Heart of the issue

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Having a belief does not grant anyone privileged status.

Christians 400 years worked that out, GC. Neutrality is the best way to protect freedom for and of religion.

You have the wrong idea, you assume I was trying to defend Christianity in politics. Why because I'm a Christian and you think my only concern is for Christian rights, all peoples have rights in this country and have the right to be heard in our political system. If you remove one from the system then all are vulnerable, it's just a matter of time. That's why I asked do you think you can sanitize the political system and still have one.

GC

I made no reference to Christianity per se, rather the advent of secularism and the Christians who made the leap in advocating it.

And I agree with you; all people have the right to be heard, and I would fight to defend that right.

What I would also fight for is the rights of people to criticise a religion and a religious belief, to de-convert or change their religion.

Equally, however, The state cannot endorse a religion or a religious belief. In your country (the US) that would directly contravene the 1st amendment as the state would be seen to be giving precedence, even if in name or by association, to one 'belief' over another.

There is a difference. To be clear, neither secularism, nor the 1st amendment (I presume), removes the right of those who (don't) espouse a religious belief to voice their opinions or indeed their religious beliefs. What it does stop is someone's opinion or their views from being discounted because of their (lack of) of belief.

You may have a different view to me, but I don't think pluralism when it comes to religious beliefs (or indeed the lack thereof) is sanitising anything.