in part to the United Church of Christ. Right on Brothers. If I were a believer, I would certainly follow you guys. Thanks.

Image: http://www.gsucc.org/GoodShepardChurch/files/ae/ae215ec3-b89f-4ed2-84ff-f5c4ad5d4586.jpg

1. http://www.thestate.com/2014/05/02/3423008/united-church-of-christ-sues-over.html