The First Amendment commands Congress to “make no law” respecting religion. It would seem to me that the Workforce Religious Freedom Act – what a phony title – would necessarily be unconstitutional if enacted.

definitely

There are two women who are born again christians, and while they never attempt to convert me, (since they don’t know, and I talk to them within the frame they set for the conversation) I hear things like “I’m so glad I”m saved” or “People who are not Christians are going to hell” or “God does/doesn’t want me to ______” . . . It makes me afraid to mention that, oh by the way, I don’t believe in god. I’m tempted to give them your book (or a book about bridging the gap between atheists and xians) when I quit. I get along well enough with them, and we work well together, but I am generally afraid of how being open about my atheism at work would affect that.

To contrast that, one of my best friends in grad school was a born again evangelical christian, and we would have some pretty interesting and respectful discussions about our beliefs and how they play out in our lives and influence our behaviors. It was very cool to see how similar we are– and we were a great team when we had to work on projects together. I got to be open and we both accepted the other for our differences.

I think some accomodations are unreasonable, for example, some women refuse to obey hygeine rules due to religious proscriptions.

The fact is that regardless of whether or not it is right, wearing a helmet while motorcycling is A LAW, a ticketable offense, and this man may become exempt due to his religion (which, according to a few scholars quoted in and article in the Toronto Star, doesn’t explicitly require a turban at all times – he just happens to believe so). There shouldn’t be a case to change the law there, but there is.

In stead, if one employee can wear a head covering, than any employee should be able to wear a head covering. If an employee can be accommodated for a religious holiday, then any employee should be accommodated for whatever day they want off. We are a nation of equal opportunity, not people privilege for some and subordination for others.

People can believe whatever they want, but they aren’t entitled to government endorsement or facilitation.

On the other hand, in America, the resulting head and neck injuries from your underinsured, bare-skulled motorcycle accident end up costing the rest of society a ton of money for the rest of your bed-ridden-tube-fed life.

Which you could add a slippery slope to, if you wanted to continue the discussion.

Apparently, the father of four believes he is being discriminated against because he’s willing to risk his life for his religion. I don’t think his kids would like his crashing and dying, but hey, he can continue to treat a book like a person.

(Sorry, that last part was uncalled for) I don’t like how, again, a religious dogma is allowed to trump safety regulations. On the one hand, it is his decision, but on the other hand it says to anyone “Hey, you don’t need a helmet.”

Sweden, here I come!

Sweden and Norway have been dreams of mine for a while now.

Almost completely unrelated to the topic: one of my coworkers actually tried to convert me to evangelism once. She wasn’t hostile or pushy about it. We were two people working a completely deserted burger-joint on stormy day at the beach. We were just sitting on these upturned crates behind the counter, waiting for customers (I think we served 3 people that day), and she just turns to me and asks me if I believe in Christ. I was still questioning my belief back then, so I told her I did. She then asked me if I wanted to be saved, and I was kind of curious by this point, so I once again said that I did. She took my hands and had me repeat her prayer for Jesus to accept my soul. A few days later, she gave me a Bible. I still have it, too. This post just made me think of that.

My friend wants to move out of this country when he graduates to avoid the bullshit, I think I might do the same.

Sweden, here I come!