<p>Freedom of religion also includes freedom to act and that’s where the gray area starts coming in. People may have the freedom to believe that marijuana is good for them, but that doesn’t allow them to use it. Whereas people can celebrate Festivus due to their beliefs if they so choose.</p>
<p>Just think of the long term damages this has on society though. Discrimnation back and forth. Talents wasted.</p>
<p>This thread is driving me nuts. Specifically NWIStudent’s insistence on saying that liberals and atheists are basically the same thing. First off, hon, most liberals are Christians. It has to be that way when only about 15% of the American public consider themselves neither spiritual nor religious. And when it comes to politicians, 56% of Congress is Protestant Christians, 31% is Catholic, and 2.8% is Mormon. 2% of Congress doesn’t cite a religious affiliation. Check your facts before you start spouting off.</p>
<p>Also, not all atheists are liberal in the typical sense that refers to Democrat. Case in point, I fall more towards Constitutionalism and libertarianism. Actually, though, I would call myself liberal. Because unlike conservatives who want to take us back to a point in time where life sucked for everyone who wasn’t rich, I’d love to take us forward with lots of change. And since liberal means wanting change, I’d proudly wear the label of liberal. It means I’m neither stupid nor heartless. I want people to have as much freedom as possible. I also want them to be happy.</p>
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<p>Our laws come from English Common Law. Not from some “holy” text. From English Common Law. Which itself comes from many things including Roman law because, in case you didn’t know, the Romans at one point occupied the British Isles. Just so you know, most societies had laws about murder and theft and all before they were introduced to the horror that is Christianity.</p>
<p>But even if that were true (which it’s not), it is wrong for the government to promote one religion or group or religions (or having a religion) over another (or the lack of one). That’s the point that irreligious people want to make. And, guess what, irreligious people tend to be a very vocal minority because we’re sick of being oppressed. You know, there are places I wouldn’t be able to hold a public office because I am irreligious? In Arkansas, I’m not legally allowed to testify in court. So if you want your 10 Commandments in that courthouse, any other group can ask for any display that represents their beliefs in that courthouse. That includes an upside down cross or Satan sculpture, an image that looks like a backwards swastika (Hinduism), a Buddha statue, any religious symbol a person wants. And they would have to accept them and give them equal visibility. You couldn’t hide one away because you didn’t like it.</p>
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Swyer syndrome patients are women who have XY chromosomes. How do we deal with them? Their birth certificate says female. They often only find out they’re XY when they have either puberty or fertility problems.</p>
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If they receive government money or are tax exempt, they’re held to certain standards. As they should be.</p>
<p>Which basically gets to what my answer to this is. You should not be allowed to discriminate on any basis if you receive federal tax-exempt status or if you receive taxpayer money. When it comes to those transgender people who have not transitioned, the school can either allow them to live in the dorm section they choose or deal with them as special cases. Maybe that means housing trans people together if there are enough, maybe it means giving them discounted singles for housing. Any way it goes, being trans involves body dysmorphia which is a medical condition and you have to make accommodations.</p>