One of my problems

[Eilonnwy]

I understand your feeling that it is not your place to tell others what to do. But, you say that they should be taxed, they should be held accountable. Isn't this telling them what to do?

No, at least not in the sense you think. It's a matter of what role government has in people's lives, which, granted, is arguable. Do you think the government has a right to deny people their right to assemble specifically for religious belief? Or do you believe they have the right to assemble with reasonable legal restrictions to ensure the safety and prosperity of everyone involved? Or do you believe the right to assemble religiously with no legal restrictions? It's a fundamental belief based on what you feel the role of government is.

I think the role of government is to promote freedom, including the right to assemble, but with reasonable restrictions to promote the fair practice of every religion or non religion. Essentially, allowing religions and their churches to exist as long as they follow building codes, pay taxes, are not permitted to abuse children and get away with it is fair for everyone. It protects people from abuses while still allowing the free practice of religion.

I think that freedom of religion is a dangerous idea. I think that freedom from religion is much more appetizing. History has shown that if we give religion the freedom to exist in any from, it ultimately entails them commiting 'acts that harm other people'.

I think dictating how people can worship/believe is a more dangerous idea. I would never espouse an ideology that would essentially stifle individual freedoms, including religion. I would love for the world to become a complete atheistic society, but I wish it through free-thought and intellectualism, not force.

How would we, as atheist, be any better than those Christians who wish to force upon us a Christian Nation? To some Christians, atheism is dangerous. To some Christians, atheism harms other people. It would be hypocritical to then attempt to impose our way of living on others just because we perceive their thoughts to be dangerous.

Freedom of religion is freedom from religion. It allows people to believe or not believe as they see fit. I am not oppressed because my neighbors go to church. I am not oppressed because people believe praying helps them in their daily life. I am not oppressed because people believe atheism is wrong. I am oppressed when Christians try to breach the separation of church and state, and appropriately enough those instances are brought to court by organizations that exist to preserve the first amendment. I do not think the answer to the wrongs some Christians would do is to commit those same wrongs in favor of atheism.

Freedom is not achieved through denying rights to people you disagree with and deem dangerous. It matters what they do.

Freedom demands that people you disagree with are also free. I think racism is dangerous, but I believe a person has a right to be racist, to hold those views, because I think that no person or government has the right to dictate what people think. (I.e Thought crimes) If they take their racism too far and kill black people, then the government acts appropriately through it's laws against murder. Laws against murder in essence do restrict actions of people to an extent, but it protects people's fundamental right to live. (Going back to the "telling people what to do" point).

Ultimately, I am free because my fellow Christians are also free, not because their right to believe and practice their beliefs are restricted.